SO IT'S four days to Christmas and the space under your tree is still woefully empty? Fret not.
You still have the weekend to hit the streets for a last-minute hunt for presents. Extended shopping hours are in full swing at most major retail belts so you can stay out till late.
To help you out, here's a guide to where you can score some festive buys at good prices. Happy shopping.
IF YOU WANT TO GO TO ONLY ONE PLACE...
and dread the aimless shoparound, hit these department stores for a fuss-free trip.
Top on our list is Tangs(310 & 320 Orchard Road; 01-187 VivoCity). The store offers Christmas shopping conveniences that include free home delivery with a minimum purchase of $300 and a 'shopping tag' service.
The latter allows shoppers to collect a tag from the customer service counter and flash it to sales staff whenever they want to buy an item. All selections will be promptly collated at the customer service counter where a one-time payment can be made.
Each store also has a DHL Service Point where customers can make instant deliveries to loved ones overseas via the courier service.
Bonus shopping treats include a free pouch worth $49 for a minimum of $300 spent at Tang+Co Women and a free vintage velvet frame purse for a minimum of $150 spent at Wardrobe Women.
At Robinsons(05-05 Centrepoint; 03-01 Raffles City), shoppers enjoy 15 per cent off women's, men's, kids' and home items, and 20 per cent off toiletries and health supplements. Exclusions apply, so check in-store for details. All OCBC credit cardholders enjoy 20 per cent off storewide. These offers last till Monday.
From now till Sunday, OCBC Robinsons Visa cardmembers get a $20 voucher with a minimum spending of $250. All other OCBC cardholders have to spend $280 to qualify.
IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH EXPENSIVE TASTES...
and you're not David Gan, we feel your pain. But lucky for your soon-to-be-lighter Prada wallet, more than a few designer labels are hawking their wares for less this festive season.
All Club 21 stores - except Pomellato, iShop, Duchy Chocolates, SuperNature and Shambhala - are having a sale till the middle of next month, with items from the autumn/winter 2007 collection going at discounts of 30 to 50 per cent. The stores include the three multi-label boutiques - Club 21 and Club 21 Men at Four Seasons Hotel and Blackjack at Forum The Shopping Mall - and brands like Armani Exchange, Balenciaga and Donna Karan. For a full run-down of Club 21 stores here, visit www.club21.global.com
As the well-heeled would say, you can never have too many pairs of shoes, or bags, for that matter. Visit chic footwear and accessories boutique On Pedder(02-12P/Q Ngee Ann City) where most brands, including Marc Jacobs, Chloe and Stella McCartney, are going for up to 40 per cent off. The store also has a range of festive accessories at pretty affordable prices. Check out sunglasses by DVB by Victoria Beckham at $610, Sandy Vohr leather stuffed animals at $140 to $260 and Valexta travel pouches at $420.
At Stuart Weitzman(02-12E Ngee Ann City), the famed designer's creations are going at up to 40 per cent off. At Pedder Red(03-16 Ngee Ann City), there is a 30 to 50 per cent discount on most items till Dec 29.
Follow the smell of quality leather to Bottega Veneta(01-43/44 Paragon; Level 2, Takashimaya), where sale items from the fall/winter 2007 collection are on 30 per cent discount till the end of next month.
At Coach(01-34/35 Raffles City Shopping Centre; Level 1, Takashimaya), selected wares from its fall/winter 2007 range are at 30 per cent off, while stocks last. Bag these buys: The Gigi at $1,102.50 (usual price: $1,575) and the Ergo Patent Leather Tote at $661.50 (usual price: $945).
The Orient goes on sale at Shanghai Tang(02-12G Ngee Ann City) with 20 to 40 per cent off selected men's, women's, kids' and homeware items. The offer lasts till Tuesday.
From now till Monday, shoppers also enjoy a gift with purchase. Spend at least $500 to get freebies such as a travel umbrella and a nylon credit card holder.
The brand's Holiday Collection 2007 includes a limited-edition Kotur range, a set of acrylic trays and chests for the home.
IF YOUR BUDGET IS MORE HIGH-STREET THAN HIGH-FASHION...
there's no shame in that, really. The year-end sales at American labels Gap(01-129 VivoCity; 01-18/23 Wisma Atria) and Banana Republic(02-06/07 & 03-06/07 Paragon) should be ample hunting ground for gifts. Get 30 per cent off stylish staples till Jan 6 and Dec 31 respectively.
For every $100 that you spend at Topshop/Topman(03-16/21 & 02-18/24 Wisma Atria; 01-72 VivoCity) and Dorothy Perkins(02-338/339 Marina Square; 01-17/18/19 BHG Bugis) from now till Monday, you get a 'sure-win' shot at prizes that range from a $10 Shophopper Gift Card to a Samsung Bluetooth earpiece. For Miss Selfridge(03-48A/49 Paragon; 01-25/26 Wisma Atria), the minimum spending for a 'sure-win' chance is $120, while shoppers at Ben Sherman(03-48 Paragon) and Warehouse(01-72 VivoCity; 02-25/26/27/58 Wisma Atria) need to spend $180.
Customers who participate in the 'sure-win' promotion also qualify for a weekly draw to win a return air ticket and accommodation to London and Paris.
As part of the same Christmas promotion that lasts till Monday, shoppers will receive a $50 voucher for every $300 spent at Maxstudio.com(02-36 Paragon; 02-09/10 Wisma Atria) and an $80 voucher for every $500 spent at Karen Millen(02-16/17 Wisma Atria).
From now till Jan 20, Karen Millen, Maxstudio.com and Warehouse also have end-of-season sales, where you can enjoy up to 50 per cent off selected items.
Pick up separates in every colour for your buddies at G2000's(02-337 Marina Square; B1-11 Ngee Ann City) year-end sale. Discounts go up to 50 per cent and G2000 VIP card members get an additional 15 per cent off. Good buys include cotton ribbed tanks at $10 and women's pants and sweaters from $29. From now till Jan 6.
At Guess?(B1-24A/28 Ngee Ann City; 01-014/016 Suntec City), selected pieces are at 30 to 50 per cent off. Shop on weekends and you get an additional 15 per cent off when you buy two items.
For fun and flirty girlfriends, head to lingerie and sleepwear store La Senza(03-01 Paragon; 01-03 Plaza Singapura). Fall merchandise is going at 50 per cent off but also check out the value-for-money holiday collection 'bundles', where you can get get two pyjama sets for $75, five pairs of panties for $25 or $30 and so on.
At adidas(04-35 Paragon; B1-25/27 One Raffles Link) stores, some seasonal items are marked down by up to 30 per cent till Wednesday.
Spend $60 nett at Fox(01-29 VivoCity; B2-34/35 Ngee Ann City) from now till Monday and you'll get a Fox Fashion Pass stored-value card with $10 thrown in for free.
To surprise the young 'uns, visit kids' boutique Okaidi(03-31/32 Raffles City Shopping Centre) to get regular items at a 20 per cent discount till Dec 31. At fashion boutiques Cortefiel (01-20/21 Raffles City Shopping Centre),Springfield(01-19 Raffles City Shopping Centre) and Pedro del Hierro(01-22 Raffles City Shopping Centre), get 30 per cent off selected items with any purchase till the middle of next month.
Regular merchandise is 10 per cent off at shoe store Camper(01-21 VivoCity) till year-end, while selected items are up to 50 per cent off at outdoor wear boutique Roots(01-45 Suntec City), while stocks last.
IF YOU'VE GOT HOUSE-PROUD FRIENDS AND FAMILY...
buy them something to spruce up their pads. From now till Tuesday, accessories at Barang Barang(05-01 Plaza Singapura; 03-01 Singapore Post Centre) are going at 30 per cent off. Designer furniture store Space(Level 2, Millenia Walk) is offering up to 45 per cent off brands like B&B Italia, Poliform, Cassina, Fritz Hansen and Kartell till Jan 20.
At Lim's Arts & Living(02-01 Holland Road Shopping Centre; 02-154/155 VivoCity), you get 30 per cent off Christmas items till Tuesday. DBS credit cardholders get 20 per cent off regular items till Dec 31.
The newly opened The Furniture Warehouse@Labrador(1 Pasir Panjang Road), which has several brands under one roof, has some good deals to mark its grand opening. Star Furniture accessories are at 50 per cent off; Mondi Lifestyle Gallery and Zen Tradition Living have 10 per cent storewide discounts and 50 per cent discount on accessories; Lucano Living Inspiration has a 20 per cent storewide discount and is giving 50 per cent off accessories.
Show up at a Christmas party with ornaments to add to your host's tree. Ikea(60 Tampines North Drive 2; 317 Alexandra Road) has marked down items from its trim shop - a set of four baubles (usual price: $7.90) is going for as low as $3.90.
IF YOU'VE GOT A SWEETHEART TO IMPRESS...
you can't go wrong with a trip to the jewellers. Soo Kee Jewellery's (01-27/28 Plaza Singapura; 02-150 Marina Square) festive collection that features snowflake, cross and heart designs will put anyone in the mood for Christmas. The pieces won't burn a hole in your pocket either - a Brilliant Rose Fiocco Snowflake Pendant (below) retails at $698.
With every purchase above $500, you'll receive a free jewellery box worth $68.80 and a $50 dining voucher from Lawry's.
At TianPo Jewellery(02-83 VivoCity; 01-43/46 Centrepoint), UOB cardholders get 10 per cent off till Dec 31. From now till Tuesday, shoppers also get to participate in a lucky draw to win, quite literally, all the clothes and jewellery off the store's poster girl. Worth $5,000, the package includes hair and make-up, a tailored dress by home-grown designer Keith Png and all the sparkly adornments featured on the model.
IF YOU PREFER OFF-THE-BEATEN- TRACK SHOPPING...
check out these lesser-known options. At the Chocolate Warehouse Sale(87 Defu Lane, 02-01 Mec Techno Centre) organised by a local chocolate supplier, get 30 to 50 per cent off a wide variety of imported European chocolates. Till Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
For sporty types on a budget, try the Nike Factory Outlet Sale(105 Tampines Road) where you can get Nike apparel at up to 50 per cent off. It is open noon to 7pm, Tuesdays to Sundays till Dec 30.
The CornerStone Wines outlet (61 Lorong 17 Geylang, 01-00 CornerStone Building) at the head office of wine distributor Hock Tong Bee has some special deals for wine-lovers who are willing to make the trek to the east. Opens 9am to 5pm from Mondays to Fridays, including Christmas Eve; 9am to 12.30pm on Saturdays; It is closed on Christmas Day. Call ahead to order on 6732-0555 ext 221 and 216.
A CornerStone-Antinori Gift Set - select two bottles from a range of four wines that include the Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2005 and Santa Cristina 2005 IGT - is going for $49.90 while a CornerStone Festive Angel Pack, comprising a Pol Roger Brut Extra Cuvee de Reserve NV in an original wooden case, costs $99.
Over at the boho-chic Dempsey Hill, you can get last season's designer duds at One&Only Designer Collections(B1-01 Block 25 Dempsey Road) at affordable prices. Brands include Armani, Gucci, Prada, Versace, Missoni, Dolce & Gabbana, Cavalli, Valentino and Fendi. Spend over $500 on your Visa card and get a $50 voucher for your next purchase.
IF YOU HAVE GADGET-MAD FRIENDS AND FAMILY...
rock their worlds with a new toy. At electronic shop Song Brothers'(01-59/62 & 02-87/88 Sim Lim Square) Christmas promotion which lasts till Sunday, PCs, laptops, cameras and watches are going for less or bundled with freebies. A Canon Ixus 860IS camera, for example, costs $669 but comes with freebies such as a card reader and bag.
At Challenger(06-00 Funan DigitaLife Mall; 02-34/35 VivoCity), promotional items include a ViewSonic PhotoFrame for $199, which has a 128MB memory to store and play digital images, and an Asus Eee PC701 laptop for $598.
Buy a Mac at EpiCentre(02-20/23 Wheelock Place; 02-179 Suntec City) and for an extra $99, you get an additional 1GB of RAM plus a choice of an Airport Express Base Station, Wireless Mighty Mouse and Iwork08, or an iPod in-ear headphone and iWork 08.
From now till Sunday, also nab hot deals at Creative(04-06 Plaza Singapura; 03-123/124 Marina Square). Get 25 per cent off sound equipment - a Creative X-Fi Sound System i600 is down to $449 from $599 - and $25 hot picks such as earphones and headsets.
IF YOU ARE REALLY LAZY...
let your mouse do the walking. Buy online at www.noelgifts.com, which will be handling deliveries all the way till Monday afternoon. But give at least a day's lead time. An easy, fuss-free gift is a bottle of personalised wine. Simply type in a message on the website and it will be printed on a classy wine label that goes on your chosen tipple.
Another gift site, www.fareastflora.com, has festive gourmet hampers ranging from $69.90 to $259.90, with savings of up to $40. The last day to order is Sunday.
