The holiday season is here, and it’s time to get gifts for your friends and loved ones. And when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts online, the trick lies in knowing where to look for. This CelebrationJoy article takes you on a virtual shopping trip as you explore a few great sites and what each one has to offer.
“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”
―Dale Evans Rogers
This beautiful quote sums up the spirit of Christmas―a time for giving and letting our loved ones know that we love them and we care. It’s the time for fun, celebration and merry-making, and the time for giving gifts. Talking of gifts, it can be quite a task to choose a gift for each one on your list, and then go out looking for them. After all, we want our gifts to be really special and appeal to the people receiving them.
While you can always visit a store near you, it’s far more convenient and fun to buy Christmas gifts online, where you can avail amazing deals and browse through hundreds of items before you finally make a choice. But are all sites the same? Definitely not, and you should have a fair idea of where to look for if you want gifts that are unique in every way.
Best Websites to Shop for Christmas Gifts Online
Okay, so you’ve made up your mind to shop online. What next? Well, the next step probably is to browse through this little list that we, at Buzzle, have compiled for you, before you grab your credit card and go click … click … click! Note that we haven’t included popular sites, such as ebay and amazon, for the simple reason that they are known to all and we have chosen to include some exclusive sites instead.
Disclaimer: The images are for representational purposes only and are not of the products sold on any of the sites.
1. Fat Brain Toys
Shop For : Great stuff for kids
Looking for a gift that your kid’s sure to love? This site has an amazing collection of stuff that makes great gifts for kids. Claiming to be the “single largest selection of American-made toys found anywhere”, this site has a huge collection of high quality toys that are safe for kids of all ages, and are even designed to educate the tiny tots. You can find toys classified under 30 different categories, or use the Quick Search box to find what you’re looking for. A unique feature is the Gift Bot that helps you zero in on the “perfect gift” by using an array of filters, such as gender and age of the child, your budget, and the country of origin of the toy.
Shipping time for locations in the U.S is not more than 24 hours for in-stock items. However, for other locations, there’s a shipping calculator on every product page that lets you know the approximate shipping time once you enter your zip code.
Why Shop Here?
- Great discounts on stocking stuffers and other gifts
- Flat shipping rate of $3.99 for the entire season, anywhere in the U.S.
- Currently, shipping is available to over 130 countries around the world.
- You can choose from 4 delivery methods to make sure that your gift reaches your loved ones before Christmas
- 24-hours before and after sales support
- 90-day return policy
Other Sites to Look For :
- Hearth Song
- Hamleys
- Yoyo
- Young Explorers
2. Treat her
Shop For : Great gifts for her
Finding that perfect gift for that beautiful woman in your life can be difficult indeed, and Treat her is a site that can truly come to your rescue. Visit the site to behold an amazing collection of gifts that are one-of-a-kind and placed under different categories. Click on the tab that says Christmas Gifts, and you’ll find sub-categories that will effectively narrow down your search―personalized gifts, decorations, romantic gifts, jewelry, stocking fillers, and so on. You can also shop for some cool gifts for your mom from this site. However, there are no deals on offer as of now.
Even though it is a UK-based site, it offers international delivery to Europe, Middle East, Africa, USA and Canada. Delivery to the U.S and Canada takes a maximum of 5 working days. The site offers a 30-day return policy.
Why Shop Here?
- The site promises a gift collection that is ” luxurious, beautiful and deeply indulgent”.
- The gifts are carefully chosen and sourced from around the world.
- Awesome range of personalized gifts
- Unique products on offer that you probably won’t find anywhere else
Other Sites to Look For :
- The Happy Woman Store
- Red Envelope
- Etsy
- Aha Life
3. Treat him
Shop For : Great gifts for him
The name says it all―this site is designed to help you find the perfect Christmas treat for your guy, and there are no dearth of options to choose from. To begin with, the site has a simple and neat design and has the gifts sorted under relevant categories. Just like their other brand Treat her, the site specializes in personalized gifts, each one unique in its own way. Add to it, a range of delivery options to make it easier for last-minute shoppers long with secure and flexible payment modes, and you have a website that you’re sure to love. Its tag line says, “What do you give the man who has everything? It can often be difficult to buy gifts for men … Until now!”, and the site sure has some cool answers to this.
Even though it is a UK-based site, it offers international delivery to Europe, Middle East, Africa, USA and Canada. Delivery to the U.S and Canada takes a maximum of 5 working days. The site offers a 30-day return policy.
Why Shop Here?
- The site claims that it is designed to help you find a gift for a guy in no time and without much thought.
- Here you’ll find some unusual gifts that you less likely to find anywhere else.
- Every gift comes in a luxury gift box.
- Amazing range of customized stuff
- Makes it easy to find gifts for guys
Other Sites to Look For :
- Men’s Gift Shop
- Tiffany
- Cool Material
- Brookstone
4. Asos
Shop For : Apparels and Accessories
One of the most popular shopping destinations for everything chic, this site is a name to reckon with, and your one-stop shop for everything trendy, be it for men, women or kids. It has some amazing deals on offer to begin with, and an entire collection to rock your Christmas eve party. You’ll find new range of dresses, funky sweatshirts and jumpers, with the “hottest buys” for the season, be it for work or party. There’s a gift guide that tells you what to buy for someone after asking you to answer a few fun questions about him/her. What’s more, if you’re gifting yourself, you can get style advice by renowned stylists, and a know-how of the latest trends, all at a click of the mouse!
The site is based in the U.K, but delivers to the U.S. and offers two different shipping methods. For shipping to the U.S. before Christmas, the last order date for Standard delivery is before midnight of 16th Dec, while that for Express delivery is before midnight of 19th Dec.
Why Shop Here?
- Over 60,000 branded and own-brand products
- 7.1 million active customers for the last 12 months
- An amazing collection at never-before prices
- 30% discount on its P.A.R.T.Y. range of designer apparel, and 25% discount on the top menswear brands.
- 10% discount for students
- Termed as the “online wonder store” by a famous fashion magazine.
Other Sites to Look For :
- Gilt
- Polyvore
- Shopbop
- Amazon
5. Ice
Shop For : Fine jewelry
If you’re looking for a great site that exclusively caters to jewelry, then this is a site you cannot afford to miss out, if not for anything else, then definitely for its exhaustive collection of exquisite jewelry. Along with separate sections dedicated to rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, the site has a section that caters to gifts, and allows you to browse through jewelry of a definite price range, from less than $100 to over $1,000. What’s more, here you can find jewelry in gold, silver, and rare metals. I really fell in love with their collection of Glamorousand Classic jewelry (both under the Gifts tab).
The site offers four different shipping methods and offers free shipping for orders of $79.00 USD or more by their Premium Economy shipping method. The time of delivery can vary from 7-10 working days to 1-2 working days, depending on the method of delivery you choose. The site offers a 30-day return policy.
Why Shop Here?
- Millions of happy customers worldwide
- Listed by the Internet Retailer as one of the top shopping sites online.
- There’s something to suit every taste
- The site promises a beautiful package for every purchase
- Money-back guarantee available
Other Sites to Look For :
- Zappos
- Stelladot
- Elle Jewelry
- Bauble Bar
6. Wayfair
Shop For : Items of home decor
If your idea of a Christmas gift is nothing but beautiful artifacts and other stuff to decorate a home, then Wayfair is the way to go. It covers every aspect of a home, including decor, furniture, bed and bath, and lighting. What makes the site unique is that it procures stuff that is featured in popular interior design magazines, and has one section each dedicated to Coastal Living, Country Living, Sunset,HGTV, and This Old House. So, if you’re choosing a gift for someone who’s passionate about home decor, all you need to do is gift him/her stuff from his/her favorite magazine. It’s that easy! Or else, just click on the the Shop Holiday tab, and you’re taken into a world of gift ideas for people of every age group, and with different interests.
The site offers four different shipping options and promises secure shipping. You can opt for white-glove delivery for large and/or fragile items. The time of delivery varies with the type of product you order and you’ll find it mentioned on the product page.
Why Shop Here?
- More than 11,000 brands across different product categories.
- Rated by the Inc 500 as one of the top 10 online retailers for home goods in 2007.
- The Holiday Gift Finder helps you choose the right gift
- Up to 70% discounts on stuff for the holiday season
- You can buy gift coupons for your loved ones too.
Other Sites to Look For :
- H&M
- Home Decorators
- Circa Lighting
- Zara Home
7. Gadgets and Gear
Shop For : Gadgets and cell phones
If you have a gadget freak on your list of recipients for Christmas gifts, then this site is definitely worth a visit. It has all sorts of funky gadgets and some out-of-this-world but useful gear in designs that you probably never thought could exist. A case in point is the Matrix LED Digital Watch, which is a cool pick for $29.95, or the Melting Clock for as little as $14.95. Just browse through this site and you shall find similar stuff, including geeky stocking stuffers.
The site offers two shipping options for deliveries within the U.S. – ground shipping and 2nd day shipping. According to the site, the time of delivery for ground shipping is 2-7 working days.
Why Shop Here?
- The site is growing in popularity and has been featured in top publications, including CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNET, Gizmodo, etc.
- The coolest gifts for gadget freaks on offer
- Great discounts on Christmas gifts
- Free shipping on order of $99 USD or more, within the U.S.
Other Sites to Look For :
- In Stash
- Dude I Want That
- Firebox
8. Barnes & Noble
Shop For : Books and e-books
Moving on from gadgets to books, this is a cool site if you have books on your agenda for Christmas gifts. You can even opt for e-books or choose DVDs as a gift. The site has a decent collection of DVD versions of your favorite TV soaps for you to choose from. Do you have a kin who can never seem to have enough of his favorite TV shows? Well, then you know what to gift him/her this Christmas, isn’t it? What’s more, the site gives you the biggest reason to try e-books if you haven’t done so yet―50% off on e-book versions of bestsellers you’ve always wished to read. So, gift yourself a Nook, and get started.
The shipping time varies with the product you buy and also depends on the availability of the product. However, gift certificates are sent immediately to your e-mail account.
Why Shop Here?
- With more than 1 million titles for immediate delivery, it is the Internet’s biggest bookstore.
- Over 60,000+ titles in the DVD and Blu-ray store.
- The B&N Music Store has been been ranked the best on the Web by Forbes.com.
- You can purchase gift cards
- The home page showcases the week’s biggest books.
Other Sites to Look For :
- Books a Million
- Amazon
- Abe Books
- Waterstones
9. Restaurant
Shop For : Great deals on dining out
If you have a friend who’s a foodie, then nothing can be a better gift than a coupon/certificate for dining at a favorite restaurant, and that’s when a great site like this one comes into the picture. Here, you can browse through mouth-watering deals at your favorite restaurants (provided they have one on offer), and all you need to do is enter the state, city, or zip code in the search box. And if you have no clue about your friend’s favorite restaurant, then there’s no reason to panic. Just select the category of food that you think he/she would prefer and bingo! You’ll have a list of restaurants in that category that have deals on offer. You can even browse through reviews of the different restaurants before you purchase a deal, or take a quick look at the menu.
Needless to say, the coupon is delivered immediately to your e-mail account.
Why Shop Here?
- It is the nation’s largest dining deals site, with more than 50,000 dining deals on offer in restaurants across the nation.
- You can read real user reviews before you seal a deal
- Useful filters help you zero down on the exact location
Other Sites to Look For :
- Groupon
- Best Meal Deals
- Crate and Barrel
10. Travel Products
Shop For : Travel products
This site boasts of an entire range of products that are designed to appeal to people who are mostly on-the-go and love everything about it. So, there’s every kind of stuff, from luggage locks to passport cases to portable travel shelves―all at a discounted price for the season. Makes you want to set off on your own Christmas trip? Well, there’s another reason to buy gifts from this site and that is the Holiday Gift Guide, which gives separate lists of gifts to choose from, depending on your budget.
The site offers two shipping methods for shipping within the U.S.- one takes 2 working days and the other ships overnight.
Why Shop Here?
- The site claims to offer the finest travel products at the lowest prices.
- The site promises 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- The site promises 100% secure shopping.
- Has everything that a traveler can possibly want
- Free shipping on orders above $50
- No sales tax
- Easy returns
Other Sites to Look For :
- Travel Smith
- Magellan’s
- American Express
- Timbuk2
11. E-corporate gifts
Shop For : Corporate gifts
Corporate gifts are nothing but gifts that the employer of a firm gifts his/her employees and/or to his/her customers and business associates. Corporate gifts are different from other gifts because they are meant to represent the brand image of a company. You’ll often find corporate gifts engraved with the logo of the company or with colors associated with it. This site offers you a range of options to choose from, and has categories that include gifts on a budget, and corporate gift ideas for people in different professions. Note that you’ll have to bear additional charges for imprinting your company logo on the merchandise sold on the site.
The site offers overnight shipping on some items, but the delivery time varies with the type of item, and you’ll find it mentioned on the product page.
Why Shop Here?
- The site claims to be the most comprehensive website for corporate gifts.
- Every product comes with an assured guarantee.
- Wide range of gifts under different categories
- Live helpline for assistance
- You can even order for a single piece (unimprinted)
Other Sites to Look For :
- Corporate Gifts Showcase
- Everything Corporate
- Corporate Gifts Co.
- Mymms
12. Uncommon Goods
Shop For : Unique and one-of-a-kind stuff
The last site on our list is one that caters to products from different categories―home décor, office, dining, leisure, and accessories―but each one lives up to the name of the site and is unique and hard-to-find. So, if you’re looking for some quirky gifts to surprise your bunch of close friends this Christmas, then this is definitely going to be your one-stop shop. What’s more, if you’re someone who loves handmade stuff, then the section on handmade gifts is a must-see. We loved a lot of stuff on the site, and this beautiful maple leaf-shaped light simply took our breath away! Another good reason to shop from this site is their Better to Give program that helps you donate $1 for every purchase you make, and that too to a charitable institution of your choice.
The site offers five different shipping options for you to choose from, the delivery time is 2, 3, 5, or 9 business days, in addition to overnight shipping.
Why Shop Here?
- It’s an environment-friendly site.
- Loads of creative stuff at affordable prices.
- The Better to Give initiative celebrates the spirit of Christmas
Other Sites to Look For :
- Scientifics Online
- Super Happy Store
- Threadless
- Prezzybox
That brings us to the end of the list. So, have you decided on what gifts to buy this Christmas and where to shop from? With the hope that you find some really cool gifts, I sign off. Merry Christmas!