Guest post by Lindsay Peterson

It’s the end of the year and yes – as Gini Dietrich said, I am a last-minute shopper (and proud of it).  But not everyone is. Some people, like my colleague, Lindsay Peterson, actually think ahead!  So… in the spirit of the season, here’s a guest post by Lindsay on the holidays and some ideas to make it through the next 24 hours – gifts intact:

The office is buzzing with holiday cheer! We’ve welcomed Jon and Lynnette and welcomed BACK a very familiar face (OK Naz), trimmed the tree, over-indulged on gingerbread cookies, juggled client holiday schedules and sifted through the abundance of awesome media coverage we’ve been waiting for all year!  It’s simply the most wonderful time of the year!

I have vivid memories of running down the stairs at the age of six to find a custom-made dollhouse from my grandparents and asking for, and subsequently receiving, a Play-Doh Ice Cream Shoppe when I was decidedly far too old for it. Every year around this time I get a very warm, fuzzy feeling.  I look forward to strolling down the snow covered sidewalks of Yorkville Avenue, grabbing a Starbucks Sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Skim Milk Latte and fighting the crowds around the beauty counters at Holt Renfrew.  Ahhhhh…  That’s what the holidays mean to me.

And since I’m typically finished my holiday gift shopping by December 1st, I can pay it forward by passing on three tips to surviving the last minute shopping madness.

  1. Avoid shopping between 1 and 2 pm on December 24. That’s the busiest time according to an article in today’s Toronto Star.  Instead, take advantage of  holiday hours and shop right before closing time.
  2. Make lists and stick to them.  I think throughout the month of December I have an ongoing list in my head – not only Christmas shopping for family and friends but grocery shopping for all the holiday functions – dinners, cocktail parties and office shin-digs. There are a number of great Apps to keep track of your shopping – one being Grocery Gadget for iPhone.
  3. Use what you have. One thing I hate is standing in line to buy wrapping paper. Reuse and recycle by keeping bags, tissue and wrapping paper from the year before (I haven’t bought wrapping items in years).  Use what’s around the house to liven up packaging – enviro bags (such as the leopard print bags from Joe Fresh for $1!), magazine pages to wrap small gifts or even coloured napkins in place of tissue paper.

Happy (late) shopping and happy holidays to all!

About Martin Waxman


Martin Waxman, MCM, is a digital communications strategist. He conducts AI research, leads digital and social media training workshops and speaks at events across North America. He's co-founder of two PR agencies, president of a consultancy and has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years. Martin is a LinkedIn Learning instructor, teaches digital strategy and social media at McMaster University, the Schulich School of Business, University of Toronto SCS and Seneca College. He's a member of the Institute for Public Relations Digital Media Research Center and a past-chair of PRSA Counselors Academy. He has a Master of Communications Management (MCM) from McMaster-Syracuse Universities.