Call for Leads: Holiday Gift Guide
Posted By admin on November 5, 2009
I asked Atlanta on the Cheap’s Twitter followers if they would be interested in a holiday gift guide, and the overwhelming response was “Yes!” In fact, not a single person shot it down. So. Now I’ll be pulling one together. Technically, two—one for Cities on the Cheap & one for Atlanta on the Cheap.
I’m casting a wide net for leads. Got an idea? Email me at jm@atlantaonthecheap.com & put “gift guide” somewhere in the subject line. A few details:
1) The gift guides will include a mix of topics, things like where to find cheap but good wines, ideas for fun & funky gifts, & most importantly, ways to treat someone (or yourself) to a night out on the cheap.
2) If you’re in PR (and I know some of you are) & wish to send me leads, please keep them targeted. Think “added value,” such as “buy a gift card for $TK & get $TK extra free” deals, or “you won’t believe this deal…” & focused on the general feel of the site (attractions, travel, restaurants, theatre, shopping, beauty, etc). A note on shopping/beauty: I don’t cover things like a fabulous deal on flat-screen TVs, laser hair removal, teeth whitening, Lasik, etc. Heck, I don’t even know if I’d know if they were fabulous deals, so please don’t waste our time (yours & mine) by emailing me about them. If you choose to send a sample, you know the drill—please indicate whether the item needs to be returned & include a shipping label.
3) I’d love to get leads from readers, too—if you see a great deal while you’re out & about, let me know by emailing me at jm@atlantaonthecheap.com or posting a comment to this thread. You’re welcome to send me leads on local stores that carry fun & funky gifts, gift membership deals for local attractions, restaurant gift card perks, etc. Leads on widely available merchandise & deals, whether at chains or online, work, too.
4) As with any gift guide, I will get more leads than I can possibly use, and though I try to reply to everyone, I don’t always catch them all as the volume can be overwhelming. Thanks in advance for taking the time to send me your ideas. PR folks—don’t harass me by phone; request a read receipt if you really must know that I got your email.
5) A general reminder: Editorial is not for sale on Atlanta on the Cheap or Cities on the Cheap. Please do not contact me asking to “buy ad space” on the gift guide. And while I may accept product samples so that I can check out the merchandise, remember that sending me a sample doesn’t guarantee that I will include your product in the gift guide.
6) My goal is to publish the gift guide on Monday, Nov. 23, so make sure you send me any leads by Friday, Nov. 20.
Thanks!
–Jennifer Maciejewski
This year I plan on giving some of my friends cool looking reusable shopping bags. The ones you buy at the grocery stores can get so generic, there are tons of colorful, inexpensive ones in a lot of places. Marshall’s and T.J. Maxx have some great ones under $5.
A good Web site to visit is http://www.resuablebags.com. Right now, they have a coupon code (type in welcomeback) for 25 percent off any order over $50 with a flat shipping rate of $6.95. I’m ordering a bunch of the ChicoBags, which come in a little compact case for $5 each.
Hope this helps!
Thanks! ~Jenn
Groupons are my lifesavers! Half Off Depot too! I check Atlanta on the Cheap every morning
Thank you for all you do!
Anywho, gifts… when a spa deal comes across, snatch it up! Those make GREAT gifts! A mani/pedi deal just went by… my mom lives in NC and comes to visit occasionally. I may buy her a mani/pedi or spa deal when one shows up and when she comes down, she can do that!
They also just had the A&I Books $60 for $20 deal. Unfortunately, my indecisive personality let it slip by! My mom has 8 grand kids (none of them mine, btw – i’m only 24) but what a great gift that would have been with cute pics of the kids!
My sisterinlaw called me this morning, yankee candles are buy 2, get 2 right now. I can put something small (picture frame, bottle of wine, etc) with a large yankee candle and give it as a gift… boyfriend’s grandmother, boyfriend’s mother, sisterinlaw, etc.
My boyfriend, “the idea guy” bought some inexpensive (but decent) wine (or you could use champagne) last year, made some cookies (i think he used cookies, can’t remember exactly what it was), put the cookies in a bag and tied them to the bottle neck to give to people last year like customers (he’s in sales), his boss, etc
I printed off a $15 off $30 coupon for express today – it’s good through the 16th – perhaps i’ll use it to buy a couple nice sweaters for my brother for xmas? or treat myself
My mom is not very technically inclined, so I may buy a decent sized digital photo frame on black friday, put the photos on it in advance and give it as a gift.
My brother and sisterinlaw waited until fall last year, planned out gifts in advance, then used their ‘rewards points’ with their bank to purchase gift cards to the places they needed… then bought xmas gifts on black friday with them… great idea if i would have remembered soon enough
Black Friday deals are on the way and there are tons of ideas out there…
hope this helps
Thank you for paying it forward & taking the time to offer your ideas. I appreciate it.