Smart shoppers are taking the guesswork out of gift giving by taking the cue from Hillary Mendelsohn, noted shopping authority, author of "The Purple Book" and consultant for Office Depot.

"The holidays can put a lot of pressure on people to find the perfect gift," says Mendelsohn. "Gift giving doesn't need to be stressful. In fact, a thoughtful token can go a long way in spreading holiday cheer, particularly if it's a themed gift that fits the recipients' personality or interests."

Mendelsohn invites shoppers to formulate their shopping strategy before plunging into the holiday mall maelstrom. Here are a few categories to help you organize your gift-giving thoughts:

The Family Historian

Almost every family has an amateur photographer who loves to record events and get-togethers. The Canon Digital Rebel SLR XT and the Sony DCR-DVD108 DVD Handycam are two great gift options. Your family photographer can bring images to life with the HP Photosmart A826 Compact Photo Printer or the11-inch Ativa Digital Photo Frame, one of the largest digital photo frames available.

The Entertainment Buff

Do you have a friend or family member whose home DVD library is larger than the local video store? Why not give them the freedom to bring their passion on the road with the Memorex 10.2-inch Portable Widescreen DVD Player. Or for those couch potatoes, try a high-performance TV in a slim design like the Sharp 37-inch LCD HDTV.

The Professional

Busy business professionals are always looking for ways to get the most out of the day, so why not give them the tools they need to maximize their time? Ensure they get to that important meeting safe and on time with the Navigon 5100 Navigation System, which provides 3-D maps of the United States and Canada along with over 5 million points of interest, including Zagat reviews and recommendations. And make sure they arrive in style with the Foray line of business cases - a smart synthesis of organization and fashion.

The Gadget Guru

Looking for the latest technology gadget this holiday season? The dual speaker MOTOROKR S9 Bluetooth Headphones allow users to listen to iPods wirelessly via the included iPod adapter, or through a Bluetooth-capable mobile phone. For the business professional more interested in staying in touch with the office than listening to tunes, the Ativa line of Bluetooth Headsets provides premium sound and comes with two chargers for the home and car.