H. Foster & Jackson
13011 Newport Ave., Ste 109
Lafayette Plaza, Tustin
(Newport Ave. at Irvine)

If you are looking for a gift for a hard to shop for recipient, forget the malls, skip the department stores and drive directly to H. Foster & Jackson at Irvine and Newport.  This charming shop of "Gifts and Accents" as they put, it is a goldmine of unusual gifts.  And by "unusual" I don't mean the sort of white elephants that will be stored or re-gifted.  By unusual I mean that the store has an ever changing stock of quality items that you and your intended recipient will not see in every other store you visit. 

Ever had someone open a present from you and exclaim, "Oh, I saw these at Costco -- I almost got it!"?  That is very unlikely to happen with a gift from H. Foster & Jackson, unless they just happen to shop there.  The gifts range from fun gifts for a few dollars up to high-end collectibles, so you will find something in the range of what you want to spend.

For the outstanding, eclectic selection of quality gifts, H. Foster & Jackson is rated the Best Place to Buy Unusual Gifts by Tustin Magazine.

Winston's Newport

While you are there, be sure to walk to the store two doors down, at suite 111, where you will find Winston's Newport.  This store collects and sells items from estate sales.  On the day secret shopper ST and I were there, we were very impressed by the number of impressive pieces that were displayed in this small store, including large artwork, metal sculptures and armoires, to name a few.

Winston tells me that the items in the store are just a small portion of what he offers.  Many items are sold directly at the estate sale without ever reaching the store.  He suggested that people should check the Penny Saver for upcoming sales.