Posted: 4th November 2019 | Back to news feed
Christmas shopping for horsey friends and family can be stressful for everybody concerned, so we spoke to Liz Hayman, MD of British equestrian fashion brand, Equetech for her Christmas gift shopping tips and advice.
Do Make a List
However tempting it is to simply rush out and grab whatever takes your fancy, taking the time to make a list (and sticking to it) can help avoid impulse buys. It's less stressful, and you're less likely to waste time running between shops or spending hours online! Include family, yard friends and anyone else that you want to remember this Christmas. Add what you would like to buy for each recipient, and you're halfway there!
Do Set a Budget
If your bank account is already thinking 'bah humbug', it's time to take control and adopt the budget! Taking a long hard look at your finances before you add in the additional expense of Christmas. Creating a list of incomings and outgoings will give you a better idea of what you can afford to spend and help curb overspending and prevent you from getting in debt. Setting a spending limit, keeping a running tally of your purchases and what cash you have left will make for a stress-free shopping experience. I have purposely designed and included accessories within the collection for brilliant horsey gifts inspiration and stocking fillers for all budgets and ages.
Do Check Online
Online shopping is not only convenient when you are juggling life around the horses, but it's fast and stress-free. There are also lots of deals to be had around Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, however, be careful not to get carried away and buy just because it's cheap! Think about whether the item is a great gift and who you are buying it for. Each online retailer offers different services, so it's worth checking out their delivery charges and delivery timescales. Taking time to review these can save you money as some additional costs can rack up the prices, especially on smaller items. Don't get caught out on an extended delivery timescale either, check these to make sure that they are not too close to the big day for comfort.
Don't Procrastinate
It's not a myth; the quality of products instore plunges as Christmas creeps closer. Start early, and take advantage of the deals and choice on offer! Starting earlier with your festive shopping will mean you grab the real bargains and can plan and wrap without a frantic rush the night before Christmas!
Do Click & Collect
We offer a 'click and collect' service, which means that just because your local tack shop doesn't have the item in stock, it doesn't mean you can't still pick it up from your local tack shop. To take advantage of this service on our website, all you need to do is select the 'click and collect' option and collect from your nearest stockist. Shopping in this way cuts down on delivery waiting times and costs, and you'll find that many online and bricks & mortar stores offer this service for a reduced delivery cost or even free!
Don't Forget Impromptu Gifts
Friends and family always pop in unannounced over the Christmas period. Or have you forgotten that friend that always helps with turnouts at the yard when you can't make it down? Having a pre-gift-wrapped present to hand is a great idea. Something small and horsey is easy to keep in the car boot, and for home, a generic gift of chocolates or luxury hand cream is always a nice treat for most!
Do Peruse Your Local Store
With all the online madness leading up to Christmas, don't forget your local tack store will be full of unique gifts at your fingertips. The store buyers will have spent months selecting the perfect selection of gifts for their customers, which may be hard to find online, or unique gift ideas you may not have even seen or heard of before! Speak to the team and ask their advice for gift ideas, the amount of experience and knowledge that they have is enormous! You'll probably be spoilt for choice!
Read The Return Policy & Check Payment Security
Before you start tapping in your credit card details, did you take a moment to become familiar with the store's return policy and did you check that they had secure payment transactions? If in doubt, don't shop and if they don't display any contact details apart from a contact form, how are you going to contact them easily if there is an issue with your purchase? Think before you buy. This is especially relevant if you are buying sale goods such as during Black Friday. If you are shopping online, make sure that you always check the FAQS before completing your purchase. By taking the time to review the store's T&C's, your loved ones will be guaranteed the gift that they really want – even if they have to exchange the first time!
Good luck with your Christmas Gift Shopping, fellow horsey friends aren't usually the ones we find difficult to buy for - its just harder as we always find something that we want and love!
Happy Shopping!
The Equestrian Index newsfeed is compiled from articles submitted by advertising members and expresses the opinions of those members. Watsons Directories Ltd shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies or mis-statements therein.