Too mousey to face the throngs?

By KATHY THOMPSONTR Staff Writer

ZANESVILLE -- Don't want to leave the house and battle the crowds on the roadways and in the stores? You can buy all your presents for the upcoming holidays via the convenience of your computer. Whether you are looking for local crafts, such as baskets and pottery, or something a little more unusual like a hot-air balloon ride or tickets to the television show "Frazier," all can be purchased on-line. How about adding a little spice to that loved one's life? Order some Jose Madrid Salsa and know that your gift came from right here in Zanesville. Mike Zakany, owner of the salsa and chip line, is excited about his company's growth -- more than 500 percent in the past six years, much of which he attributes to the Internet. "The Internet is the key to our company's growth and future," said Zakany. "We have great products which sell all over the nation, and a lot of our customers come to us from their homes and computers. "It's the way companies are growing and expanding into the future," he added. Other local retailers agree. "We're having a very good year with our on-line orders," said Tom Berry, vice president of marketing at Bloomer's Candy in Zanesville. According to Berry, most of the company's customers purchase their products on-line. "We have what I call a lot of displaced customers," explained Berry. "They are those who moved down to Florida or away somewhere and can only get our products this way." But, if you're not into candy, there is always the high-tech items. One of the hottest is a Palm m515, which is advertised as being "a perfect gift for everyone -- student to the professional." It sells for between $229 to $499 on sites such as Gateway, Dell and TigerDirect. Or, if you want to give a gift that keeps giving, a Canon Powershot 63 is available. This digital camera is said to have "high quality image quality and incredible performance." It runs for $649 to $899 on sites such as TechDepot and BigApple Photo. Want some craft items from Zanesville? Christine's Antique Mall offers glassware, pottery, furniture, baskets and even Beanie Babies. With 40 dealers in the "mall," you can browse to your heart's content. Everything from Roseville and Weller pottery to a 1920's Jacobean oak dining room suite to Moser glass can be found at this cyber shopping site. There are some helpful hints when shopping on-line to help avoid scams or help with returns from the Office of Fair Trading. Always make sure you receive clear information about the goods or services you buy and get written confirmation for your purchase. It is also suggested that you save all the information connected with the purchase. kthompson@nncogannett.com 450-6764 Originally published Thursday, November 28, 2002