SuddenWorld.com

For the upcoming holiday season, if you’re looking for something somewhat different from the usual products sold by the usual national chain stores (because, really, aren’t you suffering from just a wee bit of consumer fatigue from just about every Best Buy or Target or Macy’s around practically every corner?), then perhaps you might consider some of the following online shopping sites—listed in alphabetical order—for an alternate gifting experience.

1. AnimeNation: Japanese pop culture in the way of manga (Japanese comics) and anime (Japanese animation) has made significant inroads to the American mainstream. You might have noticed the growing shelf space devoted to these genres in your local book store or DVD retailer. AnimeNation maintains a huge catalog of 8000-plus products, including extensive manga and anime titles. Parents should take careful note of the “Suggested Age Rating” listed for each product, as there are some materials that are definitely not suitable for younger viewers.

2. CafePress.com: Need a t-shirt that says “Auntie” in Chinese characters or a baby bib that says “Puerto Rican Princess? Then look no further than the “International T-Shirts and Gifts” section of CafePress.com. The site features numerous logos, emblems, icons, or what have you pertaining to various countries around the world.

3. CDS International Bookstore: CDS International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to international training opportunities for young students and professionals. In affiliation with Barnes & Noble, purchasing a book specifically through the CDS bookstore will automatically generate a donation to CDS International’s endowed Scholarship Fund which helps support American students and young professionals gain work experience overseas.

3. Cost Plus World Market: Okay, admittedly this is a chain store (299 stores nationwide and counting, according to their site), but it has its own distinct modus operandi. It’s as if someone decided to blend a Crate & Barrel and a Whole Foods Market with the added twist of focusing on global imports. The slightly unwieldy commercial name aside, this could conceivably be your last-stop shopping for all your international home needs.

4. Culture for Kids: The site is a great resource for parents, teachers, and librarians looking for educational items dedicated to expanding children’s knowledge of various languages and cultures. They offer products ranging from arts-and-craft kits to bilingual books to foreign language software.

5. DollsLikeMe.com: Although all the world does not look like Ken and Barbie, certain ethnic minorities may be hard-pressed to find this reality reflected in their choice of toys. In answer, DollsLikeMe.com promotes self-esteem among children of color by providing toys of cultural relevance to their respective backgrounds. Besides dolls, products include games, books, birthday cards, and puppets—all chosen with the same contextual ethnic sensibility.

6. A Greater Gift: This is a program of SERRV International, a nonprofit trade and development organization, which allows you to purchase authentic handcrafts and agricultural products from artisans and farmers from developing regions throughout the world. Online or in their participating outlets, you can purchase unique arts, crafts, and foods for various occasions, which in turn will help their artisans and farmers earn a living wage.

8. Housing Works | Thrift Shops: According to their site, Housing Works is the nation’s largest non-profit minority-controlled AIDS service organization. They rely on donations for their thrift shops and auctions from which they raise money for public health advocacy for AIDS-related issues, which means that a careful buyer could score some great deals on various clothing (including international designer brands like Dolce & Gabbana or Christian Dior), home furnishings, and/or assorted bric-a-brac while supporting a worthy cause.

9. Kalustyan’s: A specialty grocer originally known for its South Asian and Middle Eastern food products, they have expanded their stocks to represent countries from practically every continent. Their physical store is located in the Midtown/Murray Hill area of Manhattan, but anyone who may not have easy local access to international food products can order from their online site.

10. Princeton Home Décor: Their showroom is located in Princteton, NJ, but you need walk no further than your own home computer to order home décor items specially imported from Asia (specifically China and Tibet). Although their furniture may be rather cost-prohibitive for the average holiday shopper, check out their “Best Sellers” list for reasonably priced accessories such as a hand-made Chinese calligraphy set at $40 or a Feng Shui compass at $23.

Now you have a fighting chance to get your friends and family a gift they may have never seen before, and in some cases, you’ll even be contributing to a greater cause. They’ll wonder at your resourcefulness in cosmopolitan gift-giving, so don’t hesitate to buy into a bigger world!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS