Holiday and Home Improvements Handmade and Heartfelt November
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1 A Season for Small Businesses How small businesses can prepare for a unique holiday season Special Supplement to: Niagara Gazette Lockport Union-Sun & Journal Hometown Extra Holiday and Home Improvements Great gifts to spark home improvement projects Handmade and Heartfelt Handmade gifts that are November and personalized and special December 2020 2 2 November-December 2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Table of Contents 3 Have a healthy shopping experience 14 5 ways to make gift cards more personal 4 How to prioritize shopper safety during the 15 Tips to simplify shopping and wrapping holidays 16 Great gifts for book lovers 5 People to tip and gift this holiday season 16 Tips for successfully gifting teens 6 6 ways to stick to a holiday budget 20 Handmade gifts are personalized and 7 Holiday shoppers may want to start early special 8 How smll businesses can prepare for a 21 Gifts than can make social distancing more Holiday Gift Guide is a special unique holiday sesason enjoyable advertising supplement to the 8 Preparing a store for shoppers concerned by 22 Home holiday decorating ideas Niagara Gazette, Lockport Union-Sun the Covid-19 outbreak 23 Holiday gifts to spark home improvement & Journal, and Hometown Extra. 10 How to support small businesses this ideas holiday season 24 Steps for hanging holiday lights outdoors 12 Promotional ideas for small businesses this 25 Must-haves to achieve a holiday Call 716-282-2311 or 716-439-9222 season wonderland for advertising information. 12 Find the time to shop for holiday gifts 26 The bright side of small holiday celebrations 13 Security tips to consider before buying 27 How to host virtual holiday celebrations We specialize in local business strategies. online this holiday season Now Offering 3% Cash pizzaoven Discount! 54 Vine Street | Lockport Proudly serving TEMPORARY COVID HOURS: Lockport MON. - SAT. 4-10PM 433-4390 for 50 years! & SUN. 1-8:30PM www.lockportpizzaoven.com Download our NEW App for Online Ordering! ✰ Pizza ✰ Wings ✰ Chicken Fingers ✰ Finger Foods (Mozzarella Sticks, Pizza Logs, Breadsticks & Fries) ✰ Stromboli & Calzones ✰ Seafood ✰ Daily Pizza & Wing Specials ✰ 3 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE November-December 2020 3 Have a healthy shopping experience Staying healthy this holiday shopping season means taking a proactive approach to avoid germs and illness. eople are more conscious than ever • Shop online. Avoiding crowds and busy shopping sessions at the mall may get your have said it is unlikely that people can con- about their personal health. In late places may be wise until a vaccine is devel- gift list checked off, but you may feel ill if tract COVID-19 from handling packaging, 2019 and early 2020, the world oped. By early summer, many retailers were you don’t eat and drink. Stop for a healthy do not pick up products and put them in was introduced to the deadly virus allowed to reopen if they implemented strict snack, and drink plenty of water so that dry, your cart unless you plan to buy them. Com- PCOVID-19, which spread across the globe policies about workers and customers wear- indoor air doesn’t contribute to dehydration. pare items with your eyes, not your hands. like wildfire, requiring various changes to ing masks and cutting store capacities by a • Alleviate back pain. Heavy bags, lifting • Wash hands frequently. Remember personal routines and daily life to help corral certain percentage. Shopping online enables and inspecting items at arms length from to frequently wash hands during shopping its spread. you to stay closer to home and have gifts racks or shelves and wearing a heavy purse ventures or when returning from the store. COVID-19 is just one factor shoppers either delivered or made available for curb- can contribute to back pain. Minimize such In the absence of a sink, use hand sanitizer should consider if they plan to make health- side pickup. Many retailers, including small movements to ensure a shopping trip doesn’t that’s at least 60 percent alcohol to prevent ful changes to the way they prepare for the mom-and-pop stores, have implemented new end with some aches and pains. the spread of germs. holiday season. These health-minded tips can e-commerce options to increase their online • Touch only what you plan to buy. Staying healthy this holiday shopping ensure the holidays are full of joy and per- shopping capabilities. While the Centers for Disease Control and season means taking a proactive approach to sonal wellness. • Stay well fed and hydrated. Marathon Prevention and other health organizations avoid germs and illness. 811 Linwood Avenue 1700 Pine Avenue 7927 Niagara Falls Blvd. 535 Center Street 5329 Main St. All Stores Niagara Falls Niagara Falls Niagara Falls Lewiston Williamsville Open Daily 7am-7pm Daily 9am-5pm Daily 7am-7pm Daily 8am-7pm Daily 7am-7pm 7 Days 282-2341 284-8131 236-0111 754-2218 635-6504 A Week DE FTS for the Holidays LICIOUS FECT GI TREA PER Browse Online TS Biscotti Cookie Packages Holiday Cookie Trays Jars Baskets Yule Log Panettone & Cakes Biscotti Tins Coffee Cakes & Fresh Baked Pies Check out our ads on 11/12, 11/21, 11/24, 12/19, 12/22 for Holiday Coupons & Specials! 4 4 November-December 2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE How to prioritize shopper safety during the holidays ach November and December, • Be aware of your surroundings. When reach the payment page. If something seems • Invest in security cameras. If you do many people direct their focus on you leave a store, no matter how big or how off, avoid that site or reach out to customer not already have a camera on your home or the festive holiday season. While small it is, put your phone down and avoid service. business, now is the time to get one. Even good intentions reign supreme dur- distractions. Opportunists look for distract- • Change routines. If you always head doorbell cameras can deter crime. Porch Eing the holiday season, it’s best that store ed people who may not see them coming. to the store at a specific time or leave for pirates/bandits are individuals who steal owners and consumers alike pay attention • Shop trusted online retailers. Many work or school at the same time each day, packages right off of people’s front porches. to personal safety amidst all the hustle and people shop online for holiday gifts, and think about altering your routine to thwart Porch Bandit Protection™ says the average bustle. this year the increase in online revenue would-be criminals. This can throw off any- value of stolen packages is $140. Thieves According to Dr. Janet Lauritsen, a pro- may be pronounced as people continue to one who has been observing your patterns. may even follow delivery vehicles closely in fessor of criminology and criminal justice at avoid crowds to protect themselves from The same tactic can be applied to someone order to grab packages minutes after they the University of Missouri, robbery and per- COVID-19. Fraudulent online retailers and working in a retail store, as private homes are delivered. Cameras can deter the crimi- sonal larceny increase around the holidays. false charities prey on unsuspecting con- and consumers are not the only targets this nals who commit these types of crimes. In addition, retail crime increases by around sumers. Consumers can patronize sites of time of year. It’s time to step up on safety so this holi- 30 percent during the holiday season. locally owned businesses or larger retailers • Don’t leave items exposed. At home day season stays festive. Business owners and consumers can keep they recognize and use frequently. Verify and in the car, keep purchases or gifts hid- these tips in mind so this holiday season is as that the site is encrypted by looking for the den. This can reduce the temptation for safe as it is festive. “lock” symbol in the address bar when you thieves. 5 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE November-December 2020 5 People to tip and gift FRESH GOURMET FRUIT FOR THE GIFT OF WELLNESS T. GRANA & SON this holiday season Open Daily and Christmas Eve til Noon Are you making a list and checking it tip of $20 each is an appropriate amount. twice? If so, don’t forget to add a few extra • Teachers: Class parents may take up a people to that list who are worthy of a gift collection for the teacher and offer one class Stay Safe! this holiday season. Certainly friends and gift. If your student is educated by multiple Call in your order from home! family are in mind for presents, but what teachers and the school staff is top-notch, about the service providers in your life? consider stocking the staff lounge with Ask about our pickup special. After a challenging year, people in the ser- snacks and beverages or cater a lunch. vice industry might benefit from a holiday • Mail and newspaper carriers: Mail is boost this year more than ever. delivered six days of the week in any and all • Hairdressers and nail techs: It takes weather. Treat your mail carrier to a nice FRUIT a lot of effort to look one’s best, and these gift, but stick to the rules of the U.S. Postal individuals help people put their best selves Service. Mail carriers are not allowed to forward. Consider tipping the amount you accept cash, checks or gift cards that can BASKET would normally spend on one visit. If you be used like credit cards. Like mail carriers, get your hair or nails done frequently and newspaper carriers deliver up to 7 days per ..