Target shoppers no longer have to carry their Target gift cards in order to redeem them. Target has launched the Target Mobile GiftCard, which lets Target shoppers save gift card information to a PIN-secure account on the Target.com mobile site. Customers can use a mobile phone with Internet capabilities to retrieve GiftCard barcodes for scanning at checkout. Target shoppers can add value to the Target Mobile GiftCards at store registers and check balances at any time via the Target.com mobile site.
"The addition of Mobile GiftCards to our suite of mobile shopping solutions further simplifies the Target experience for our guests," said Steve Eastman, President of Target.com.
Travel expert Peter Greenberg shared some of his favorite travel gifts on the Early Show's "Early Holiday Unwrapped" segment. One of his gift ideas is an amazing $175 jacket called the Scott E-Vest which contains nineteen different pockets, including a place for your iPod. Peter Greenberg also likes the Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera WX1/B, which can take panoramic photos. Another items mentioned is the Zadro Nano Wand UV Disinfection Scanner for germaphobes. Take a look:
Amazon.com now sells gift cards that you can print from your printer. This is a nice touch because it allows you to have something solid you can put in an envelope and hand to someone instead of just sending an email gift certificate. You can get an Amazon.com gift card here.
Here's a list of some great DVD and Blu-ray gift ideas for films and tv series released in 2009.
17 Again (DVD/Blu-ray) - Zac Efron is hilarious playing a 30-something father who magically becomes a teenager again. Thomas Lennon is hilarious as the geeky friend.
Angels & Demons (DVD/Blu-ray) - a great movie with a really tight script.
Bolt (DVD/Blu-ray) - Family friendly crowd pleaser.
District 9 (DVD/Blu-ray) - Director Neill Blomkamp proved you can make a science fiction classic without a massive budget.
Duplicity (DVD/Blu-ray) - Clever, entertaining tale about corporate espionage starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen
The Hangover (DVD/Blu-ray) - a hilarious film from start to finish. Not family friendly in any way, shape or form.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (DVD/Blu-ray) - all the Harry Potter films have been classics. The Half-Blood Prince is no exception.
Julie & Julia (DVD/Blu-ray) - Meryl Streep is amazing as Julia Child in this must-watch for all foodies and home cooks.
Lost Season 5 (DVD/Blu-ray) - Every season of Lost is must-see.
Marley & Me (DVD/Blu-ray) - Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson star in heartwarming tale about mischievous but lovable dog. Based on the true story.
The Proposal (DVD/Blu-ray) - Sandra Bullock shines in this entertaining romp with the surprisingly hilarious Ryan Reynolds.
Quantum of Solace (DVD/Blu-ray) - Daniel Craig's second James Bond outing: worth it for the opening car chase in Italy alone.
Race to Witch Mountain (DVD/Blu-ray) - really fun, family-friendly fare starring The Rock
Slumdog Millionaire (DVD/Blu-ray) - classic storytelling in this Oscar winner for Best Picture
Star Trek (DVD/Blu-ray) - J.J. Abrams successfully rebooted the Star Trek franchise pleasing Trekkies and making new ones.
Taken (DVD/Blu-ray) - Nail biting thriller about a father (Liam Neeson) who tear apart Paris in order to rescue his kidnapped daughter
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (DVD/Blu-ray) - Tinker Bell has a new look for her all-new magical adventure beyond Pixie Hollow
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (DVD/Blu-ray) - Megan Fox and giant robots from space. What's not to love?
Up (DVD/Blu-ray) - another Pixar classic that received great reviews
Valentino: The Last Emperor (DVD/Blu-ray) - Absolutely fascinating look at the world of the brilliant couturier Valentino in the days before his retirement.
Valkyrie (DVD/Blu-ray) - Underrated thriller about a failed Hitler assassination attempt.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (DVD/Blu-ray) - Hugh Jackman shines in Wolverine's origins story
Amy Goodman from All You magazine shared a few ideas for gifts under $50 with Harry Smith on CBS Early Show. Her ideas include flameless candles from Brookstone, Discovery Kids camera and the Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator. Take a look:
Godiva has milk chocolate turkeys available for Thanksgiving. Each foil-wrapped milk chocolate turkey stands 3" tall and costs $6.00. Godiva is also selling a Fall Truffles Gift Box with fall flavors including Pecan Pie Truffle with caramelized brown sugar in milk chocolate, Black Raspberry Truffle in white chocolate, and Cinnamon Pear Truffle in milk chocolate. You can find all of Godiva's Thanksgiving chocolates here. Godiva is currently offering free shipping on orders of $50 or more with coupon code Harvest.
Tweezerman has added a bejeweled holiday tweezer to its line of tweezers. The Polka Dot Swarovski Crystal Slant Tweezer contains encrusted Swarovski crystals. They retail for $40 and can be purchased here.
The Hermes online store has a few games available in addition to its wonderful bags and scarves. The attractive games could make a good gift for someone who is hard to buy for. They include a set of memory playing cards, which include drawings from the Emile Hermes Collection, for $215. Sets of Poker and Bridge cards are available for $80 each. Hermes also sells a wood dominoes set, which comes in a leather case, for $445.00. To get to the games section on Hermes website click on the Leisure section on the top menu bar and then click on games on the left menu bar.
Laduree, a French luxury pastries brand, has partnered with designers to make fabulous gift boxes for its macaroons. Italian luxury brand Marni created a gold colored macroon box with polka dots and a golden flower for Laduree. Christian Louboutin and Laduree worked together for a box covered with shoes and fashion accessories.
Neiman Marcus has unveiled its 2009 Christmas Book. The 83rd edition includes some unusual, lavish gifts as it does each year. Last year, one of the unusual gifts were lift-sized His and Hers Lego Sculptures. One of the most unusual gifts this year is the Cupcake Car (pictured above), which costs $25,000. Some of the other unique items available this year include a His and Hers Icon A5 Sports Aircraft, a sustainable design art chandelier, the Algonquin Round Table Experience and Mission One, the world's fastest electric sport bike. You can see photos of all the gifts here. This year's featured car is the 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition.
"Our annual tradition of fantasy gifts allows our devoted customers to give a gift or gift experience that will create wonderful memories to last both the giver and recipients a lifetime," said Gerald Barnes, President and CEO of Neiman Marcus Direct. "This year's array of gifts has raised the bar to new heights, featuring items at the highest levels of quality and technology."
You can see more of the unusual items in the 2009 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book here.
The Chicago Sun-Timesreports that Sears Holding Corp is launching a Christmas Club card that can be used at Kmart and Sears stores. The cards has no fees and no expiration date. The card will provide a 3% reward (up to a maximum of $100) on purchases customers make before October 31st. Sears is trying to motive and reward shoppers that buy their holiday gifts and decorations early at Sears and Kmart stores. Sears also launched Christmas early at its bricks-and-mortar stores and online.
The L.A. Timesreports that Hershey's is shutting down its online gift store. Hershey's Gifts will be closing its catalog and web business effective July 31, 2009.
"Hershey's is making the strategic decision to exit the online retail business," said Hershey spokesman Kirk Saville. "The current business model is not sustainable."
Saville said that the company was looking into other e-commerce options, including strategic partnerships and licensing agreements. He declined to say how much revenue the online service was bringing in or if it was losing money.
The Hershey's Gifts website says Hershey's Gifts items are now 25% off until the site closes on July 31st.
Iomoi, a gifts, stationery and e-stationery store, carries these little matchbook-sized Pink Petito mini notepads. Each mini-notepad approx 20 printed sheets measures 1 3/4 x 2. A set of eight can be purchased here for $12.00.
The Yellow Owl Workshop sells LCD wrapping paper that lets you write your own messges on it. The LCD wrapping paper is made with 100% PCW recycled paper. It sells for $19.50 for five sheets. They also sell LCD cards ($5 each) that you can write your own message with.
Sock Grams is celebrating its first anniversary this month. A Sock Gram is a gift-wrapped package containing a card, personal greeting, pair of novelty socks and an added treat. Sock Gram shoppers pair a greeting card for any occasion with pretty, fuzzy or silly socks for anyone. Sock Grams start at $9.95 including shipping.
Sock Grams founder Heather McGee says, "Everyone is being impacted by the recession. I'm just glad that I can help send smiles in a fun and inexpensive way."
Target shoppers no longer have to carry their Target gift cards in order to redeem them. Target has launched the 
The L.A. Times 
