Psst - Here's what's under Christmas trees
At Gourmet Alaska, it is the Homer Simpson talking beer-can opener. At Annie Kaill's, it's "art, lots of art." And at Hearthside Books it's a magnetic building toy called Geomag.
Most stores in Juneau report fairly normal sales this Christmas season. The most popular products, though, are sometimes surprising.
"They're today's Legos," said Susan Hickey, an owner of Hearthside Books, of Geomag. "But they appeal just as much to adults as to children."
The Geomag, which comes in boxes of 14, 20, 42, 86, 184 pieces, has been selling extremely well at Hearthside, Hickey said. One Hearthside employee, Michael Hunter, said he has bought six sets for himself since the store began carrying Geomag this summer.
"I bought my dad a set and he practically retired," Hunter said.
Another popular present at the store is a book of cats that have been decorated in nontoxic paint. The book is entitled "Why Paint Cats: The Ethics of Feline Aesthetics," and is the sequel to the book "Why Cats Paint: a Theory of Feline Aesthetics," Hickey said.
At the Nugget Alaskan Outfitter, a popular stocking stuffer is the Pulsar key chain - a key chain the size of a quarter that emits red, blue, white or green light when squeezed.
"They're great stocking stuffers," said Nancy Potts, a buyer and assistant manager for the store. LAD headlamps, featuring a bright white, long-burning light, are also popular.
Unlike last year, when Eaglecrest Ski Area opened in early December, winter outerwear has not been a popular item at the store this season.
"Last year we ran out of coats and ski pants," Potts said.
Many stores on the West Coast are overstocked on winter outerwear, Potts said, because of unusually rainy weather.
"The other part to that is I've been selling more light hikers' and trail running shoes because people are still using them," Potts said.
Bill Wright, owner of Gourmet Alaska, said he sold out last week of the Homer Simpson talking beer-can opener, which said, "Mmm, beer," followed by the sound of Homer drinking. He's also been selling separate All Clad cookware pieces in large quantities. Perennial favorites, such as pasta makers and starter kits for beer brewing and wine making, also have sold well.
The biggest sellers at Annie Kaill's are art, pottery and jewelry, in that order, said Nancy Huebschen, assistant to store owner Darby Hinz. Also popular are some unique Christmas ornaments.
"Our fat-lady Christmas ornaments just blow out of the store," Huebschen said.
For those who know exactly what they want from Annie Kaill's this year, the store has an "Annie Kaill's card." The card is a wish list a person can leave at the store in hopes it will be requested by somebody shopping for that person, ensuring it's a very merry and worry-free Christmas for giftee and gifter.
Christine Schmid can be reached at cschmid@juneauempire.com.