Raspberry Kids Holiday Shopping Tips

1. Shop early for best selection and to avoid disappointment. Several of the larger items are more popular at this time of year and if you have your heart set on a ride on toy, doll house or large scale role play item, your best bet is to shop early as several of these items sold out last year.
2. Make a list, check it twice. Spend 10 minutes to determine who you need to buy for and write it down on a piece of paper or put it on a digital list somewhere. If you do this in advance, it will mean you are less likely to forget someone and have to pick something up at the last minute or be embar- rassed by completing forgetting someone. Yikes!
3. Get creative with your wrapping and reuse gift bags from previous years or buy products that can double as wrapping paper. You can use Lunchskins for gift cards, jewelry or small items, Skip Hop or Beatrix NY back packs can be filled with items like books and games or 3 Sprouts storage bins are perfect for those larger items.
4. If you have the opportunity and feel comfortable asking, consult with the gift receiver or their parents and ask what they truly need or want. This helps take the guess work out of the equation and increases the likelihood that the gift will be cherished by the individual you give it to. On the flip side, you can also send your own wishlist to the people who will be buying you and your family gifts. Often this is appreciated because sometimes people do not know what sort of toy is suitable for certain ages and so on. Gift cards are another great option for people who just are not sure what to get.
5. Less is more. Opt for less, high quality products. Not only will they last longer, not fall apart or emit toxins, you get more value for your dollar and can feel good about your purchase. Higher quality prod- ucts are built to last which create less waste as they can be used over and over again and often in the case of things like wooden toys, they can be handed down from generation to generation.
6. Lastly, it is important to have fun. The holiday season is a time meant for resting, relaxing and spending time with family. When all else fails and the madness of the season starts to take over, grab a glass of your favorite beverage and get together with your fave family & friends. That is just what we will be doing. From our house to yours, cheers!
7. Adhere to the Canada Post shipping guidelines to ensure in time delivery this holiday season.  Canada Post suggests having everything shipped by December 8th to the US and December 11th in Canada.  If you happen to live in or are visiting Vancouver, we offer several other shopping options including:  Private Shopping Events for you and your friends, By Appointment Shopping during the week and we also are opening our warehouse on weekends between now and Christmas.  For more information on our warehouse location, please visit our website:  http://www.raspberrykids.com/warehouse_location/ and to find out what weekend hours we are open you can go here:  http://www.raspberrykids.com/Seasonal_Warehouse_Shopping/