PARENTS’ NOTES
a special advertising section of the bermuda sun
n
November 7, 2012
n
page 33
Layaway a good option for special Christmas presents Items can be secured by paying a deposit with balance paid over a fixed time period Otto Wurz 5 Front Street, Hamilton. Call 295-1247 or e-mail: poolhousetx@msn.com Bicycle Works 3 Tumkins Lane, Pembroke. Call 297-8356 or e-mail ride@bicycleworks.bm The Phoenix Centre 3 Reid Street, Hamilton. Call 279-5451.
By Amanda Dale adale@bermudasun.bm
As the early festive decorations in shops are reminding us, Christmas is on its way. Money is tight in this recession but you may still want to treat your child to his or her ‘dream’ Christmas present this year. If you’re worried about payments, the answer could be a layaway scheme. A layaway enables you to purchase an item without paying the entire cost at once. The customer pays a deposit and then pays off the balance on the item within a set time period, according to their budget and what they can afford at certain times. Unlike instalment plans or hire purchases however, the customer can only take the item home once it is fully paid for. If the goods are not paid for by the end of the time period, the item is returned to the retailer’s stock. There are just under seven weeks to go before Christmas, so why not explore which stores in Bermuda can offer you a layaway scheme? At Otto Wurz in Hamilton, staff offer layaways for children’s toys, in particular the bigger items such as doll’s houses and firehouses. Anthea Edwards, owner/ manager, said: “We will assemble them for you and you don’t have to worry about having to take the gift home early, because we will keep it right up until the weekend before Christmas (December 22/23). We also do free deliveries.”
n PhotoS SUPPLIED
BIG TICKET ITEMS like this doll’s house from Otto Wurz, or a bike from Bicycle Works, can be purchased using the layaway scheme. The Phoenix Centre in Hamilton also operates layaways for children’s toys. Mrs Edwards said: “It’s really anything we have here which you can layaway. “We require a larger deposit to start with, a third of the payment, but we are flexible and can draw up a pay schedule for a period of time we agree on. “We have to be flexible
because some people are more able to pay than others. We try to be understanding of those who want to give their children something special but who may not be able to do it all at the same time.” Otto Wurz has a large selection of dolls’ houses, from deluxe to tabletop,
ranging from $165 to $350. Some come fully furnished with dolls. The store also sells firehouses for action figures. Other large gift ideas are a children’s kitchen, available in red or pink, for $330, or a wooden art table, with drying rack, for $300. Christopher S Edwards,
Otto Wurz creative director, said: “With our children’s toys I tend to go low-tech, high imagination, to make them more interactive with the kids. We tend to get a lot of grandparents coming in here looking for special gifts.” Parents can also take advantage of layaways
at Bicycle Works in Pembroke. If your child wants a new bike for Christmas, the store has a wide choice for all ages. Neil De Ste Croix, managing director, said: “We have a complete range of kids’ bikes, starting from a strider with no pedals, on which toddlers can stride along, to bigger sizes and styles. These include BMX and mountain bikes. “We’ve got a lot more stock coming in during the next few weeks, so we can ensure everyone gets what they want for Christmas. “We also have all the accessories you need for safe cycling, such as lights and helmets. “We usually take a third of the cost as a deposit and then people come in to make the rest of the payment. Once it’s paid off they can collect it during Christmas week, but if you are stuck we can also delivery it for you.” At the Phoenix Centre in Hamilton, the layaway scheme for children’s toys started on November 1. A company spokeswoman said: “It has to be on an item over $200 and you put a third of the price down on it and then you have six weeks to pay the rest.” n
MILESTONES Birthday
GabrIELLa CharLES who celebrated her
6th birthday on 1st November.
Lots of love
from Mommy, Daddy, brothers, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles & cousins