It’s that time of year again: you’re dusting down the Christmas decorations, thinking about baking mince pies and wondering how you’re going to find that elusive, perfect gift for each friend and family member on your Christmas list.
We can’t help you with the first two, but we can certainly solve the third. Inveraray Jail’s shop is brimming with great Christmas gift ideas. Marion McKinlay, Inveraray Jail’s shop manager, has been busy sourcing fabulously festive new stock. You’ll find a sackful of presents for all ages and tastes. In fact, we reckon that you’ll find something for pretty much everyone on your list, including those notoriously hard-to-buy-for people (yes, even the teenage niece and the dad who doesn’t do Christmas).
So why brave the Christmas crowds when you could do all you shopping in the comfort and calm of the Inveraray Jail shop? To give you a taste of what’s on offer, here are a few highlights.
Always look on the bright side…
The Bright Side range is one of Marion’s favourite discoveries. These light-hearted gifts are designed to make you laugh. The distinctive font adorns a whole range of products – from notebooks to money boxes – bringing the brighter side of things to all aspects of life. There’s something for everyone, even the cat and dog. The dog bowl complete with doggie to-do list (eat food, win dog show, scratch bottom) made us howl with laughter. The shopping bag is a top pick for mums, emblazoned in bold with ‘Mummy’s wine’ and a discreet note about ‘some food for the kids and stuff’. The pocket mirror that says ‘Yep, still hot’ is another great gift for a giggle. For blokes, how about a little dish for holding ‘Man change and pocket fluff’ or a Man Tin for keeping ‘Leads, screws and other pointless stuff I must keep’? You might even get a titter from your teenage son with the door tag that says ‘No grown ups beyond this point. Unless you have money or snacks.’ And finally, every parent will chortle at the ‘Hello Again Mr Naughty Seat’ stool. Basically, if you’re looking for something fun and quirky to give, then Bright Side has the answer.
Cool stuff for young kids
Wooden toys are all the rage right now and younger kids will love the new range in the shop. They’re simple, colourful and educational too! The Caterpillar Puzzle is perfect for toddlers and will help them learn to count, while the ‘Make Your Own Door Sign’ kit will help them with their letters. The tool box complete with 12 wooden tools is great fun for busy boys and girls. And who can resist the The BigJigs Wooden Alphabet Train Carriages? Each carriage has a letter so children can build their own names. It would make make a wonderful gift for a young child or as a keepsake for a newborn.
Lovely things for ladies
Marion has extended the range of accessories on offer in the shop, so mums, daughters, girlfriends, aunts and all the other ladies in your life are well catered for. She’s added new lines by jewellery designers POM, including some beautiful silver necklaces, earrings and rings that take inspiration from flora and fauna. It’s seriously stylish and delicately hand-crafted. Who wouldn’t love to open the blue topaz necklace and ring set on Christmas morning? There’s also a silver-plated fashion range by POM that’s ideal for teenage girls.
Marion’s delighted with Justice Bags, another new range that’s been flying off the shelf. These reusable foldaway shopping bags are super strong, waterproof and come in some great designs and colours. But that’s not all. The profits support charities working to help women caught up in human trafficking around the world. At just £7.99, these little bags are a practical and ethical little gift.
If you’re looking for something for the home, then take a look at the new Glass By Kathryn range. From her studio in Fife, glass artist Kathryn creates beautiful hand-made fused glass giftware. We think the ‘steamin’ and ‘gonnae no’ coasters are just fabulous.
Gadgets galore
Our shelves are groaning under the weight of all the new gadget stock! From Electric Jelly selfie sticks to speaker key rings, we’ve got a gadget for every eventuality. We’re particularly pleased with the Phonoscope phone camera magnifier, a clever device that attaches directly to your phone and adds up to 30x magnification.
Tempted? We’re holding a Christmas Shopping Evening with our neighbours MacIntyre’s Highland Warehouse this Wednesday (9th December) from 3pm to 8pm. Come and enjoy a mince pie and a glass of wine while you browse and get a whopping 15% off every purchase over £10. And don’t forget there are lots of other lovely, independent shops in Inveraray, so why not make a day of it?
That’s Christmas sorted…
