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Give Creative Gifts This Holiday Season Tips from a Chicago Shopping Expert for Holiday Gift Ideas that are Fun to Shop for and Fun to Receive

(PRWEB) November 9, 2007 -- Don't let shopping for Christmas gifts and other holiday shopping become just another to-do list this holiday season. Buyers start with good intentions of giving a unique present, but often end up grabbing whatever is easiest as many stores overflow with uninspired choices. The lines, packed parking lots, crowds and unchanging merchandise all promote stale gift giving.

The answer? Funky, neighborhood boutiques.

Local boutiques tucked away in quaint, character-filled neighborhoods are a great source of unique Christmas presents. Boutique shopping makes holiday shopping more fun for both the shopper, and a happier gift recipient! The boutiques cannot compete with larger stores for mass merchandise, so they typically carry handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, unique items that make wonderful holiday gifts. There is a story behind their products: whether it is the store owner's passion for her goods; the up-and-coming designer that was given his first opportunity to showcase his product at a local shop; or the extra-special packaging boutiques offer.

Urban Shop Guide, a Chicago shopping tour (http://www.urbanshopguide.com/GuidedShoppingTours.html) operator, helps small groups explore the blossoming neighborhood boutique scene. Julie Cameron (http://www.urbanshopguide.com/ProfessionalShoppers.html), the founder, offers some tips to navigate the small shops for an efficient, but enjoyable holiday gift-giving experience.

Most cities have one or more of neighborhoods where the boutique assortment is best. Driving to one-off stores can be cumbersome with holiday traffic, but these neighborhoods allow you to grab your list, park the car and wander only a few short blocks.

Some tips to get started for a unique day of shopping include:

- Do your homework. Searching websites such as http://www.dailycandy.com and http://www.luckymag.com are good sources to find the general area in a city where most of the best boutiques are located.

- Shop during the weekday if possible. While you won't typically run into mall-sized crowds in these areas, weekdays after work are great times to shop. Most boutiques are open until 7 or 8 pm during the holiday season, and with no big budget to promote their holiday hours, there is even more opportunity for personal attention.

- Meet the shop owners. Everyone wants to be a "regular" whether it is a shop, a restaurant or a bar. When you find your favorite store, introduce yourself to the owner and take time to learn about the boutique. Most boutiques frequently have events for their best shoppers offering as much as 20% off their merchandise, as well as fun social events where you can relax with some wine and learn more about the products.

- Explore the neighborhood beyond shopping. If you're going to make a day of it, plan some other aspects into your itinerary -- four or more hours is too long of a time for just shopping. The neighborhoods allow for a fun lunch at a cool new spot, some time in a park or other landmark that you don't often see, great people watching and socializing, and architecture and historical delights that you won't find in most shopping venues.

- Know the return policies. Lastly, while many boutiques have more restrictions on their return policy than larger-format stores, most are willing to offer an exchange for a new size or other item. If the boutique was a place where you thought of your friend or family member for a gift, most likely they will love the store as much as you did and be happy they had a new reason to shop there.

About Urban Shop Guide:

Urban Shop Guide (http://www.urbanshopguide.com) is a Chicago-based privately held corporation founded by Julie Cameron, a 15-year retail industry veteran. Urban Shop Guide offers guided, customized shopping tours of Chicago's trendy neighborhoods, providing visitors access to small boutiques and the essence of Chicago shopping.

Contact:// Julie Cameron of Urban Shop Guide, 312 533-1256.

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