MANILA, Philippines — The best kind of gifts are not only affordable — they're also thoughtful and meaningful for those we give them to.
Christmas shopping is practically a marathon — it’s all about finishing our long lists before the big day. With so many things going on in between, shopping, wrapping, and giving gifts should be the least of our worries.
For me, this is why National Book Store (NBS) is one of my favorite places to buy presents. They’ve got a lot of gift options that are not only affordable, but they’re also meaningful and thoughtful. The best gifts are the ones that put the recipient first in mind: What are their interests? What are their lifestyles like? Sometimes, even knowing what their favorite color is could go a long way. (Mine is pink, by the way.)
At NBS, the choices are plentiful, but not overwhelming. To make gift-shopping easier this Christmas, NBS has created different zones that cater to our most important holiday needs. There’s the Christmas Zone, Gift-Wrapping Zone, and the Gift Zone — each one making the shopping experience easier and actually, pretty fun to do.
Presents, decor, and so much more
The Christmas Zone includes a customization bar for select NBS stores, which allows you to customize gifts like wallets, notebook, pens, and even gift wrapper. There’s also a Books of the Year tree, which will display 2018’s bestselling books — perfect for finding the ideal paperback for your book-loving friends and family. Still feeling clueless? NBS has got a 100 Great Gifts to Give display, featuring — you got it — 100 gifting options that you can get for someone, or even for yourself. The curated selection includes exclusive items, collaborations, and even seasonal treats. Best part is? The price range goes between P100 and P1000. Of course, the Christmas Zone wouldn’t be complete without a bit of ornamental cheer. Christmas decorations are all available at NBS — from towering, snow-tipped trees to miniature ornaments that you can display on your office desk.
For any personality, at any price
NBS also has a special area for those looking for the best gifts for all the people in their lives. In the store’s Gift Zone, products and bundles are thoughtfully arranged based on budget or even personality. The area has a lot of categories: gifts for family, gifts for friends, gifts for officemates, and even for that special someone. To make it even more convenient, NBS has areas for price points between P50 to P500. No need to bust the bank just to make it an extra special Christmas.
Signed, sealed, delivered
Okay — you’ve got your decorations and your gifts, what to do next? The Gift-Wrapping Zone ought to be your next stop. The Gift-Wrapping Zone ought to be your next stop. There are QR codes that can teach you how to wrap gifts yourselves, if you feel like a bit of DIY. You can also attend their DIY weekends to learn them firsthand; just go to their Facebook page for the schedule. They’ve also got a simple five-step process (Choose your wrapper, washi tape, ribbon, tag, and even your preferred wrapping style.) You can get a lot more done while the NBS team takes care of all your gift-wrapping, and come back to all your presents ready to be placed under the tree.
With so much going on, it’s easy to lose sight of what Christmas really means: being with our loved ones over the holidays. Thanks to the convenience of shopping at National Book Store, we get to do that and give them the kind of gifts that say, “Hey, this made me think of you.” After all, that’s what makes Christmas truly meaningful, when we give it that extra special touch of love and cheer.