LAST-MINUTE HOLIDAY DEALS & STEALS FROM ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP SHOPPING JOURNALIST CLAUDIA LOMBANA
Emmy & Peabody-Award Winning Journalist Claudia Lombana Explains How Waiting until the Last-Minute can Save Money for Savvy Shoppers
How many of us have found ourselves in a drug store or gas stations desperate to find a last-minute gift? Now, what consumers may not realize is that sometimes waiting until the last minute can actually save plenty of money. Emmy and Peabody-Award winning journalist Claudia Lombana is available to share some of her super last-minute shopping secrets, when more than 1,000 merchants offer free shipping and guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve.
BACKGROUND: Lombana regularly shares her insight and expertise with national television audiences. She is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top shopping specialists, providing advice and data for media and major businesses. Her tips and advice regularly appear in national publications, including The New York Times, USA Today and many others. The two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and Peabody Award winner provides advice on topics ranging from shopping trends to fraud protection. As a journalist, she has traveled the world covering news stories for CNN, CBS, FOX, Tech TV and E! News.
GIFT SUGGESTION THAT EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY CAN ENJOY
I think I see something for every stocking I need to stuff. This year, giving the gift of Disney is also one the best Holiday bargains too – from now until December 24th your favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies will have a special discount –(point and name) From Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Marvel Captain America: Civil War, Alice Through the Looking Glass to Finding Dory, Zootopia, The Good Dinosaur, the BFG or Pete’s Dragon and The Jungle Book AND the animated classics Beauty and the Beast and Snow White signature editions — you can mix and match to bring home this year’s biggest hits. The special pricing is available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital at major retailers everywhere or go to Movies.Disney.com/watch-at-home
A TECH GIFT THAT SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE’S LIST THIS YEAR
The new LifeProof FRE phone cases from Verizon to protect your smartphone from water damage and from accidental drops. It’s available for popular smartphones like the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7, Google Pixel and others. Unlike other phone cases, Lifeproof FRE cases also protect the touchscreen portion of your phone with a practically invisible scratch protector, while delivering full access to every feature and function. With a LifeProof case, a phone can being submerged in up to 6.6 feet of water for an hour, can endure drops from up to four feet and provides complete protection from snow, ice, dirt and sand. The Lifeproof FRE cases are lightweight and slim in design and come in a variety of colors including some with different color combinations, so no matter who you are buying it for an aunt, father-in-law or a clumsy cousin, they will love their case. Most of the cases cost less than $100, making it a great last-minute gift. For those who purchase a LifeProof case from Verizon, they will also receive a one-year Total Water Protection Plan for accidental water damage. For more information, visit www.VerizonWireless.com
HIGH-TECH LAST-MINUTE GIFT FOR THE HOME
What about a present that keeps everyone comfortable year round? The ecobee3 thermostat is the perfect gift for the holidays – these are super high tech and they give you the freedom to control the temperature of your home using an app on your smartphone. The ecobee3 is the smartest thermostat on the market; it can measure temperature and occupancy in multiple rooms of your home, eliminating hot and cold spots in the house. On average you can save 23% on your heating and cooling costs. The ecobee3 smart thermostat works seamlessly with a number of smart home platforms including Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Wink. It’s a gift that will delight. No question. For more information, visit www.ecobee.com
GIFTS FOR CO-WORKERS
I just read about some very interesting research that might help you narrow in on the best gift for that boss or employee at work. The Deloitte Greenhouse Experience team has identified four Business Chemistry types based on different working styles. Every office has four types. They are called PIONEERS, DRIVERS, GUARDIANS and INTEGRATORS.
PIONEERS are employees who are outgoing, spontaneous and love trying new things. So I scoured the internet and came up with some great gift ideas for PIONEERS. They will enjoy unique concert experiences, virtual reality gear or unique learning opportunities such as bull riding classes.
DRIVERS are those employees who seek challenge, are goal-oriented, and tend to embrace technology. For those guys, I’m suggesting games that focus on construction and building challenges, or the latest digital tools that can help them get things done more quickly.
GUARDIANS are methodical and reserved. I think gifts like some noise cancelling headphones or magazine subscriptions, are perfect to help these guys relax. (or something that helps them plan / organize)
INTEGRATORS are highly empathetic and like to make connections. I think a nice bottle of wine or tabletop conversation starter cards would be perfect for them.
You really have to know who you are buying for. For more information visit, www.deloitte.com/us/businesschemistry