Every year, many of us put off thinking about Christmas because it seems to be months away. But before you know it, it’s upon you, with all the frenetic partying, shopping and socialising that characterises the festive season.
It’s worth making the effort to put your Christmas thinking cap on slightly before December 24th, however, if you don’t want to miss out on all the great parties, shopping events, product launches and fabulous prizes that are up for grabs, thanks to the generous folks at Island Companies.
You’re invited….
Although Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier every year it never really feels like Christmas until December. That’s when the holiday season properly starts. Island Companies will be kick starting the festivities with one massive street party on December 1st.
The party, which is part of Business After Hours, will spill out of the stores and into the streets, with Cardinall Avenue closed to traffic as an expected 4,000 members of the public turn out to help celebrate, drink, eat, socialise and, of course, shop! The Island Plaza and Landmark stores will be open for late night shopping until midnight, and food, drinks and music will all be provided by the company.
This is THE Christmas kick-off party in Cayman and certainly not one to be missed – so mark your calendars now!
Make shopping easyIf you find yourself in the US on Black Friday you could join in the madness and get up in the middle of the night to queue in the freezing cold outside a shopping mall for hours in order to snag a bargain in the sales. Or… you could stay warm, toasty and well rested here and leaf through Island Companies’ 2012 catalogue, (to be distributed in the Caymanian Compass on the last Friday in November) which is stuffed full of fantastic gift ideas and brand new collections. Find gift ideas for others, make your own wish list – or simply rip out the relevant pages and stick them on the fridge with a note to say “I want this!”
Win, win, win!
It’s not all spend, spend, spend at Christmas - depending on where you shop, at least. You could potentially reach the end of the Christmas season better off than you started it – if you take advantage of the fantastic Shop and Win promotion being offered by Island Companies from December 2 to 24. For every US$100 you spend you will automatically be entered in a draw the very next day in which you could win US$1000 (yes, onethousand dollars) cash back. Not a gift certificate, but a cheque. Cash it in and you can spend the money any way you like. And that goes for every US$100 spent - so spend $500 and you get entered five times.
Not only that but every person who is entered in the Shop and Win promotion will also be entered into the final grand prize draw with the chance to win one totally fabulous, funky, bright red Fiat 500 with a retail value of CI$33,750
Land of Mark Downs
As much fun as giving and receiving gifts is, it can become something of a financial strain for some. Nobody wants to dwell on tough times and economic downturns in the holiday season though – there is the rest of the year to do that – but here is a little tip: even if you are not a lucky winner there are some beautiful items to be found at genuinely reduced prices in the Land of Markdowns, located in Landmark Jewellers on Harbour Drive.
With almost 30 stores across the island, there is bound to be a few items from different collections that do not sell by the end of the season. In order to keep the stock in their main stores fresh and current, Island Companies move end of line products to the Land of Markdowns, where the regular retail price is dramatically reduced, giving the customers the opportunity to find some truly excellent deals. They have sent more than 12,000 new items to the Land of Markdowns, all with savings up to 60% off the original price!
New & Exclusive
There are plenty more novelties in store from Island Companies in the run up to the holidays, many of which are to be found in The Mansion at Camana Bay. The store reopens in November after extensive remodeling with a wealth of new offerings.
Bikers, rock stars and anyone with a flair for drama will love the unconventional and eye-catching glam-rock jewellery designs from the award winning designer Stephen Webster.
Those who embrace harmony and tranquility, on the other hand, can find their own bliss with the Shamballa beads, inspired by the ancient traditions of yoga and meditation.
World travelers or those with far flung families can keep track of the time wherever they are with the Vogard watches: by simply rotating the bezel you can see the time in a number of locations around the world.
Can’t get enough of those charming charm bracelets? There will be lots more when Island Companies opens its second Pandora concept boutique with Pandora at Camana Bay, next door to the Mansion.
Unique Dive Watches
There is a good deal of excitement surrounding one particular new product that will very soon be available exclusively in the Cayman Islands: an official Kittiwake dive watch.
The project to sink the Kittiwake was a seven year undertaking but one that has been a huge boost for Cayman’s dive industry. Island Companies along with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association decided to do something unique to commemorate this. Not ones to take a half hearted approach, they aimed high, teaming up with Oris, makers of some of the finest dive watches in the world, to create an exclusive, limited edition Kittiwake watch.
Only 500 watches will be made and the first 25 (minimum) in the series will be sold in the Cayman Islands. Each watch will bear a red and white dive flag on the face, with ‘Kittiwake’ inscribed on the back.
If your lucky number is 2, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11 and you’d like to be the proud owner of a top quality, one of a kind dive watch, you can bid in a live and silent auction at the Cayman Islands Hedge Funds Care fundraising event on November 5.
Can’t wait to see it? The official unveiling of the Kittiwake watch – for which the president of Oris Watches will be flying in from Switzerland especially - will quite appropriately coincide with the end of Scuba Bowl Week on November 9th, when some 200 dive tourism industry leaders will be on island for the annual dive trade show. WH