Unique gift ideas for women featured in area shops
Written by Kristen Criswell | | krapin@toledofreepress.comLocal shopping offers unique gifts for the women in your life. Whether you need a gift for a friend, sister, girlfriend, mother or a wife, Northwest Ohio stores provide gift options for all.
“[Shopping local] helps the small businesses and your local community,” said Kelly Heuss, co-owner of Puttin’ on the Glitz. “You’re not going to find the things that are in your small boutiques and your small local stores in the big chain stores. It’s going to be completely unique stuff that other people aren’t going to find.”
Puttin’ on the Glitz
Puttin’ on the Glitz offers many unique and sassy items for women to share with their girlfriends. The store carries drink mixes in a bag, cheeky cookbooks, as well as wine glasses and Woozies, wine koozies, with fun sayings on them.
“We try very hard to find things that are unique that no one else has in the area,” Heuss said. “We want really high-quality gifts that are the right price. A lot of the things we carry you won’t see anyplace else.”
Outside the bridal items and Miche Bags, prices in the store range from $5 to $50, Heuss said.
Puttin’ on the Glitz offers an opportunity for customers to register for holiday gifts. An individual can go online, download a gift registry and fill it out. Registries that are e-mailed back will be kept in a binder at the store.
In addition, Puttin’ on the Glitz is offering a special guys’ night for men to do their holiday shopping. The store will have tailgate food as well as male-friendly music and a guys’ atmosphere.
“We’re doing a guys’ night because generally the guys make it as far as the pink chair when they come in the store. So, once the women make out their wish list, the guys can come in shop together,” Heuss said.
Miche Bags allow individuals to change their purses style at will, Heuss said. The base purse is basic black, with different magnetic option designs for the outside.
By unsnapping one design another can be substituted in a matter of seconds.
The bags come in different sizes and Puttin’ on the Glitz offers deals for the more shells purchased. Prices range from $34.95 to $39 for base bags and $24.95 and up for shells.
Similar to beaded bracelets such as Pandora or Trollbeads, DaVinci and Bauble Lulu Beads are much less expensive, Heuss said. Beads for DaVinci and Bauble Lulu are just $6.99. Bauble Lulu beads can also be placed on necklaces, earrings and rings in addition to bracelets.
Puttin’ on the Glitz is located at 120 W. South Boundary. For more information and store hours, visit www.puttinontheglitzstore.com.
Swank Gifts
When buying gifts for girlfriends, the most fun thing you can give them is something they’d love, but may not buy themselves, said Julie Hartten, owner of Swank Gifts.
Eternity scarves at Swank Gifts.
“It may not be something they’d use every day. Maybe it’s a little bit pricey. Or it’s something that might sit in the closet for most of the year, but the time that they get it out they really love it,” Hartten said.
Swank Gifts offers a number of items for women including jewelry, purses and decorative items as well as toys and stuffed animals for kids. The shop also carries local artists’ artwork, such as 3-D pieces, paintings, photography and jewelry.
“We have a gal who does acrylic necklaces for us and they start at $22. No one will ever have another piece like it. Something from someone that’s made locally is nice as opposed to something made in China,” Hartten said.
Some popular trends this year for women are two-tone necklaces and earrings, pearls and hot pink, Hartten said.
Swank Gifts offers free gift wrapping and free delivery in Downtown Toledo. Gift certificates are also available for purchase.
“We really try to be a service provider for those who work Downtown,” Hartten said.
Most prices in the store aren’t more than $50, Hartten said.
Eternity scarves have been extremely popular this year, Hartten said. The one-piece scarf can be worn in three ways. Individuals can also add different pins to the scarves to dress them up. Scarves are $22.99.
New shoe-shaped wine accessories are a fun gift for wine lovers and something someone might not normally buy themselves, Hartten said. Different high heel shoes that hold a wine bottle upright are $29.99. Shoe-shaped wine stoppers are $12.99.
Swank Gifts is located at 48 S. Saint Clair St. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Lily’s at Levis
Lily’s at Levis offers “inspiration for the home and garden,” with a large selection of items.
“People come in probably to feel good,” said owner Judy Church. “They like to come in because they just enjoy the atmosphere and because we’re always changing stuff up.”
The store carries stock that varies from candles, jewelry and wall hangings to planters and gazing balls. For the holidays Lily’s carries a number of different ornaments, home decorations and tin snowmen for outside.
“We have such a large selection of unique items. So many shops don’t offer this large of a selection from modern to traditional. It’s something for everyone. You can get gifts for all girlfriends at once,” Church said.
The boutique carries gifts for all price ranges, with items starting at $5 and up. In addition to merchandise, Lily’s offers complimentary gift wrapping and gift certificates.
Lily’s is also happy to assist any men who are searching for gifts for their significant others.
“We have the pulse of what the women like. If they ask we can help guide them to the perfect gift,” Church said.
The most popular item at Lily’s is its candles, Church said. The store has carried the candles for nine years and it’s the most common item it ships out. All candles come in a glass container and are $18. Candle scents include the most popular “It Must be Christmas” (100 percent pine smell), “Sleigh Ride” (a walk in the woods smell) and “Warm and Cozy” (scent with a cinnamon flair).
Another popular gift at Lily’s is its jewelry boxes, Church said. The boxes vary in size with multiple compartments for earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Each box is painted with unique colors. The jewelry boxes are $45, $55 and $60, depending on size.
Lily’s is located at 2110 Levis Commons Blvd, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information about the store, visit lilysatlevis.com.
