The Gift Certificate. People tend to eschew it because it is too "impersonal." (Although my wife says it is the gift that says, "I care enough about you to let you pick out something you really want.")

We have on-line gift certificates available to purchase on our web site, and as we describe them, they are "always in stock, always delivered on time, and you never have to worry about the fit!"

It's amazing, though, how few people seem to actually take advantage of the gift certificate option. And around this time of year, I really wish more would.

It happens every year in December. People are scrambling to order gifts for delivery by Dec. 24. I know that we offer a wide range of products in our catalog, but people sometimes seem to have the impression that we are a large warehouse store with tons of back stock on hand. They forget, around the holidays, that we are in fact a medium-sized museum gift shop, with limited on-hand stock. People seem to forget, too, that much of what we offer has to be ordered in from Scotland, or is custom made-to-order. All that takes time, of course, which is why we make sure to put an estimated delivery time in with all of our product descriptions.

But as we get closer and closer to Christmas, people seem to not see those notices. Two weeks before Christmas, they will order a custom item that states "6 to 8 weeks" delivery. Then when they get an email confirmation saying that it will be delivered in "6 to 8 weeks" they write us back, in a fluster, saying the order must be cancelled if we can't guarantee delivery before Christmas. So we have to cancel and refund their order. It's a hassel for us. It's frustrating for them. No one is happy.

Even with items we normally keep in stock, there is no guarantee that we will have exactly what you need at the time you order it. We may have just sold out of size 12 navy blue kilt hose, or ancient MacDonald scarves, the day before you placed your order. As we say on our web site, if you need to guarantee a delivery date, call in your order so you can talk to someone to verify the stock status.

Of course, for holiday giving, all this can be avoided with the Gift Certificate.

Another consideration is that a lot of what we sell is size specific, or tartan specific. This is one reason I say kilts make wonderful gifts, but lousy surprises. Every year I have to caution wives who want to get their husband a kilt as a surprise gift. Just recently I was talking with a gentleman whose wife surprised him with a kilt four years ago. She measured him in his sleep. Miraculously, she got the waist size and the length spot on. But she completely mismeasured the hips, and his kilt was way too small for him.

People call in a lot this time of year, with measurements that they "guess" are right. They don't want to ask their loved one for measurements and spoil the surprise. But that's a lot of money to spend on a garment that may or may not fit. Plus, you may know your signifigant other wants the MacIntyre tartan, but does he want it in the ancient, modern, or weathered colors? Or maybe MacIntyre hunting? Does he want it pleated to sett or stripe? Would he prefer heavy or medium weight cloth? There are a lot of options to consider. Wouldn't it be great if he could help select those options, to get just the kilt he wants?

Solution -- Gift Certificate! Present your special someone with a gift certificate for that kilt they have been wanting, and then allow them the pleasure of selecting just what they want -- and you'll be able to take those measurements and be confidant of a good fit.

Yup, no matter how you slice it, a Gift Certificate is a wonderful gift for that kilt wearer or Scottish enthusiast on your gift list. And if you are that kilt wearer, make sure people know that a Gift Certificate to your favorite tartan shop is high on your wish list!

Always on time. Always in stock. Always in the right tartan. Always the perfect fit.