Office Depot: Top 30 Smart Gifts

by Robin Fiedler

Need gift ideas? Like contests? On Nov. 22, Office Depot starts a holiday gift campaign with a daily countdown until Dec. 24. The "Top 30 Smart Gifts" campaign has a dedicated website with an "Instant Win Game" - it's loaded with graphics, so Flash is needed to view.

Office Depot announced, "Top 30 Smart Gifts list features this year's hottest products combined with extraordinary savings that will help holiday shoppers 'give more and spend less' this season. These 'Smart Gifts' are indicated both in-store and online by a 'Smart Gift' icon that appears next to the product." Most of the items are listed below with their contest give-a-way date.

Popular gifts this season that are on Office Depot's "Smart Gifts" list are the iPod/iPhone stereo docks, the Flip Video Camcorder, eReader, and netbook. Their prices pretty much match other retailers', or are just slightly above. But hey, when the "sold out" notices start, Office Depot may still have 'hot' gifts in stock. An eCoupon or two may be available out there, so do your research.

Included in Office Depot's "Top 30 Smart Gift List" this year are the following products:

Hot Tech Gifts of the Season:

Sony Pocket Reader: $200, give-a-way date, Nov. 29.
The HP Photosmart Premium Web Printer: $400, give-a-way date Dec. 18 (Less features model for $150)
HP Mini Netbook: $350, give-a-way date Nov. 27

Gifts Under $25:

Ativa 4 GB Fashion USB Flash Drives: $18, give-a-way date Dec. 24
Photo Calendar: For around $10, not part of contest (multi-page calendar starts at $25)

Gifts Under $50:

Memorex Portable Boom Box for iPod: $50, give-a-way date Dec. 20.
Ativa 7" Digital Frame: $40, give-a-way date Nov. 24

Gifts Under $100:

The Sony Clock Radio Speaker System for iPod: $100, give-a-way date Dec. 16
The Ativa Wireless Speaker System for iPod: $80, give-a-way date Dec. 3

Travel Gifts:

Tom Tom 5" GPS System: $280, give-a-way date Dec. 14
Prism 7" Portable TV: $100, give-a-way date Nov. 26
The Oregon Scientific Advanced Weather Station: $50, give-a-way date Dec. 23

Teen Gifts:

Flip Video Ultra HD Camcorder: $200, give-a-way date Nov. 28
Ed Hardy Faceplates for iPhone: $30, give-a-way date Dec. 5

Also, a Compaq CQ4010F Desktop Computer With AMD Sempron^TM LE-1300 Processor, no monitor, for $270 after mail-in rebate. The "Top 30 Smart Gifts" website is available now and a full-page calendar is at the Prize calendar page. With the "Gift of the Day Instant Win Game" - five winners will be selected every day. The site is interactive with snowball fights, matching games, and videos. Office Depot is on Twitter and Facebook, and you can set a Daily Game Reminder with emails or text messages.

Is all this fun or work? Retailers are making work out of finding the best deals and capturing shoppers' undivided attention with social media. Diehard shoppers see all this as part of the fun.