BUYING local this Christmas in Cloncurry should be easier than ever with a great range of stores in the friendly heart of the North West open for business and stocking items for men, women and children.
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Women: Whims & Wishes gift shop owner Edwina Shepherd said people who decided to shop online rather than visit one of their local retailers would miss out on that great shopping experience stores in town could offer.
``One of the things we've got over online shopping is people can touch our products, look at them and know what they're getting,'' she said.
Mrs Shepherd said Whims & Wishes just bought in a range of leather bracelets, belts and handbags designed by Noosa Amsterdam for Christmas shoppers and continued to stock a large range of candles, jewellery and toys.
She said she could also take care of any Christmas wrapping for gifts bought in-store.
Another local gift shop has Christmas all wrapped up for food lovers.
Gidgee Baskets owner Theresa Charles said she stocked gourmet foods that people could mix and match to create gift baskets.
She said this Christmas items like nuts, cookies, sticky date puddings and savoury items like olives and spreads were popular in baskets this holiday season. Gidgee baskets also stocks recipe books, kitchenware, jewellery, candles, creams and products from as far afield as Italy and Mexico.
Men: Cloncurry Boss Shop owner Travis Crowther said his store stocked enough tools, tool boxes and gear to fit out any shed or add to an established collection.
He said his Ramsay Street store stocked Metabo power tools and SP hand tools as well as all the other Christmas favourites for blokes.
``We sell a lot of tool boxes and we range into generators and air compressors,'' he said.
Colin Ferguson, from Cloncurry's Rodeo Saddle Shop, said the personalised handmade swags and gear bags were a big seller from his shop leading into the festive season.
``The main thing we've been selling is our gear bags and we have them in six different sizes and 12 different colours,'' he said.
Kids: Lemmon's Store on Scarr Street carries everything from toys to fishing and hunting gear and clothes for men, women and kids.
Shop owner Allan Abdy said leading into December he always tried to order more bikes and toys, including inflatable pools to help keep families cool over their Christmas break.
``We're waiting on more to come in because they've gone already,'' he said.
``They sell very well, especially in this heat.'' Mr Abdy said clothing for the whole family was available from brands like Canterbury, RM Williams, Thomas Cook, Wrangler, Ariat and Bullrush.
Mrs Shepherd from Whims & Wishes said the Sylvanian Family toys were also more popular than she expected this Christmas.