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Christmas
World’s biggest lottery at $4.7 billion
“El Gordo” is lottery that takes place every year around Christmas. It is a yearly ritual for Spaniards that they celebrate with utter excitement. Almost all the Spaniards are stocking for the world’s richest lottery draw that is supposed to be handing out a record $4.7 billion worth in prizes to win. The 21.5 per cent jobless rate and the dear of recession doesn’t stab them Spaniards. On an average four out of every five Spaniards is expected to buy a ticket to the lottery, with each person spending more than 60 euros’ on an average.
This is a massive event of Spain. Out of the fortune made by the national lottery through “El Gordo” every year 70 per cent is shared out in prizes. Juan Antonio Gallardo, sales director of the national lottery claims that the El Gordo’ is one of the most generous lotteries in the world. The jackpot has grown to 400,000 euros from 300,000 euros last year, and the total value of all the winning tickets to a record 3.6 billion euros from 2.7 billion euros.
Cartier Silver Harley Davidson
With Christmas being just on head, everybody is making a wish list. If you also have a bike lover at home, here is the best ever Christmas gift you can ever get him -the Cartier Silver Harley Davidson. The timeless antique piece here is crafted out silver and is a souvenir that can be handed down to generations after generations. As per the sellers, this $5,600 worth antique is presently out of stock and we don’t know how soon they’ll be replenishing it. You can keep an eye on it and if you are if you’re lucky enough, you’ll have one right in time for Christmas.
Vacheron Constantin opens first boutique in the UK
Vacheron Constantin is all set to give a good reason to hit Harrods, UK. The first store boutique by Vacheron Constantin has been planned at Harrods’s new Fine Watch Room in UK. Customers can now very easily check out one of the wide range of fine timepieces, curated by Harrods’s buying teams. Exclusive to the holiday season, i.e. Christmas being round the corner Vacheron Constantin is out with a special edition Patrimony Contemporaine for Harrods. A classical round dial with fine lines in complete parody with the modern times is the specialty. Equipped with a manually winding movement the watch is finished with a blue alligator strap. Featuring a Harrods faade, at the rear of the platinum case, the watch is limited to 10 units only.
Christmas Decorations Going Green
As per a recent report of Scientific America, mistletoe may be extinct in 20 years. At the same point of time the holidays aren’t complete without mistletoe.
This year instead of buying some measly mistletoe that everyone else always seems to have, make mint or basil the new mistletoe and hang a special pot from the door molding that can double as a kitchen garden come January.
Mistletoe aside, there are a number of unique ways to deck the halls for the holidays that won’t break the bank or make you feel like you’re following in your mother’s footsteps. Plus, your money will be further on as all of our ideas, from centerpieces of herbs or pinecones to fireplace herb bundles have new life long after Santa comes and goes.
Swarovski crystal Christmas Tree
After adorning almost everything in the world, Swarovski is all set to put on display its latest stunner, a sparkling Swarovski crystal Christmas tree at Xiamen in Hong Kong. The crystal company has recently set a new record in Xiamen of a Christmas tree worth $157,000. It is located at the Xiamen SM Lifestyle Center, it is one of the six Swarovski crystals Christmas trees that will be displayed this year.18 meters tall, and bottom of the Christmas tree is the exhibit hall for Swarovski’s new products. The hall was decorated with white refracting prisms suitably for the occasion. But that still didn’t steal its thunder. The crystal masterpiece will be on display upto 15th January, 2012.
HK actress Karen Mok, with Mr. Steven T. Tan, VP of Operations of SM Shopping Center Management Co and Mr. Rheybie C. Nipas, SM Regional Operation Manager lit up the amazing Swarovski Christmas tree at Xiamen SM Lifestyle Center are some of the renowned personalities.
Most expensive Christmas tree this season
We all have seen a lot of things crafted in gold like golden Mount Fuji, gold Stitch and Angel and the golden rabbit. This time of the year Ginza Tanaka is here to celebrate the holiday season in full mood with the world’s most expensive Christmas tree. It is valued at $11 million and is tagged as London’s most expensive Christmas tree comes decked with 24 kt gold Baccarat bottles filled with Cognac. On the other hand the most expensive Christmas tree is travelling expansively.
Ginza Tanaka has unveiled a shimmering 2.4 meters tall Golden Christmas Tree cast out of 12 kilograms of pure gold that works out to $1.95 million. At that value, it just crossed the $1.8 million Christmas tree that stands at 40 centimeters only but features about 100 carats of diamonds.
The latest in the kitty of Golden Christmas Trees needed the able hands of 15 craftsmen, and took four and a half months to complete, will be on display throughout the holiday season.
Rolls Royce is Considering an Electric Car with Zero Emissions
BMW is also working on electric and environmentally friendly technology that is scheduled to be showcased at the 2012 Olympics in London. Just before Christmas, the Chief Executive of Rolls Royce had indicated that an electric or alternatively fuelled experimental model would be a good idea. And now he has confirmed that the idea is under serious consideration and a green car for the wealthy could be on the road before the Olympics.
Energy efficiency is not a quality one looks for in a Rolls Royce. At 15 miles to the gallon, the Phantom is hardly a car for the carbon-conscious. But the times are changing and the rich are willing to open their purse even for carbon neutral homes. And in the near future you might have an electric limousine from Rolls Royce that would be rechargeable and more importantly with zero emissions.
Rolls Royce had a very good year in 2010 when they registered a 171% increase over the 2009 sales. US along with China and UK are the largest markets for Rolls Royce and they have registered significant growth in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions as well. The Ghost models of the car also known as the “baby’ Rolls Royce have fuelled the boom in the sales for the car maker.
Luxury Brands and Retailers Use Email For Branding
Luxury brands and high end retailers such as Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton, Frette, Kiehl’s, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman are trying to push sales through discount email blasts. Online retailers are offering free shipping and significant in store discounts are on offer. The week after Christmas is important for retailers as it provides almost 15% of the total holiday season sales.
All the big brands are offering significant discounts for the week. Luxury home-goods manufacturer Frette is offering an astounding 70 percent off for a limited time after the holiday season. Email is a very effective medium for the luxury brands to connect to their customer base. Some brands are using emails for cross selling or up selling.
If a store notices that a consumer has bought a suit from a particular brand and not its accessories it can create limited-time offers on the same brand’s shoes or leather goods. This kind of specialized offers through the email is very powerful as it shows the client that the brand or store knows who they are because it has specific value to them based on their line of interest.
Green Xmas Tree by Buro North
Christmas is a great occasion and season for people of all sections of the society and everybody could enjoy these magical hours. This time, with increasing awareness of the environment, there seem to be alternatives to pine, spruce and other types of Christmas trees. With the existing debate of sustenance of ecology, one is supposed to take responsibility to the green cause.
There are cardboard, metal and other options with which you could avoid using the real trees. However, if you are extremely enthusiastic and particular about the real tree, after using it you can give it back for recycling. Among so many options you can opt at least for plywood Christmas tree from Australian graphic designers Buro North.
The plywood “Green” Xmas tree available in three sizes is 80% more eco- friendly, flat packed, comes with innovative designs. It can be used for many years until you crave for a newer one.
Avant-garde Lamps by Kai Linke
The landmarks and famous buildings across the world will be illuminated as Christmas is approaching. Interior as well as exterior of the house could be decorated with bright lights where you could enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Kai Linke, the German designer has introduced a new version of the lampshades in different sizes, naming the collection “48g and more”. The most significant aspect of the collection is the lamp’s name which is suggests weight of the lampshade. Among the four lampshades 48g lampshade is the lightest. It comes in silver and bronze shades. As mirror film foil is used to make the lampshade, when the lamp is switched on, the lampshade reflects the light and magnifies the intensity. The lampshade gives different colored illuminations.
It has been presented at the Biennale Competition of The Interieur 2010 Design in kortrijk, Belgium.
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