You promised yourself everything would be perfect. You trolled every toy store in the state for this season’s must-have item, you labored over the Christmas dinner seating chart with a diplomat’s care, and you made sure every aunt-made card is out on prominent display. Yes, you did everything humanly possible to keep peace in the family for the holidays.

But, then, just as you begin to relax – with the first guests practically on the doorstep – it hits you: Grandma doesn’t have a gift.

So, what can you do? You’ll have to put everything on hold, pile into the car, and make the long haul to the Maine Mall, hoping a gift-idea light bulb goes off somewhere along the way.

But hold on there, cowboy, not so fast. You don’t have to go very far at all to find just the right gift, at least not according to Chip Morrison, president of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce.

“For myself, I just don’t shop elsewhere,” he said. “I can find anything I want right here in the Lewiston-Auburn area.”

Of course, one might expect Morrison to say that. As Chamber president for 15 years, he’s a man who knows his job. But, the fact is, business is looking up, he said. In the last month, nearly 100 businesses have joined the Chamber. About 10 percent are ones which let their membership lapse during the recession, but the rest are brand new.

“The mood among our members going into this holiday season seems quite hopeful,” said Morrison. “Better than it’s been in a while.”

So, what does Morrison suggest for your last-minute gift needs? With nearly 1,300 members to choose from, he’s hard-pressed to single out just a few. What he does suggest, however, is the Chamber website (www2.androscoggincounty.com) which lists every business on its membership roll. A couple of quick clicks and the ideas start to flow.

Here are just four last-minute gift ideas:

If the person yet to be crossed off your list is older, try Maine Cycle, at 570 Washington St., in Auburn. Personal fitness advisor, Rita Myrick, offers Nordic walking poles imported from Finland which are perfect for a low-impact workout. Better yet, each set of all-weather poles (starting at $100) comes with a free lesson in the trendy new sport.

“It was derived in the Scandinavian countries as a way for cross-country skiers to train in the summertime, and it’s slowly made its way to North America as an activity for older people,” explained Myrick. “It’s great for someone who may have stability problems, but who’d still like to get outside the house.

“The good thing is, this is a sport,” said Myrick. “It’s good for self- confidence. You’re active, but you’re not out there with a walker or a cane.”

Whether or not the person on your list is older, sometimes an older gift is just the trick.

“When it comes to older things, you just can’t beat them in terms of quality,” said Dan Poulin, owner of Orphan Annie’s antique shop, at 96 Court St., in Auburn. Popular items this time of year, Poulin said, are the heirloom-quality Christmas tree ornaments he sells of every possible description, ranging from $2 to $125. “It’s amazing what comes out of attics,” he said. “That’s part of the fun of this business. You just never know what will come in.”

Whether it’s an item that fills a hole in a collection of some kind, or something that recalls a cherished memory, an antique can be a meaningful memento. “We have a lot of things other than what people might assume, some for as little as 50 cents,” said Poulin. “After 33 years, I’ve learned not to try and steer people to certain things when they come in. Just look around, explore, excite your mind. With a little imagination, the gift ideas are endless.”

On another front, imagination is exactly what Kathryn Beausang offers at River Walk Creations Design Studio, the jewelry business she runs out of her home on the River Road, in Greene. Beausang described her work, made with vintage beads and Swarovski crystals, as “higher-end costume jewelry.” Each item is absolutely unique. When a woman wears one of her signature necklaces, Beausang said, she can be assured she has on something of which there is only one in all the world. “I work as inspiration strikes and, quite frankly, a lot of the time, I’m not sure I could recreate an item exactly if I wanted to,” she joked. Beausang does not work in production, so it’s best to call ahead (946-7635) to see what she has available, or to request an item made to order, which can often be crafted from scratch and delivered in as little as 48 hours.

Finally, quality gifts can be had for as little as $5 at Mama Shukri Plaza, at 229 Lisbon St., in Lewiston. Owner Farhiya Mahamud is one of the inner city’s growing contingent of Somali business owners, although she is quick to say neither she, nor her family, want Lisbon Street to be a Somali-only shopping district. “We welcome everybody,” she said. “We want to be here to serve all people.” Mahamud said her store carries “international fashions of all kinds. We are very well-known for our scarves.” She smiled broadly and gestured to a wall of brightly-colored silks and pashmina wool.

“They are very nice,” agreed Morrison, whose office is just a short walk from Mama Shukri’s. “In fact, I just bought some for everyone on my staff. See, when you shop local, everyone benefits.”