Maybe Santa's getting older or maybe he's just plain lazy. 

But for whatever reason, old St. Nick decided to do much more of his holiday shopping online than on Main Street this year.  The results have delighted online giants like Amazon and dismayed traditional retailers everywhere.

In the midst of a global recession and skyrocketing unemployment, people were supposed to have no impulse to buy Christmas gifts for their friends and family this year.  And while this logic held for traditional retailers, it certainly did not dissuade people from shopping online.

Amazon Soars as Online Sales Grow

Between November 1st and December 24th, online sales topped $27 billion according to comScore, an online market research firm.  This sales total represents a 5% increase from the 2008 holiday season during the same time period.

The Wall Street Journal's Marketwatch predicts that Amazon, the online leader in consumer goods, had a record-breaking holiday season.  Experts believe the company to announce revenue in the area of $9 billion, up from $6.7 billion last year.  The company was bolstered by the success of its electronic reading tablet, the Kindle, which became the best-selling gift in Amazon's history over this holiday season.

Chain Stores Suffer, Get Desperate

Meanwhile, over on Main Street, traditional retailers did not fare nearly as well.  According to the New York Times, sales fell 2.2 percent industrywide, a drop felt mostly by big chain stores.  For instance:

• Abercrombie & Fitch was one of the biggest losers of the holiday season, with sales dropping an estimated 15% – 17%.  The company operates over 1,000 stores in the USA, but will apparently have to close as many as 300 in order to stay in business.
• After same store sales fell 12% in November and 10% in December, Hot Topic will likely have to close 200 of its nearly 700 stores in the coming year. 
• In a development that surprised no one at all, Barnes & Noble stores struggled mightily this season.  With sales off by 5%, it's clear that the culprit is Amazon, which continues to lure consumers away from malls.

Still, other companies clung to life with incremental gains in the retail sector.  Many big box stores, including Wal-Mart, Target and Toys-R-Us resorted to offering major discounts in order to pull in customers.  Sears Holdings Company (which includes K-Mart), for instance, posted a 0.4% growth during December in same-store sales due in large part to offering big discounts.

The Lesson: Only the Social Survive

Some retailers heard the bell toll for Main Street years ago.  Those who enlisted the support of advanced online marketing strategies had drastically better results this year.  Clients of the Art Technology Group (ATG), an e-commerce marketing company, saw strong holiday seasons.  For example, Calender Holdings LLC, reported "double-digit revenue growth versus the previous year."

Minyanville, an online business journal, offered some examples of companies that successfully bucked the trend this year, but didn't give a whole lot of evidence as to why they were successful.  I decided to take a look for myself.

JC Penney Innovates Faster than the Competition

When other retail stores were worrying about the revenue that online sales might siphon away from stores, JC Penney jumped headlong into online marketing earlier than virtually any other major brand.  The company, which now operates the fourth largest online retail store in the world, now maintains a commitment to innovative online marketing, optimizing its strategies regularly to keep pace with the speed of change on the web.  For instance, the company now offers deals and coupons through its Facebook page (over 700,000 fans) and its relatively new (less than 4000 followers) Twitter page.  Also, JC Penney recently scrapped its twice yearly Big Book catalogs in favor of online recommendations and smaller catalogs designed to appeal to different types of customers.  This is great news for people who hate junk mail, but terrible news for bored retirees.

Urban Outfitters Made its Website Social

With its “Show Us How You Wore It” campaigns and its focus on social networking, Urban Outfitters has developed a highly interactive and a highly effective relationship with and between its customers.  Instead of simply hawking products on its website, Urban chose to create a social network.  The site highlights the best reviewers – not the best reviews.  In this way, customers are led to see the personalities that attach to the clothes they buy.  In another smart move, the company sent its products to fashion bloggers and asked them to “Show Us How You Wore It” – or send photos of themselves back to the company, which the company would post on the website.  This would inevitably cause the bloggers to link to Urban’s site, further bolstering the company’s image. 

J. Crew Writes Better Email Blasts and Maintains Better Customer Relations

J. Crew might enter the U.K. market next year without selling an item at a retail store.  The company, which redefined its image in 1996 when it launched its website and began shifting to a more web-based approach, would only have to sell and promote its products online.  Nowadays, J. Crew’s email blasts are lauded industrywide for their simplicity, aesthetics, and for being idiot-proof.  In addition, the company entices people to join its Facebook fan site with free shipping for fans.

It's interesting to note that just having a Facebook page isn't enough anymore.  Truly successful online retailers are using the internet in many innovative ways, looking to find new opportunities on various platforms and rethinking how they promote themselves on the established ones (more on this in future posts).

In any case, for retailers across the country and the globe, the message is clear: get a better online marketing strategy or go the way of the dinosaur.  Santa's too old and too overweight to make his way to Main Street.

That's Great, but How Did www.christmasgifts.im Do?

Sales increased by infinity here at Creative Christmas Christmas Gifts & Gift Ideas in 2009, but I still didn't make enough to buy an iPhone.  However, if revenue continues to rise by infinity, I will be blogging from the moon next year. 

On a more serious note, I found a very interesting piece of information about my kind of blogging in a Business Wire article on holiday season marketing techniques:

Industry-wide, the 2009 holiday period saw a threefold increase over 2008 in the total number of product recommendations served daily by merchants, an indication of how many more online retailers are using recommendations and automated merchandising to quickly and easily optimize their online storefronts.

Looks like companies realize that they have to start serving consumers the information they require to make informed decisions.  It will be interesting to see if this trend continues over the next year (and how they cope with little guys like me competing for their readers!).

But I think we've been conditioned to think that most DIY gift ideas are out of our creative reach and boggling to our terrible hand-eye coordination.  In this post, I intend to present a counter to the point that we're all destined to glue ourselves to the kitchen table if we try to make our own Christmas gifts for our families.  So put on your safety goggles and take a look:

Original T-Shirt: A Cheap DIY Gift Idea 

If you're short on dough this holiday season, remember that it's most important to save as much money for yourself as possible.  Your family and friends are certainly important, but let's get real.  You've gotta eat (foie gras) and drive (your Audi) to work every day.  If they really love you, your friends and family will understand if you don't spend an arm and a leg on them.  With this in mind, one of the most thoughtful gift ideas you can come up with is an original t-shirt.  Homemade t-shirts can be funny, sentimental, or downright outrageous.  While they don't take a very long time to create, they show that you cared enough about a person to make them something completely unique.   

If you don't have a silk-screen setup at home (which is a bit difficult to assemble), just pick up a set of iron-on transfers.   Most of these kits cost less than $19.95 and allow you to make a bunch of shirts.  Next, you've just got to buy a few Hanes or Fruit of the Loom 100% cotton t-shirts and get to work.  

If you're at a loss for what to put on the t-shirt, you could use one of the following ideas:

1. Pictures of Family

2. Embarassing Pictures of the Person You're Giving the Gift to, with the caption "World's Best Popcorn Eater" or some inside joke.

3. Their Favorite Things (Ice Cream, Wolves, Jack Daniels, etc.)

As long as you don't make something that will set on fire or cause a shock, it's also a cool idea to attach some sort of lighting system to the shirt.  For instance, a few years back I saw a wolf t-shirt that had flashing red light bulbs for eyes.  I wish somebody would have given me that shirt. 

Homemade Fishing Lures: A DIY Gift Idea That Makes Lazy People Feel Active!

According to a recent survey, 63% of Americans have, in their homes, a picture of someone grinning while holding a fish flopping on a hook.  It matters little that only .04% of Americans actually fish more than once every 5 years.  Men simply love the idea that they are adventurous outdoorsmen at heart.  

While it may seem like a dangerous endeavor, as long as you don't try to make homemade fishing lures when you're drunk or hung over (unfortunately, this eliminates you, college students), you'll probably escape with both of your eyes intact.   

The bigger danger here is getting roped into actually going fishing.  As we all know, fishing is one of the most boring "sports" on the planet, next to curling, cross-country skiing and blogging.  

Sock Puppets: An EASY DIY Gift Idea 

This a perfect DIY Gift Idea for any hipster because it's so sentimental and childish.  It's also perfect if you're a hipster with a ton of colorful socks to spare.  Simply buy a few plastic eyeballs at an art store, glue them to a bunch of socks, and sew on some red mouths.  If you want to go nuts, make one of them a cyclops and call it Richard.  

Pies and Other Baked Goods: Timeless Homemade Gifts, Always Appreciated

Although they take a few hours to make, pies are relatively easy to make.  If you're at a loss of how to start, though, call your mother.  She'll do one of two things: 

1. Insist on making the pie for you (win!)

2. Be touched that you asked her for help and then insist on making the pie for you (win win!!)

Just make sure the gift recipient isn't allergic to boysenberries before you get your mom to whip up one of her New Hampshire State Fair winning pie.  Otherwise, you'll just look like a jerk who made a pie for himself.

Knitted Scarves, Hats or Socks: DIY Gift Ideas for the Whole Family

Unless you've got a lot of time on your hands, it's better not to try your hand at knitting.  However, if you can manage to put your hands together and get handy with a ball of yarn and some sticks, this is a very cool gift idea.  Just make sure it doesn't look like a hand-me-down, handywoman.

More DIY Gift Ideas for your Melon!

In case you missed our first installment of great DIY gift ideas, you should be ashamed of yourself.  They're much better than these ones.  

1. Hipsters like style that's different from last year, but not new. This means firstly that Kanye West sunglasses are fashion suicide (Duh!). Secondly, it means that hipsters would never take a risk by wearing bell-bottoms unless it was Halloween or if Erykah Badu wore them.

2. Hipsters love to appear artistic and mysterious. Whether they can actually hold a paintbrush is neither here nor there. It's the appearance of artsy originality and spontaneity that's important.

3. Hipsters don't shower enough. This is mainly because they insist on wearing the same rainbow high socks for 8 days straight because they're soooo totally awesome!!! OK, so the third one is pure prejudice, but does anyone really take issue with me on it? Without further adieu, here are the top gifts for hipsters on the planet (as of November 6th, 2009, at 10:21 am and 37 seconds):

1. Patches: So Nerdy They're Cool

When it comes to patches, the nerdier and more obscure they are, the better. This is a plus for anyone looking for a cheap Christmas gift idea for a hipster. Just rummage through any thrift store in town to find a couple of winners. If this fails, you could always roll by a few garage sales and haggle with geezers over 40 cents. Always a good time.

2. Beanies: What Hipsters Wear Between Bad Haircuts (aka what hipsters always wear)

Hipsters wear beanies even when it's summertime and it's 90 degrees outside. Why? Nobody really knows. Maybe hair went out of style. Maybe something in their Parliament Lights is making them lose their hair. Whatever the reason, a beanie makes a great gift idea for hipsters. It shows them that you understand them because they're the type of person who wears beanies.

3. Headphones: Because Hipsters Would Rather Not Listen to Anything you Have to Say

While they encourage hipsters to slip further into their own pits of self-absorption, a pair of headphones will be remarkably well received by most. Provided they're not complete sound quality snobs, which a good percentage of hipsters are, most hipsters can always use another pair of headphones. They'll probably use them to blow out their eardrums with the Smiths, which is just sad, but hey – you were young once! You might have even listened to even more self-loathing musicians in your day.

4. Fake Mustaches: The Best Christmas Gift Idea for a Hipster for Under $5

Fake mustaches never go out of style anywhere, anytime, anyhow. They always make a great prop regardless of the company (OK Nazis might not find them funny). Also, they encourage hipsters to act like someone else, something they're great at!

5. Mixtapes with the Smiths

As long as your mixtape has at least one Smiths or Cure song on it, it will be received as "one of the best mixtapes I've ever heard in my entire life." Throw in a few tracks by Animal Collective and you've got "the best mixtape in the world." If you want to ratchet it up to "greatest mixtape in the history of mankind," throw in some ironic tracks like Yakkety Yak or the Theme from Full House.

6. Venus Fly Trap: Because Hipster are Moody Little Babies!

Deep inside the black heart of every hipster, there lies an urge to bite people's heads off. Maybe it's due to teenage angst or the lingering resentment for the injustice of having to pass high school physics (aka the system). Whatever the reason, venus fly traps make very cool gifts for hipsters, even though most hipsters will allow them to die within a few days.

7. Gaudy Sunglasses: A Timeless Gift Idea for Hipsters

The more obnoxious, the better.

8. Colorful Socks: The Key to Being Funny

For some unknown reason, hipsters think having colorful socks means you have an interesting personality. Just how they made this connection is unclear. It's possible that one hipster saw a clown once and decided he wanted to be funny like the clown. Upon discovering that he had no sense of humor, the hipster probably resorted to stealing the clown's socks, believing they held a magical power of humor.

Gift Ideas for Co-Workers #1: Plants

When it comes to office gifts, plants are right at the top of the list.  They're cheap (you can find many for under $5), they remind people that life exists outside the office (depending on what type of boss you are, this could be a bad thing), and they're as unpolitical as can be.  Plants are also especially good gifts for colleagues whose cubicles are more barren than the state of Nevada.  You might upset their delicate balance by throwing a plant into that wilderness of boringness, but it also might stand as a symbol of your appreciation.  Finally, you get to see who lets their plant die and who spends more time caring for it than they do working.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Colleague #2: Cool Notepads

If you've got any aspiring writers in your midst, you might want to consider getting them a cool notebook or set of small notebooks.  They'll probably fill them up with stories of your incompetence and wretchedness, but chances are they're not good enough to parlay a movie or book deal.

Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas at the Office #3:  Charming Keychains

Here's an office gift idea that's cheap, unique, and easy.  More importantly, it will constantly remind your co-workers of your excellence.  Find a dozen different little keychains (the bottle-shaped bottle opener, the mini flashlight, the state of Texas, a rabbit's foot, etc.) and then have your colleagues choose them from a grab-bag at a staff meeting.  Every time they lock their door, they'll think about the little gift you gave them (and maybe feel a little guilty for leaving work at 3 pm to go to happy hour).

Office Gift Ideas #4: Chocolate Oranges or European Chocolate

On principle alone, most people would never spend $4 on a luxury European candy bar or $6 on a chocolate orange.   When you could buy 7 Hershey's bars or bags of peanut M&M's for what you pay for one of those hoity-toity sweets, the exotic appeal of the European label vanishes completely.  However, most people would relish the chance to taste one of these luxuries.  Put a red bow around it and it will look like a million bucks.

Gift Ideas for your Co-Workers #5: Simple Art Supplies

By definition, offices repress people.  Deep inside, most of the droopy-eyed schmoes sitting around you putting together marketing plans and spreadsheets probably have some artistic talent (or at least some desire to break the routine and express their pent-up rage somehow).  A simple pack of watercolors or colored pencils might be just the thing.

Great Gift Ideas for Co-Workers #6: Cute Paperweights

Because using a pair of scissors just won't cut it, you might try to find a bunch of cool paperweights and let staff draw straws to decide who gets first pick.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Colleagues #7: Flasks

Maybe it's not the best idea on the planet, but booze keeps people going when their mind tells them that it's time to stop.  If you work late nights, having a little booze might pull you through the difficult stretches.  NOTE: It might not be a bad idea to put vodka in the flask and include some Redbulls.

Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas for Co-Workers #8: A New Alarm Clock

It's a pretty funny gift idea, but if you decide to get someone a new alarm clock, you've got to be on good terms with them.  It's not as rude as getting someone special resume paper, but it's close.

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas for Colleagues #9: Whoopie Cushions and Fake Mustaches

No matter the occasion or the reason, whoopie cushions and fake mustaches are always incredible gift ideas.  It's important to add a little humor around the office every once in awhile – just make sure that you're not the one who uses these things.  They're supposed to be for your colleagues to poke fun at you.

Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #1: An Internet Domain Name

If you have an aspiring web designer in your family, this creative gift idea could definitely work for you.  It’s a variation on the IOU format, except in this case you write “One Free Domain Name” on a card for the kid.  Later, you introduce the kid to www.name.com or www.godaddy.com and tell him or her that you will pay for one free domain name (Domain names range from about $5 to $10).  You’ve just come up with a unique gift idea that’s potentially profitable.  Next thing you know, he could be writing the most popular blog on Nintendo Wii accessories on the internet, starting his own tech company with funding from Google, which allows you to move into a bigger house with plasma screens in every room.  OK so maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but it could allow him to learn some valuable knowledge which he could put on his college application.  Just make sure your kid isn’t a smart aleck who asks for www.money.com (which sold for $9 million several years ago).

Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #2: Flash Drive with Music and Photos

While it’s a very small gift, looks can be deceiving (Remember the bunny from Monty Python?). This actually makes for a pretty unique gift.  Browsing the internet just now, I found several flash drives for $8 – $9 that have between 2GB and 4 GB.  Just buy one of these, burn a dozen cd’s onto it, and then add some of your favorite digital photos to it.  When you’re done, write a little note explaining why you put those particular albums or pictures on it.  If you can’t think of something to write, you can always fall back on the acrostic poem:

Dear Rebecca, I was thinking of you when I put these things on your new flash drive: Rolling Stones albums Embarrassing photos from junior high Beatles albums Embarrassing photos from high school Creedence Clearwater Revival albums Creative photos I took that nobody likes except Mom (you’re going to love them) Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits

Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #3: Magazine Subscription

According to recent research, it doesn’t necessarily matter what kids and teens read as long as they’re reading.  Many famous professors, CEO’s and lawyers spent their youth’s engrossed in comic books and Mad Magazine.  So stop forcing them to agonize over The Canterbury Tales and let them learn to love reading.   Most adults will also appreciate a magazine subscription because it will give them a chance to forget about their burdens momentarily. Among the magazines for which you can get a year-subscription for less than $10:

• Spin
• Game Informer Magazine
• Esquire
• Snowboard
• Elle
• Golf
• Ebony
• Men’s Journal
• Backpacker
• Bowhunt America (I probably wouldn’t encourage my relative to Bowhunt America – perhaps you could find a copy of Bowhunt Animals in the Wilderness far away from People).

Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #4: Model Airplane

While most model airplanes are more expensive, it’s possible to get a decent one for about $10 either online or at a local store (I know Ace Hardware used to sell them, but I’m haven’t been in the market for one of these in a long, long time).  Plus, if you’re a Dad, this will give you an opportunity to do something with your son.

Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #5: Belt

I would wager that virtually every man you know needs a new belt and hasn’t bought one in 10 years, which makes this a great gift for virtually every man you know.  When you’re giving a gift like this, though, it’s important to put the belt in a fancy box and wind it up.  Whipping your brother with it before giving it to him is also acceptable.

Creative Christmas Gift #6: Wallet

Likewise, most men get a new wallet only when the thing literally cannot hold money anymore.  If your husband, boyfriend, father or brother has a tendency to develop a George Costanza wallet, then this is probably the best gift he could possibly receive.  WARNING: Duct tape wallets fall apart and lose credit cards (especially when you’re drinking, but whatever you’ve been warned).

Creative Christmas Gift #7: Football

It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about a soccer ball or an American football.  For boys, balls almost always make good gifts.  It’s not the most unique gift idea in the world, but he’ll probably like it.  Disclaimer: If he dresses up like Harry Potter and plays Magic cards while other kids play sports, get him a badminton racket instead.

Creative Christmas Gift #7: A Group Gift

4 broke people are better than 1!  I always collaborate with my siblings to get something for my parents.  Last year we got them a new toaster.  Year before that, a new chair for the computer.  This year, we’ll probably get them another utilitarian gift (as long as people click on ads!!!).  If we had tried to buy these things with our own money, we would have been strapped.