GIFT GUIDE What they want

Last year's big home-improvement item was the laser level; this year, it's the laser tape.
By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
As the holiday gift-giving season approaches, many shoppers are stumped about what to buy for those nearest and dearest to their hearts.
Fortunately, some local retailers gave the scoop on what everybody wants this year for Christmas.
TOOL TIME
Guys have got to have the new Strait-Line laser tape, according to Gary Boliver of the Home Depot in Niles.
"Last year it was the laser level. This year it's the laser tape," Boliver said.
The laser tape is a cutting-edge, super-slick measuring tape.
"It allows you to walk into a room, aim the tape at the wall and get a measurement of area or volume that's 99.5 percent accurate," Boliver said.
The laser tape will calculate square footage, cubic footage and linear footage all at the press of a button from a distance as close as 2 feet or as far away as 50 feet.
The Strait-Line laser tape retails for about $36 and is especially useful for flooring, shelving, painting or wallpapering projects.
Stores such as Lowes, Target, Sears, Wal-Mart and Home Depot sell Strait-Line products.
Boliver said the Niles Home Depot can't keep enough Strait-Line laser tapes in stock.
"I've already sold out of them once, and I got my second batch in recently, and it's going as fast as the first one did," Boliver said.
More laser technology
Laser miter saws are also selling fast.
"The laser alignment system allows you to accurately align the cut line with the blade," Boliver said.
Laser miter saws range in price from about $200 for a 10-inch saw to $300 for a 12-inch to $600 for a 12-inch slider, Boliver said.
Lots of guys also want RIDGID hand tools.
"RIDGID used to make only large, floor-model tools, but they recently started making hand tools. The hand tools are built tough for everyday use on the job site," Boliver explained.
RIDGID hand tools include pipe wrenches that sell for about $35 to $70 and tubing cutters that sell for about $40 to $100.
THE COMFORTS OF HOME
Home entertaining has become more popular than ever, according to Greg Schmid, manager of Linens N' Things in Niles.
"Ever since Sept. 11, there has been a trend where people are staying home more instead of going out," Schmid said.
As a result, more people want home entertaining items such as wine bottle storage towers, corkscrew sets, bar glass sets and fragrant Yankee candles for instant ambience.
Yankee candles range in price from about $7 to $20, wine storage towers sell for about $20 to $30, and corkscrew sets sell for about $10 to $30.
Homebodies also want gadgets for the kitchen that will enable them to make tasty treats that rival those ordered in restaurants.
"Quesadilla makers have become very popular," Schmid said. "They sell for about $29."
Chocolate lovers want the Cocomotion hot chocolate maker by Mr. Coffee.
The Cocomotion heats milk to just the right temperature and whips up extra creamy, delightfully frothy hot chocolate in minutes.
It sells for about $23 and works just like a coffee maker.
Folks who hate struggling with too-tight jar lids will benefit from an electric jar opener.
"This is a brand-new gadget that everybody is asking for," Schmid said. "A device grips the lid of the jar and then spins it, making it easy to open jars with tight lids."
Electric jar openers sell for about $30.
Keep it clean
Since a clean, comfortable house is a must for entertaining at home, it's no surprise that cordless sweepers are at the top of many wish lists.
Convenient cordless sweepers sell for about $60 and come with a rechargeable battery.
Speaking of dust and dirt, asthma and allergy sufferers will breathe easier with an Ionic Breeze Pure Air Humidifier under the Christmas tree.
"It purifies the air by reducing dust mites, pet dander, allergens and cigarette smoke. It runs silently and doesn't have a filter. You just wipe off a metal blade after each use. It sells for about $250," Schmid said.