UNT merchandising students determine hottest gifts of the 2004 holiday season

Wondering what to put at the top of your must-buy gift shopping list this year?

Wonder no more, because the students in the Aesthetics and Environment course taught by Christy Crutsinger, associate professor of merchandising and hospitality management and chair of the merchandising division, selected the hottest items for holiday gift-giving this season while evaluating Internet web sites for a class project.

The 44 merchandising students in the course study the influence of product functionality and aesthetic appeal on consumer decisions.

Here are a few of the top items and shopping themes.

For him, think high-tech goodies:

• MP3 players
• Portable DVD players

For her, focus on rejuvenation and wardrobe boosting:

• Gift certificate for a day at the spa
• He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys, the hot-selling book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
• Ugg boots

For kids, remember all things retro:

• Cabbage Patch dolls
• Care Bears
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Transformers action figures
• Dancing Elmo, a doll that dances to the tune of the disco classic "YMCA"

BY RUFUS COLEMAN rcoleman@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Provost approves changes to Fall 2004 schedule of final exams
• TAMS students semifinalists in national competition
• UNT hosts seminar to address needs of lesbian, bisexual, transgender women
• Winter weather brings possibility for closures
• UNT professor talks about films released during the holidays
• Eagle Partner Award nominations sought
• Operation Eagle to assist Florida children
• Staff Council to draft resolution supporting staff reclassification funds
• UNT Post Office hours change for holidays
• 2005 Honors Day nomination forms are due Dec. 17

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