That's what's on the list of must-haves for Christmas 2006, according to the retail experts.
"My forecast for a sector that's hot is home-electronic stores," says TD economist Steve Chan, who wrote a special report on holiday sales. "Any store that sells home electronics or has part of their store devoted to it should do pretty well this year."
Pre-recorded DVDs, including movies and TV series, should do very well too, adds Chan.
According to Ernst & Young's 2006 Holiday Sales Forecast, consumer electronics will be king with new gaming systems, a rising demand for flat-screen LCD and high-definition TVs, mobile phones and digital cameras leading the way.
But other stores will also do well, adds Logan Day, Ernst & Young's vice-president of transactions and advisory services.
Sales of jewelry and timepieces are expected to do well, while the growing popularity of women's sports will be reflected in a wider variety of sportswear options, he adds.
However, Day says department stores may have a mixed holiday season. Luxury-goods retailers should continue to do well, he predicts, but the mid-range stores could find themselves squeezed between the upscale chains and value retailers.
Sales at big-box stores should rise slightly, says Chan - they average at about 35 per cent of total retail sales during the rest of the year - and reach to between 37 per cent to 39 per cent in December.
But these specialty stores could face a hit from value retailers such as Wal-Mart, which may try and cut into the market, especially in the toy and consumer electronics sectors, adds Day.
Wal-Mart Canada Corp., meanwhile, says sales so far across Canada - it started stocking Christmas material in September - show that the hottest trends in Christmas decorations are angels, outdoor decor and all things silver.
In B.C., it says shoppers are grabbing energy-efficient LED-light sets. In Saskatchewan, pre-lit Christmas trees are the hot item, while in Ontario customers preferred to get the early jump on lighted wire sculptures for their yards.
