CHANEL, VERSACE, DOLCE & GABBANA, VUITTON, GUCCI, DIOR, FENDI, PRADA, COACH, MARC JACOBS et al
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As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, these are the brand-name clothing and fashion accessories that women will expect. But with the average cost of these items ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, how can the average woman afford these at all?

Add to the mix the celebrity endorsements. Paris Hilton wears CHANEL sunglasses, Jessica Simpson totes a VUITTON Speedy bag, Jennifer Lopez wears a DOLCE & GABBANA dress. “What’s Jennifer Aniston got on?” “Oooh what’s Madonna wearing?” Stars don’t have to worry about scrimping and saving to buy high-priced designer items; in most cases they don’t even have to pay anything, the companies freely give them the merchandise. Designers know that just having their products displayed by pop icons translates into millions of dollars in increased sales.

The celebrities are having a fashion party to which the average working woman is not invited.

So what is a woman of modest means to do?

Enter the knock-off. The fashion industry has created a need that the replica industry fulfills, designer clothing and accessories within the reach of the middle class budget.

By pricing their wares in the stratosphere, designers are essentially causing the knock-off market to thrive. Women see these must have fashion accessories in magazines like VOGUE and ELLE and want them. But when a handbag costs what the average middle class woman makes in a year, what choice does she have? She can’t afford the real thing so she buys a copy, much the same way that an art lover who desires a Picasso will hang a lithograph on his wall.

Each day on Canal Street in New York City, tour buses deliver scores of consumers who descend like vultures upon the rows of merchants who sell designer look-alikes. At the behest of the above mentioned designer corporations, the NYPD is constantly shutting down sellers and confiscating their merchandise, forcing these vendors underground as they try to keep up with the insatiable demand for replicas. Commenting on the public’s maniacal desire to own designer accessories, Tommy Y. a 20 something vendor sagely notes “We make them famous, and then they arrest us.”

The real irony comes when the fashion giant out sources the manufacture of their product to the very same company in China that is producing the copies. If the item is made by the same factory, how does one apply the “genuine” rule? Genuine as in “sanctioned by the manufacturer”?

A great deal of the blame must be placed squarely on the shoulders of the designers themselves. How can they justify such outrageous prices? VUITTON has a leather coin purse that sells for $275! MARC JACOBS has a $9,995 tote bag! HERMES’ bags start at $5,000 and rise steadily from there. CHANEL sunglasses average $300 per pair, non-prescription! Regardless of how loudly these companies cry foul, and hide behind trademark infringement laws, it’s all too obvious that they are greedily profiting from their media generated envy.

Gregory Lions is a former financial analyst for Dun & Bradstreet Inc. He is currently the CEO of BUYHEREBUYNOW.COM http://buyherebuynow.com

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Your loved one’s birthday is coming up soon, so you decide this birthday will be different. No more “usual” birthday gifts. You want to do something special and give a gift they will actually treasure, or at least use on a regular basis. Below are five steps to help you pinpoint that perfect birthday gift.

Step One: Determine the Season

When shopping for a birthday gift during spring, find a gift that fits the spring season. A winter coat or pair of skis probably wouldn’t be best in April or May. However, pastel-colored jewelry for a mother, girlfriend or sister would be great if she likes jewelry. Or, for the wife some colorful lingerie or a beautiful leather handbag might do the trick. A set of knives for the kitchen can make a great birthday gift any time of the year.

Step Two: Giving a Collectible Gift

Collectibles make great birthday gifts for those who enjoy antiques or unique items. Find out what your friend enjoys collecting and give a collectible gift that will add to their collection. To go a step further, ask to see their collection and then find an item they do not have or a gift that will complete a set for them. You might be surprised at the things people collect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Step Three: Give a Hobby Gift

Another great birthday gift is one that enhances their favorite hobby or past time. If the recipient enjoys listening to music, visit an electronics section of your favorite Web store to find a unique CD player or other music-related gift. If they enjoy watching movies or television, there are many electronics products to make entertainment more enjoyable than ever. Other hobbies might include gardening, fishing, hunting, playing an instrument, sports, sewing, crafts, etc.

Step Four: Shop around for Better Gift Value

With the Web, your resources for finding a great birthday gift are multiplied greatly. You can search online gift stores for fabulous products while also saving time and money. Sometimes you can even find great gifts at wholesale prices. Wholesale gift products can be provided online because the overhead costs for a Web store is much less than a “brick and mortar” storefront, and the middleman is sometimes eliminated with Web stores. These types of gift stores are able to offer more gifts at lower prices. Make a list of birthdays in advance and shop early for the best possible gift value. Also, leave plenty of time for shipping the items so your loved one will receive their gift on time.

Step Five: Don’t be Afraid to Give Useful Gifts

Never assume that because someone already owns a cell phone, they wouldn’t like to have another one. If someone already has a certain type of jewelry, it doesn’t mean they don’t want more jewelry. Birthday gifts can be practical as well as thoughtful. For example, your friend mentions getting a new cell phone with all the latest features. You find the perfect cell phone with an affordable calling package. Instead of buying something they can’t use, you give them a gift certificate for the new cell phone and their first couple of month’s calls.

Another example is if your friend owns a pet such as a cat, dog, bird, fish or horse. You can find gifts to help with the care of their pet. Your gift might be a new saddle or set of grooming tools for their horse, or a new training video for their dog - the possibilities are endless.

Shopping for that perfect birthday gift doesn’t have to be stressful. Show you care with a personalized gift and help make your loved one’s birthday the best one yet!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Find the Perfect Birthday Gift or Majon’s Gifts and Collectibles directory.

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Products such as Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s Playstation 3 have grabbed undeniable attention in the consumer electronics market. During holidays, birthdays and other occasions, parents rush out to get the latest games or consoles to give as gifts to their children. But unlike more general products and gifts such as handbags, items for pets, household products, knives or leather goods, the electronics products such as these often come with an ongoing price tag, with new games being released indefinitely. That’s why consumers should compare these products carefully before buying.

A Power Comparison

Electronics can be compared in several areas, with one being power. The Xbox 360 overwhelmingly surpasses the Playstation 3 when it comes to power. Its CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) have more processing power than the PS 3. The memory bandwidth of the Xbox 360 exceeds that of the Playstation 3 by five times!

However, don’t let the power capabilities be the only determining factor. Playstation 3 still has lots of power when compared with older consoles, and the graphics are terrific as well. Also, it has a unique “cell chip,” which is expected to help developers get even more power for games, but it’s yet to be seen what will come of this. In comparison, there are still a couple of other things to consider.

Software Availability

The software (or video game) war is on now more than ever. Games are being defined by play-time, number of levels, quality of graphics, reality factors, and how they can be used online. Kids and adults alike are anxiously awaiting new games to be released to put them to the test in all these areas. Those wanting the online capabilities will find that Xbox 360 is geared that way.

With so many independent software developers, games are being released today that are either/or when it comes to the console Those who own a Playstation 3 console will be able to buy the PS 3 version of the game. The same goes for Xbox 360! So, this makes it more difficult to differentiate between the consoles in terms of the types of games offered. It’s the actual features and capabilities of the console that will determine the consumer’s final decision.

Pricing for Consoles and Games

Pricing is another determining factor. It’s usually based on the “newness” of the console or game. However, with new games and consoles being released, consumers won’t find cheap prices on these electronics just yet. It’s like buying automotive parts for a brand new car - there are no used or discounted parts because it’s all new!

Unlike buying jewelry, leather goods or a gift set of kitchen knives, choosing the right game console has to be a personal decision based on the features and capabilities desired. Many electronics are designed that way thanks to the ever-changing world of technology!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Shopping Comparison Xbox and PS 3 or Majon’s Electronics directory.

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