Monday, 19 September 2011

Kids want Gadgets for Christmas!

A new Shopzilla poll reveals what 6-12 year-olds want this Christmas. Santa is not taking austerity measures this Christmas judging by the poll which reveals that electronic pets, laptops, tablets, digital cameras and games consoles are likely to be piled up under the tree this year. On average children in the UK are expecting £167 to be spent on them by their parents, which may not be enough for some of the more costly toys in the list.

£167 is the average amount that 6-12 year olds expect their parents to spend on them in total with more than half anticipating their gifts will cost under £150 in total. The ‘gender pay gap’ may start at a very young age if this Shopzilla survey is any indicator – boys aged 6-12 expect an average of £183 spent on them by their parents this Christmas while the girls are expecting a total of £155 on average – 18% less than the boys. However, Cars 2 toys are just as popular with girls as boys, reaching number five on both male and female Christmas lists.

Kids want to be just like their parents with ‘grown-up’ items such as digital cameras, laptops, iPads and smart phones making the top ten. 14% of the children surveyed no longer play with or use last year’s top gift any more and 12% can’t remember the best gift they received last year.

Neil McCarthy, Sales and Marketing Director at Shopzilla said: “The sheer newness of a must-have item is what attracts many of these young shoppers. It’s not just about getting the right item, it often has to be a certain colour and a particular model. Retailers who anticipate these trends and are able to meet demand will be able to tap into the tech-savvy young market.”

Top 10 most-wanted GIRLS’ toys and gifts:

1. Laptop/tablet
2. Digital camera
3. Nintendo 3DS
4. Electronic Pet
5. Cars 2 Toy
6. A real pet (not a toy)
7. Mobile phone/smartphone
8. Games for a computer console
9. Lego
10. Games Console

Top 10 most-wanted BOYS’ toys and gifts:

1. Laptop/tablet
2. Electronic Pet
3. Nintendo 3DS
4. Digital camera
5. Cars 2 Toy
6. Games for a computer console
7. Lego
8. Mobile phone/smartphone
9. Games Console
10. Moshi Monsters

www.shopzillasolutions.co.uk

(EDITOR: Parents! Just bookmark That's Chirstmas and visit us regularly to check for stories about discounted gifts. I think parents will need all the help they can get, this Christmas!)

Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Your child stars in a Personalised Book and meets Father Christmas!


Get your kids involved in reading this Christmas – Star in a Personalised Book and meet Santa!

Personalised books are great for getting kids involved in reading and with this Christmas we’re helping you encourage your kids to read with this Christmassy adventure where your child meets Santa and saves Christmas!

Penwizard’s best selling personalised Christmas book is truly unique and ideal for any child this Christmas! Helping Santa save Christmas is any child’s dream and here at Penwizard we make all dreams come true!

Our best selling Christmas book includes your child on every page in the words and pictures. Simply personalise the character to look like your child and add their name – you can even add a personal message which is printed on the first page!

Make someone very happy this Christmas and visit www.penwizard.co.uk. All books delivered within 5 working days.

Personalisation:
- First name & Surname
- Hairstyle, colour & skin tone
- Town name
- Two best friends or relations
- Two adults

Book Specification
- Full colour gloss cover
- 24 Full colour pages
- Perfect bound paperback
- Size: 21 x 28 cm

Free P&P on all orders using code 251210 on the Penwizard site, terms ans conditions apply.

Sunday, 4 September 2011

Carluccio’s Festa Di Natale ~ The Christmas Party ~


Carluccio’s has been working all year round to bring you ~ Festa di Natale (The Christmas Party).

Carluccio’s team have travelled across Italy, meeting their favourite artisan producers and friends all of whom are dedicated to offering the highest quality products, to bring together the finest Italian food, drink and gifts for the festive season.

Oozing elegance, this year’s range of gifts is packaged in gorgeous gold, red and orange wrapping, finished with beautiful illustrations of the gifts within.

CARLUCCIO’S CHRISTMAS ~ TRADITIONAL ITALIAN TREATS

Iconic Italian Christmas cake panettone is a classic gift to give to friends and perfect to enjoy with the family over the festive period. Carluccio’s panettone is made with the finest quality ingredients and each one takes 24 hours to create.

Choose from Panettone Tradizionale (1Kg, £16.95), made with dried fruit, candied peel and topped with hazelnut icing or Panettone al Cioccolato (1Kg, £16.95), filled with pieces of milk and dark chocolate and also topped with hazelnut icing. If your tastes are molto piccolo, both the chocolate and traditional panettone are available in a mini version (60g, £3.95).

Buttery sponge cake Pandoro (1Kg, £16.95) is another classic Italian cake, meaning “golden bread”. Wrapped in beautiful orange paper, the kids will enjoy preparing this cake for the table as it comes with a pouch of icing sugar, which is poured over the cake and shaken while still in the bag. The end result is reminiscent of a snow-capped mountain.

Carluccio’s Tortionata (500g, £9.95) almond shortcake is handmade in Lombardia on the outskirts of Milan. The recipe dates back to the 1800s and is made from a mix of flour, Sicilian almonds, freshly-churned butter and a touch of lemon peel. This glorious cake is the perfect Christmas treat accompanied with a glass of Vin Santo or afternoon espresso.

Tuscan cake Panforte Bianco (300g, £9.95) is made by a family producer to a recipe that dates back to the Middle Ages – candied fruit, toasted almonds, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg are mixed together and the cake is dusted in sugar and hand wrapped to finish.

New to the range this year is Varchiglia alla Monacale from Calabria (300g, £9.95), a marzipan tart covered in a rich dark chocolate.

CARLUCCIO’S CHRISTMAS ~ FESTIVE TABLE

Carluccio’s delis will all be filled with the finest Parma hams, truffle oils, pastas, risottos, Prosecco and fine Italian wines to help you create the perfect festive banquet.

Get the party started with Carluccio’s Table Torpedo (£24.95), an exploding indoor centerpiece filled with colourful streamers, sweets and party accessories. Carluccio’s brightly coloured Mini Christmas crackers (6 x 30g, £12.95) contain a party hat, individually wrapped chocolates and Italian trivia to test your knowledge.

Be sure to have a jar or two of Carluccio’s Baci di Dama (‘ladies kisses’, 875g, £15.95) on hand near the dinner table – the tasty hazelnut biscuits with a chocolate filling are perfect to share with guests at the end of the meal. Or, why not top your table with Carluccio’s Grissini al Cioccolato (350g, £10.95), these sleek chocolate-coated breadsticks are a favourite of Antonio Carluccio!

CARLUCCIO’S CHRISTMAS ~ SWEETS & STOCKING FILLERS

The Festa di Natale chocolates and sweets this year are a celebration of Italian specialities. Clemente in Camicia (300g, £16.95) dark chocolate covered clementines come from Calabria; Grappini (85g, £7.95) chocolates filled with grappa liqueur from Perugia; and hazelnut Torrone (1Kg, £24.95) is made in Asti to a traditional recipe. Fill stockings with Carluccio’s Soldini net of coins (140g, £2.50); chocolate cigars (100g, £4.95); and Pupazzetti chocolate Santas (180g, £5.95).

Or, for a more grown up gift, Fichi Ricoperti (180g, £9.95) Calabrian figs are baked and then stuffed with walnut and citrus peel and covered in a thick dark chocolate.

CARLUCCIO’S CHRISTMAS ~ CARLUCCIO’S GIFT SETS

Carluccio’s range of Christmas gift boxes and hampers offer something for everyone this year. Choose from the classic Lui e Lei (‘his and hers’ £22.95) containing matching bottles of Emilia Romagna extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Foodies will love the Piatto di Risotto box (£29.95) filled with everything you need to make and enjoy a classic risotto at home – risotto rice, fonduta cheese & truffle sauce, olive oil, a bottle of

Rosso del Veneto wine and a risotto spoon.

Perfect for those with a sweet tooth the Celebrazione gift set (£35) includes a bottle of prosecco, hazelnut truffles and slices of nutty torrone arranged in a beautiful red box; and, if you really want to impress, choose La Festa (offered in two sizes £95/£60), packed with a wide range of Carluccio’s classics foodie favourites.

CARLUCCIO’S CHRISTMAS ~ SHOPPING EVENINGS

On Thursday 1st and Thursday 8th December, from 6pm, Carluccio’s caffès across the UK will be a hub
of festive cheer as shoppers enjoy a 10% discount on the entire Christmas range. Browse and select your favourite gifts whilst enjoying a complimentary winter-warming glass of vino cotto (traditional mulled wine) and piccoli assaggi (festive canapés).

CARLUCCIO’S CHRISTMAS ~ ENTERTAINING

Whether you’re planning a large office do or small gathering, Carluccio’s can cater for your Christmas event. Pop into your local foodshop where knowledgeable and helpful staff can help you select the best wines and plan your bespoke party menu.

Choose from fabulous Italian antipasti platters (from £30), whole Parma hams (4.5Kg £120), and individual stuzzichini (canapés, from £1.60 each) including moreish arancini con mozzarella (mini risotto rice balls with mozzarella) and gambero alla pancetta (large prawns wrapped in Parma ham).

Buon Natale from Carluccio’s!

www.carluccios.com
 
twitter: @carluccioscaffe

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Let Swizzels Matlow bring you the sweetest Christmas, ever!

Top UK sweet makers, Swizzels Matlow Ltd have introduced a new range of Chirstmas sweet treat stocking fillers.

Swizzels Matlow is as great a tradition as Fish and Chips, and probably with older roots, and their new range of gigantic and Christmas decorated tubes will be a great addition to anyone's stocking this Christmas. And they contain no artificial colours and are eminently suitable for vegetarians, too.

And if you have to buy Chirstmas confectionery for people who either do not like chocolate or who are allergic to chocolate, these gigantic tubes (they come filled with Love Hearts, Drumsticks or Refreshers) will comes as a real festive treat for them.

As Sarah-Louise Heslop, the marketing manager at Swizzels Matlow points out: "This exciting new Christmas range is the perfect stocking filler or gift for relatives or friends who you are stuck to buy something for. They provide a refreshing alternative to chocolate and are the first in a new range of Christmas products."

Swizzels Matlow is the UKs largest family-owned independent sugar confectioners and one of the very few firms still making sweets within the UK, so buying their sweets makes a lot of sense!

Also look out for their Rainbow Drops, Double Lollies, Fruity Pops, etc.