What's ringing the tills this Christmas

In the week before Christmas, your true love may go and buy: one Sexy Santa negligee, two scooters scooting, three Lucanus jig lures - and a Susan Boyle CD.

With just seven sleeps to go, the Otago Daily Times went shopping to find what gifts were proving popular in the lead-up to Christmas.

Toys in demand this year for girls included perennial favourites Sylvanian Families, Strawberry Shortcake and Barbie dolls, with newcomers such as the sassy Moxie and lifelike Baby Born dolls also selling strongly, ToyWorld sales assistant Jenny Nicol said.

For the boys, Lego, Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder were again popular, with foam dart-firing Nerf guns and products from the cartoon Ben 10 must-have items.

One item putting new meaning into Christmas is the Sexy Santa negligee ($79.99) from Bras N Things.

"These have been really popular. People just want to surprise their husbands," manager Ana Dube (28) said.

Another surprise for a loved one could be Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle's debut album I Dreamed a Dream ($29.99), which had been "flying off the shelf", Marbecks Wall St manager David James said.

If the Britain's Got Talent star was not what you had in mind, then Stroke - Songs for Chris Knox ($24.99) may fit the bill, with proceeds from each sale going to the former Dunedin singer, he said.

For those hard-to-buy-for teenagers, the self-titled debut from rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures was a possibility, while the DVD from Dutch violinist Andre Rieu, Live in Sydney, was ideal for those at the other end of life's spectrum, he said.

Other popular DVDs include science fiction film District 9 and the documentary Trio at the Top, which features footage of motor racing legends Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and Chris Amon.

Popular books were Go Fish by Wellington-based restaurateur Al Brown ($64.99), and Dust to Gold: The Inspiring Story of Bendigo Station ($49.99), book manager Bruce Caddy said.

Teenagers would enjoy the Twilight Series keepsake journals ($39.99), he said.

Rebel Sports Dunedin manager Aaron Sydney said scooters ($159) soon would be all over the province from Christmas Day judging by the number sold.

"They have been huge."

Men may also be sporting new shorts this summer, with the $39 NRL pocket-less "short shorts" proving a winner, he said.

And for under those shorts, "bright and trendy" Calvin Klein underwear was the ideal Christmas gift, Arthur Barnett general manager Sue Smaill said.

For women, the same brand of underwear was selling well, as was a perfume gift set by Narciso Rodriguez for $170.

The Avocado Keeper, a $15 homeware gift which keeps the cut half of an avocado fresh, was popular as a stocking stuffer, she said.

Allan Millar's Hunting and Fishing salesman Grant Ashton said freshwater spin sets for children from $39 were popular, with good keen customers eyeing Lucanus jig lures at $22.50 each.

And for the man who has everything? Mr Ashton recommends the powerful LED Lenser torch at the illuminating price of $149.

And to celebrate Dunedin becoming New Zealand's first Fair Trade city, what better than a purchase from a Trade Aid shop? Trade Aid Dunedin manager and buyer Louise McInnes said in the five years she had been involved with fair trade products this was the "biggest year yet".