Unique Gift Ideas
Experience a truly Classical Christmas Celebration and take some time to come along to one of the many festive family events taking place in the city.
See Christmas in with Sum style
If you want to see the Festive Season in with style then 'Sumra House' specialises in dress wear for men and boys with special offers on suits until Christmas Eve. The men's suit offer includes a free shirt and tie, or a generous cash discount, depending on customer preference. The boys’ suit offer provides a 15 per cent cash discount on all suits from age 4 - 16 yrs, or a 5 per cent saving on deposits. A quick tailoring service is also available, if required.
Make someone’s eyes light up this Christmas
Why not make the one you love's eyes sparkle with a gift voucher for designer eyewear or coloured contacts Jance Milligan The Opticians in Waterloo Street. With prices starting from £25 these gifts combine quality with affordability.
Fosters offers fashion at affordable prices
Fosters we offer a wonderful selection of handbags, scarves and accessories at affordable prices at its stores in the Foyleside and Richmond shopping centres and in Waterloo Place.
In the run up to Christmas Fosters receives new deliveries of stock everyday with professional staff on hand to help take the pressure out of your Christmas shopping make it an enjoyable experience.D.Cooley Jewellers, Shipquay Street
A family run business for over 50 years, D. Cooley Jewellers stock a wide range of modern, fashion and designer jewellery; and are the only stockists of “The Derry” History Ring and Pendant. Danny Cooley explained the thinking behind these fascinating pieces of jewellery.
“Initially we produced the design on a ring. It is a plain silver or gold band, in ladies and gents sizes and widths, featuring eight icons on it reflecting different aspects of the city’s history and culture. The ring really took off and we quickly started producing the design on a pendant. The Derry History rings and pendants are incredibly popular and they’ve been ordered by Derry people based all over the world as a reminder of home. We’ve expanded the range now to include items like cufflinks and bangles and now instead of our original two pieces the Derry History range is available on eight different types of jewellery,” he said.
DocPot, Pump Street
DocPot is a thriving pottery business nestled in the artisan cathedral quarter of Derry. The potter Deirdre O’Callaghan brings 20 years experience to the business. Own and love your own piece of DocPot Pottery or better still treat someone special this Christmas to a lovingly handcrafted, locally made piece of pottery from the DocPot range.
Despite her busy order book supplying shops and galleries, Deirdre still finds time make sure that customers visiting her own premises receive the personal touch and will create specific items to order.
“If the customer wants something specially made, if someone comes up to the workshop they can pick their own colours and design.
“I currently have a range with a heart design on it and that came about because a man wanted something special for his wife. He came up to the shop and I produced the design from him.
“Within reason I’ll try and reproduce any design that the customer wants. You can get something that wee bit different, unique, especially for Christmas presents at this time of year,” she said.
Hansel and Gretel Hand Knits, Pump Street
Hansel and Gretel hand knits are colourful and quirky and use a combination of Irish traditional and contemporary techniques and designs. The pieces have a fun, retro appeal and are an ideal Christmas present for active children, toddlers and babies.
And, to make sure that you leave with the perfect gift, Aine will tailor an outfit to your individual tastes making sure that you leave with a special item that will be treasured by the recipient and their family.
“If you see a style that you like, if you have something to match, if they want flowers or a beret hat or a certain colour I’ll work with them. What I don’t do is work with patterns, I work with my own designs but I try and accommodate as best I can.”
W: www.hanselandgretelknits.com
Trip the light fantastic at Howie’s
T & E Howie Lighting Specialist and Consultants on the city’s bustling Strand Road is with can offer some excellent gift ideas.
As Paul Howie explains Howie’s has such a massive range of uniquely designed lighting products that there carry something to suit all tastes and identifies Tiffany lamps as a great Christmas gift.
“We stock a fantastic range of Tiffany and can also order based upon select designs. Tiffany lamps are always in fashion and help to give a warm glow to any area of your home,” he said.
Alyson Magee at Curtis Opticians, Carlisle Road
If you want an item so near the cutting edge of fashion that you could slice yourself just looking at it then Alyson Magee eyewear at Curtis Opticians is as sharp as it comes.
Alyson is a Derry native who has won worldwide renown as a designer of eyewear. Her designs for ‘Face a Face’ were featured in the Sex and the City movie. Alyson has recently set-up her own line of eyewear that is carried exclusively in Northern Ireland by Curtis opticians.
With over 80 years of serving the Derry community behind them, Curtis Opticians is a family firm run by brothers Ian and Paul Curtis and cousin Tracey.
“Unlike the multiples is that we can offer exclusive brands, multiples have to stick to their own brand or set brands that they have deals with. We are always striving to offer the customer something that they can’t get anywhere else. Paul and I would go to shows in Paris and Milan and London to try and get something different. Our big emphasis is customer service. It’s a much more individual service that we offer,” explained Paul.
Shipquay Books, Shipquay Street
Shipquay Books and News, stockists of Guildhall Press, Yes Publications and O’Donnell Press publications provide a great range in terms of local interest books from the likes of Guildhall Press and Yes Publications.
As owner Natt Roche these are publications are of major incredibly popular.
“If you go into most houses where there are Derry folk you’ll find a book about Derry. A lot of them are sent all over the world,” he said.
As well as wide range of books, Shipquay Books also a bewildering array periodical publications.
“We carry around 1,300 hundred magazines, no matters how obscure if somebody is seeking subscription to a particular publication we can get them sorted out.”City of Derry Crystal, The Craft Village
On the modern High Street with its proliferation of international brands it can be hard to find gifts that with a sense of place and the personal. But City of Derry Crystal located in Derry’s Craft Village have beautiful ranges of Stemware and Giftware in hand-cut Glass and Crystal that reflect the heritage and history of the city and can be personalised to your specific requirements.
As proprietor, Michael Bond, says City of Derry Crystal offers a unique service.
“We hand cut the glass and crystal and personalise it and as far as I know there’s nobody else doing it in Northern at the moment. We don’t sell through any other outlet. The only place you can get it is our shop here in the craft village.”
The McGilloway Gallery, Shipquay Street
The McGilloway Gallery carries over 300 paintings from local artists and, as owner Dan McGilloway explained, is the perfect place to pick up that special gift with a real sense of the unique that can be treasured for generations.
“If you are looking for a truly original gift for Christmas, choose an original painting. They are unique, it’s something that you give to someone and they can enjoy it for their entire lifetime and when they pass on they pass the painting on to one of the family. It’s like an everlasting gift.”
A walk around the McGilloway gallery feels as if someone has taken snapshots of your own treasured memories of familiar vistas. From the Causeway Coast through Derry City across to Donegal many of the paintings capture a sense of place and home that is timeless.
And to facilitate your selection of a that perfect painting the McGilloway Gallery will holds it’s traditional Christmas Exhibition starting on December 11.
“We call our Christmas exhibition the ‘Holly and the Ivy’ we’ve been running it since 1986. It’s aimed toward the gift market and features paintings to suit every pocket starting from £100 up,” said Ken.
WaxWorx
If you’re looking to create that perfect Christmas ambience or find a unique gift for friend or family then Wax Worx Candles can provide something with the personal touch.
Wax Worx began in 2006 as hobby for John Ferguson but after a lot of interest from the public, extended into a small business. He renovated his garage and turned it into a small studio with a display area from where he works. John is passionate when it comes to candlemaking and says that mass produced scented candles don’t ‘hold a candle’ to the handmade variety.
“I found the quality of mass produced scented candles to be sadly lacking. WaxWorx has grown out of a passion for producing candles that burn clean and diffuse scent gently and evenly. We believe that this can only truly be achieved when made by hand. Wax Worx really top quality and they burn and scent to the bottom there’s no wastage in them,” he said.
And for that ultra-personal touch, if you desire a particular scent John will make candles to order. He will also convert your own cups, glasses or any container of sentimental value into a candle so you can have a truly unique item with added emotional value.
“If customers have an idea for a scent they would like I will order in sample bottles of smells for and I do custom candles. Some people bring in cups or other containers of sentimental value and fill them up for them with the candle of their choice for a really personalised gift.”
Glenndennings
Glenndennings in Waterloo Place are the only outlet in the city stocking Tara charm bracelets, which are much sought after gifts this year.
