'TIS THE SEASON...

I’m not sure about you, but I am starting to break out in a sweat whenever someone tells me how many shopping days are left before Christmas! Every year I think I will never manage to get all the food cooked, tree decorated, presents wrapped etc. and yet somehow, by some miracle, all the tasks seem to get completed in time. This year I decided to get started earlier with my shopping and whilst carrying out research for my new book, I found some fantastic bargains along the way and mapped out shops I plan to visit to complete my purchases.

Here are some ideas to give you a head start with your shopping preparation for the holidays and festivities to come, and help save you money into the bargain.

Holiday Shopping

GIFT IDEAS

Continental Factory Shop (page 34) stocks a wide variety of pottery – both plain white and coloured – at great prices. A welcome gift would be one of their pretty mugs filled with items such as a packet of tea or coffee, rusks or chocolates, or alternatively, one of their beautiful serving bowls or platters filled with deli items, packets of nuts, biltong or dried fruit (see the Product Index, page 307).

Tifgifts in Paarden Eiland (page 220) is known as ‘the home of scented gifts and toiletries’ and at their factory shop they sell ready-made gift sets – or if you prefer to do it yourself, they offer everything you need to put together your own gift.

Looking for an unusual gift for a budding Master Chef in your household? Why not spoil him or her with the gift of a sausage-making machine! You will find these, plus all the accessories needed to get them started, at Crown Factory Mart in Montague Gardens and Somerset West (page 186).

As well as a large range of beautiful towels in a variety of sizes, the Glodina Towel Shop in Wellington (page 294) has a selection of embroidered items, such as face cloths with initials, and towels and aprons with cute characters and sayings on them (in English and Afrikaans), many of which would make nice gifts. They also offer an embroidery service.

Holiday Shopping

WRAPPING

Attractive packaging always increases the anticipation of what one might find inside the parcel, and the beautiful tapes and ribbons at Weavewell Factory Outlet in Elsies River (page 98), certainly help one to create the ‘wow’ factor. As some of the rolls are quite long (between 50m and 100m), I’m planning to share with a friend. We just need to decide on a colour – not an easy task as you’re spoiled for choice, what with their variety of attractive, trendy designs and colour combinations – everything from polka dots to stripes.

Holiday Shopping

STOCKING UP THE PANTRY

The festive season usually means lots of entertaining and I’ve enjoyed finding some exciting new food factory shops, which have been included in the thirteenth edition (see Shop Index, page 313). At some of these stores I’ve discovered wonderful specials, especially when buying in bulk, and it has definitely been worth my while to share with friends.

When pressed for time and with many mouths to feed, why not leave the cooking to someone else and place an order with one of the pasta manufacturers who supply leading restaurants and supermarkets – see pages 60 and 198.   

Holiday Shopping

THE BANTING DIET

As a vegetarian I am not a Banting follower, but I’m sure that many on the diet who are now eating far more nuts than before, will be pleased to discover the numerous factory outlets around the Peninsula where they can obtain these at excellent prices. See our Product Index on page 311 for details.

Holiday Shopping

GOING SKIING?

For those of you fortunate enough to be heading overseas for the festive season, if you’re in search of warm clothing we recommend a visit to Rapid Sport in Cape Town (page 53), where you will find ski clothing for the whole family at excellent prices.

New Factory Shops

NEW FACTORY SHOPS

Romatex Home Textiles has recently opened a new store called The Hospitality Shop, which as its name suggests, caters mainly for the hospitality industry. The new store is situated next to their existing shop in Epping Avenue, Elsies River (page 99).

Crown Factory Mart has opened a branch in Triangle House, Somerset West (opposite Somerset Mall). Tel: 021 001 3565.

Holida Shopping

EXPECTING EXTRA HOUSE GUESTS?

It’s that time of year when families get together and have visitors to stay, which often necessitates the purchase of extra mattresses. A great place to visit for these (at good prices) is Bargains Foam and Mattress Centre in Maitland (page 172).

Factory Shopping Tip

A WORD OF ADVICE

Many genuine factory shops in the industrial areas close for their annual holidays from just before Christmas to early or mid-January, so if you plan to visit at this time of year, it is advisable to phone and check first. Some also extend their trading hours in the days leading up to Christmas.

Factory Shopping Specials

SPECIALS

In order to keep up to date with sales and specials at factory shops, we recommend that you regularly log onto the Specials Page on our website, www.factoryshops.co.za, and also follow us on Facebook.

Factory Shop Achievements

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Slivers Biltong & Nuts Factory Shop in Kommetjie (page 186), who have just celebrated their twentieth anniversary. We wish them many more years of success.

Factory Shop Competition Winners

SPRING COMPETITION WINNERS

We were thrilled with the great response to our Spring Newsletter Competition. Our congratulations to the 10 lucky prize winners, who have each won a copy of the thirteenth edition of The A-Z of Factory Shops in the Western Cape.

They are: Wazeer Olday, Koebraa Peters, Leonie Hefer, Margie Bold, Tracy Axtell, Sune Jacobson, Thea Robertson, Samantha February, Natalie Kehl and Jodie Posen.