Online Retailers See Surge in Last Minute Gift Purchases

Websites that offer gift giving solutions for the last minute Christmas shopper see sharp increase in sales as the holiday approaches.

HUNTSVILLE, AL (PRWEB) December 18, 2003 --The winter roads will find many frustrated last minute shoppers as the Christmas clock winds down. Couple this with trying to have something shipped to Aunt Betty across the country and the difficulties just mount. Simply put, many consumers dont have the time to navigate the aisles of their favorite department store along with a visit to the local shipping service. For the online retailers who address this need, there is a booming business.

Every day we approach Christmas, we see the number of gift packages go up" says Bill Peer, President and CEO of Los Tomases Candle Makers LLC. The convenience cant be beat ... people really like the idea of picking out a candle gift set, writing a personal note, and having us handle all the shipping details", Peer continues. The ease of one stop shopping is indeed alluring to customers. However, the companys shipping policy obviously helps. The votive candle company will route packages within the Continental U.S. at no charge and imposes no minimums for this perk. Our customers love the free shipping and use it to send gifts all over the country" offers Peer.

With the crush of purchases that accompany the holiday season, online stores have to be geared up to get packages out the door quickly. Approaches to this include elongating operating hours, having stock ready to ship, and a streamlined distribution model that works with the carrier service. Los Tomases Candle Makers covers the bases by doing all three. Peer states we work with the natural ebb and flow of our carrier FedEx, and that gives us the confidence that we can get our shipments to their destinations before Christmas."

But just how late can someone purchase a gift and have it delivered by Christmas? According to Peer, if a customer places a gift order on their website, http://www.OnlyVotives.com, by 3PM, December 19th, it will make it to its destination in the U.S. by Christmas. This is a bold claim. However, Peer suggests that it is reasonable since FedEx offers guaranteed three day shipments.

A gift bought, personalized, and shipped anywhere within the 48 states for less than $14 is a deal hard to beat. Christmas shoppers everywhere are starving for such services. For the online retailer with a streamlined distribution model capable of handling this need, it truly is a Christmas season.

About Los Tomases Candle Makers LLC
Known as the source for hard to find quality votives, Los Tomases Candle Makers LLC offers over fifty different flavors of the finest scented votive candles. The company maintains its reputation for consistently producing the finest votives by using the same machines and processes since 1944. Through its online store http://www.OnlyVotives.com, Los Tomases Candle Makers offers free shipping within the continental United States.
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