Last Chance for Holiday Orders
I know that shopping for the holidays is not always easy. It’s hard to find time amidst all the other holiday business, plus, there are always those people who are especially difficult to buy for. 
But, if you’ve been holding off on your holiday shopping, maybe hoping for a time when you’re less busy, or waiting for inspiration on that perfect gift, the moment to stop procrastinating is now. It’s time to make those last-minute holiday purchases and then breathe a sigh of relief that your gift list is finished for one more year. And, here’s the good news: you don’t have to brave crowded stores and hoards of wild-eyed shoppers to complete your final purchases; in fact, you don’t even have to get up! Since you’re already here, all you have to do is click over to our vegan bakery and confectionary to find all the compassionate, decadent, fair-trade gifts you’re looking for in just a few clicks. With only a handful of days to spare, there’s no time like the present. 
Whether you choose one of our elegant chocolate gifts, a gourmet coffee gift basket, or a cookie of the month club, we guarantee that everyone on your list will love your gift.
Did you remember a sweet something for your Host or Hostess, Dog Sitter, Nanny, Driver, or Doorman? There are so many people in our lives who deserve our appreciation during the holidays and chocolate is a great way to show it. If you’re not sure which types of goodies a specific person prefers, choose one our instant gift certificates and allow them to enjoy their own dessert shopping. Whatever you decide, order now so you can get on with the rest of your festive plans like awesome vegan baking and giant family meals!
Happy Holidays from all of us at Allison’s Gourmet.
P.S. Join Allison (@AllisonsGourmet) tonight at 6pm PT for the @VegNews Twitter chat: http://veg.gy/3E5CM. She’ll be answering your vegan baking questions along with two other extraordinary women, Hannah Kaminsky @BitterSweet_ and Beverly Lynn Bennet (@veganchefbev)!
Giving from the Heart (and Oven)
Today is my fiancé’s birthday, and searching for the right gift for him started me thinking about gifts in general. 
Mostly I dread shopping for presents. I’m often uninspired (my man knows this and just tells me what he wants — thanks honey!) so more often than not, I end up buying some thing just to have something to give. I dislike the consumerist drive to buy, buy, buy. At the same time, though, gift-giving is an important part of our culture. We exchange gifts to show our love and affection for each other. 
To let others know that they’re in our thoughts although we may be far apart or out of touch. And everyone loves getting gifts, right? But, sometimes, especially around the winter holidays, I find myself buying meaningless gifts for people just to have something to offer them. It’s important that I don’t leave any one out, so even if I have no idea what a certain person might enjoy, I feel like I have to get them something anyway. And much as we love getting gifts, does anyone really want another gizmo or dust-collector? How many gag gifts can you get before they get old?
So, the best answer I have come up with to solve this dilemma is to give gifts that don’t collect dust and that everyone will enjoy and be able to share. 
Edible treats are ideal, especially when you know someone loves a certain dessert or don’t know the person very well but can assume that they love sweets like the other 99% of humanity. I especially enjoy giving home-made gifts, and if there’s time, energy and skills to make or bake gift-worthy goodies, they are sure to be appreciated. But, when I mostly need ease of giving and taste perfection, I find that a dozen organic cookies or a tray of deliciously chewy vegan brownies from AG simply can’t be beat. In the words of one happy client:
“Your cookies and brownies are a perfect gift: perishable, so they don’t contribute to anyone’s clutter; shareable so they foster friendship; delicious so they are always appreciated, and cholesterol free, so they can be eaten with uncompromised pleasure. Thanks so much for making the world more delicious.”
Patti Breitman, Author
Back to my fiancé. In case you’re wondering how your non-vegan friends will take receiving vegan goodies as a gift, I can tell you. 
My omnivorous man, and his completely carnivorous teenage daughters LOVE Allison’s goodies. In fact, whenever I bring some home, they are devoured in record time with excitement and glee. So, trust me, these are delectable sweets. Period. Not like other vegan baked goods you may have tried that are “good… for being vegan.” Allison’s are world-class, guaranteed.
Summertime Shipping and Eco-Friendly Chill Packs
Summer can be a hard time for shipping perishables. So much of the shipping process is out of our hands, and packages often sit in hot trucks, and on sunny porches before being opened and enjoyed.
Not to be deterred by a little heat, however, we’re pleased to offer a styrofoam-free, eco-conscious chill pack option for shipping vegan chocolates and other perishable items in warm weather. Our chill packs create much less waste and are lighter and more efficient to ship than traditional styrofoam boxes. Plus, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our vegan chocolates and other confections and baked goods, when you follow our shipping guidelines.
Here are some tips for shipping perishable items in summer heat:
- Always include our recommended chill pack and ship via FedEx 2-day air.
- Ship to an address where someone will be present to receive the package.
- Do NOT include “deliver without signature” or “leave at front door” in the note to driver line. (These notes allows FedEx to leave packages in unknown conditions).
- If you’re shipping to a location over 90ºF, consider less perishable items like caramels, non-chocolate toffee and brittle, cookies and brownies.
- If you are unsatisfied with your products upon delivery and you followed the shipping guidelines above, write us an email with the details of your order for credit or re-shipment free of charge.
