“Downtown Peterborough offers unique Christmas gifts”

Downtown Peterborough offers unique Christmas gifts

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 08:17 AM PST

By BRENDAN WEDLEY , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER

Updated 1 hour ago

Looking to get something a little different for a Christmas present? Don't want to go to the mall or fight traffic along the Lansdowne St. strip? Downtown could be the answer.

Boutique clothing stores, a record store, bookstores and jewelry stores are among the shops in Peterborough's downtown.

At the Toy Shop on Hunter St., owner and operator Jean Grant weaves through aisles pointing out some of the new or popular items this year.

Grant demonstrates a windup toy squirrel, shows a toy that the sings when its stomach is squeezed and shares how her son tried a snowball maker that's available this year after the snowfall last weekend.

"The last week before Christmas you get the crazy, silly stuff. The stocking stuffers, they're fun," she said. "I even sold a kite this morning, because people are trying to find things that are different."

The Toy Shop always stocks the classics, like dollhouses, stuffed animals, board games and jigsaw puzzles, Grant added.

It's one of the classics that came to Grant's mind first when she's asked about the popular toys this year.

"Always Lego," she said.

One of the newer items that's popular this year is Zoobies - stuffed animals that are filled with a blanket that can be pulled out.

"You could just carry these things around like you wouldn't believe, and they're good for all ages," Grant said.

Grant unzipped the back of an Olivia the Pig Zoobie and pulled out a blanket to demonstrate.

Hand puppets, Perplexus puzzles, about 10 versions of Scrabble, high-end arts and crafts kits and children's books are among the items at the Toy Shop.

Around the corner on George St. is what's becoming known as the fashion district.

The Plush Boutique, Flavour and Save our Soles are three stores on George St., south of Hunter St., that are owned and operated by Mike Watt and Shelby Leonard-Watt.

The group of stores won the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce award for the best non-chain, non-franchise store this year.

The stores recently released their first catalogue, just in time for the holiday season.

The photos in the 24-page cat-a logue were shot at the Chemong Yacht Harbour in Ennismore, at Flavour on George St. and in the alley behind Flavour.

All the models in the catalogue work at the three stores.

Watt said he wanted to give customers something to put in their hands, rather than just directing them to a website.

"Everything has got so digital now that people don't get things in their hands anymore," he said. "Maybe going backwards will set us apart from all the other advertising that's out there."

A couple of pages in the catalogue are dedicated for stocking stuffers such as sunglasses, watches, headphones and other accessories.

Knit wear is popular right now, Watt said.

"All of our big sweaters have been amazing," he said.

People are also buying party clothes, Watt added.

"People are gearing up for the holidays. Everyone wants to look their best," he said.

Plush, Flavour and Save our Soles focus on exclusivity and quality, Watt said.

"We want to make sure that our customers are getting the best service and the best quality," he said.

A package of four swaddle blankets by Kate Quinn Organics is the most popular item at Glow Maternity Studio and Apparel, said Chris Nickle, who co-owns the store with his fiancée Shaunacy King.

"These blankets are like viral," he said, describing the popularity of the product. "It regulates the baby's body temperature. It's good for hot or cold weather."

Another popular item is the sleep sack, Nickle said.

"They're hard to find anymore. They're very, very vintage," he said. "The reason they're so popular is you can change the baby without actually disturbing them at night."

The store focuses on organic items and it features products such as cloth diapers and maternity clothing.

bwedley@peterboroughexaminer.com

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