Easy, affordable last-minute gifts for the mobile person in your life

By: Elliott Chun

I was listening to the good folks at News 1130 on the weekend and it really is crunch time for holiday shopping. I admit I’m among the two-thirds of Canadians who have yet to finish getting gifts for everyone on my list.

Vancouver certainly is brimming with energy and cheer as we approach the holiday season and Future Shop is at the centre. With amazing deals, exciting stuff and helpful staff, there are a medley of gift options to choose from.

In my role as Corporate Communications Manager for Canada’s largest electronics retailer and etailer of consumer electronics, the chain whose beginnings point to one teeny store on West Broadway, I’m exposed to a gazillion gadgets. All are worth sharing, but there is one area that really sticks out for me this time of year that satisfies all price points and styles: mobile accessories. They’re fun, affordable and easy to buy during a time where decisiveness, selection and price point are factors for last-minute shoppers.

Here are five exciting options to consider placing in the stocking or under the tree as you shop during the final days till the holiday:

Moshi Moshi handset. Celebrity sightings are abundant: big names from Sarah Jessica Parker to Lenny Kravitz have rocked this retro handset compatible for any smartphone. Instantly step back into time and grab attention wherever you are by picking-up the Moshi Moshi. $39.99

Phubby. The Phubby is a funky and fashionable wrist band that securely keeps your phone or mP3 player with you at all times. The best part is the material’s thin enough to see and touch the screen of your mobile device. $12.99

Bluetooth headsets and speakerphones. Bluetooth accessories continue as the craze nowadays to keep talking among our stricter driving laws. An awesome device I’ve toyed with is the BlueAnt S4 Car Speakerphone. With 20 hours of talk time and a car charger, it can remain in the car. It’s also extremely user-friendly, especially with the voice control features that responds instantly to your voice when you say “BlueAnt speak to me.” $119.99

Multi-purpose headphones. Finding a pair of headphones that stay in your ear or need to stay dry the entire time during activities along the Seawall, pumping iron at the gym or climbing the Grouse Grind is challenging. One pair I standby is Monster’s iSport In-Ear Headphones. They’re super comfy, offer excellent sound quality (these are the makers of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones too), as well as sweat and sand proof. Built-in “Control Talk” is a practical feature allowing you to remotely control your iPhone or iPod, including answering phone calls in between reps. $179.99

Belkin Conserve Valet Charger. Most of us have more than one mobile device. For me, I’m constantly keeping tabs battery levels of two smartphones, a tablet and Nintendo 3DS. With most electrical outlets offering two charge options, cluttering my home is an understatement. The solution? Belkin Conserve Valet Charger. It allows charging up to four devices using just one electrical outlet. $39.99

If you’re in a similar situation like me, good luck finishing the shopping. Not a big fan of hustling among the crowds this time year? Shop online using your mobile device and use the in-store pick-up option to give the gifts on-time.

Happy holidays!

Elliott Chun is Future Shop’s Corporate Communications Manager. Reach him on Twitter @ElliottChun.