By Abby Hathorn
Christmas is next week and finding the ideal gift for that special someone — sans congested check-out lines — can be tricky and a bit stressful. Instead of fighting the crowds at the mall, shop the incredible stores right here in your own backyard. To get you started, here is a small local holiday gift buying guide — finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones and supporting local businesses has never been so easy.
For the teen guy in your life, stop by A+ Tire and Auto Repair in Trussville and get him truck accessories he will love. “As far as truck accessories here at A+ Tire and Auto, we can do lift kits, leveling kits, step bars, bug guards, [truck] bed liners, and install truck tool boxes,” owner Erik Carmack said. “The most popular thing we do for gifts and in general would be tool boxes and lift kits.”
For the high school sports lovers, surprise them with merchandise from Apparel FX in Trussville. “The two most popular items people have been buying to give as gifts lately have been our team sweatshirts and hoodies,” owner Dustin Reaves said. “Other popular items would be our Hewitt and Clay phone cases, car window stickers and hats. We also offer gift certificates if someone cannot quite decide on the perfect Apparel FX gift.”
For the busy moms or the new moms, give them the gift of a clean house with a gift certificate from Faith Household Cleaning Services. “Cleaning houses and garages is my specialty,” said owner Tonya Jackson. “I can do light cleaning, deep cleaning, and clean out and organize garages. A gift certificate to Faith Household Cleaning Services is the perfect gift for a new mom because she can come home to a very clean house.”
For lovely no-fail gifts for all the women in your family, stop by O-Town Boutique in Springville for a fun shopping experience. “We carry handmade jewelry by local artisans, locally hand-knitted scarves and a really great candle line designed by Oh So Shabby,” said owner Teresa Downing. “We also have Silver jeans, Miss Me jeans and a variety of other things that would make perfect Christmas gifts. If you just cannot decide on what to give, we offer O-Town Boutique gift certificates.”
Now, it is time make your list, check it twice, and embark on your last-minute, local, holiday shopping quest. Oh, and do not forget to have a holly, jolly Christmas and a Happy New Year.