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Get the most value out of your holiday shopping

Jennifer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:35:09 +0000

(ARA) – What is the hottest holiday gift-giving trend this season? It’s all about getting the most bang for your buck.

“Shopping for the holidays this year is all about finding value and stretching your dollar to get the most out of your purchases,” says Steve Kemble, ‘America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru’ and General Growth Properties (GGP) gift-giving expert. “Knowing the secrets to finding the best deals and creating a successful shopping strategy will get you the most value as you shop for family and friends this holiday season.”

To help make your holiday shopping experience a success, Kemble offers his top tips for a foolproof holiday shopping plan:

Tip 1: Subscribe to your local mall’s e-mail list:
Be the first to find out about the hottest deals by joining the e-mail list of your local mall. By adding yourself to these lists, you may be alerted of upcoming sales, or even receive special coupons or invitations to shopping events or promotions. Visit www.MerryGiving.com to find your local GGP mall Web site and register to receive exclusive news, retail offers and much more.

Tip 2: Buy early and late
Be a savvy shopper and buy gifts throughout the year when you find a good sale. By planning ahead and crossing some items off your list before the holidays, you can avoid feeling pressured into last-minute purchases and find a few gifts during late-season sales when some stores offer deeper discounts.

Tip 3: Buy last year’s model
Skip the lines and the steep prices by buying last year’s models on electronics that have likely seen up to 30 percent price cuts. Today’s cutting-edge technological advancements in Mp3 players and digital cameras don’t come cheap, so carefully consider the added value they offer. Do your research and find out if those extra pixels or special features are essential for the person you are shopping for. If you pay close attention, you may find that last year’s model does 95 percent of the things that this year’s model does, but at 70 percent of the price.

Tip 4: Comparison shop
Being organized is crucial to developing a successful holiday shopping strategy. Start a list of items you need to purchase and watch for ads in the newspaper, on television, and in your mall subscription alerts starting in early November. Then make your purchases wherever you find the best deals or most compelling promotions. For example, participating GGP malls all over the country are offering special retail offers on Thanksgiving weekend, including $10 GGP Gift Cards with qualifying purchases, and free holiday “Mistle-Tote” giveaways full of retailer goodies, while supplies last. Check out www.MerryGiving.com for more event information.

Tip 5: Find value in the season’s hottest gifts
Finally, once you have planned the perfect the holiday shopping strategy, keep your eyes open for these hot holiday gifts that can offer great value. Eco-chic is in now more than ever, and many gifts put a hip spin on being environmentally friendly by using renewable materials that are both functional and eco-responsible. For the techie on your list, smart phones are the do-it-all tool that keeps families connected with each other and the rest of the world. The latest smart phone technology is more affordable than ever – even free with a new contract or group plan – and available across a variety of carriers. Finally, for your fashionista friend, remember that high fashion doesn’t necessarily have to come with a high price tag. Give big, bold accessories that make a stylish statement without breaking the bank.

To find more ways to get the most value out of the holidays log on to www.MerryGiving.com where you can explore details of exclusive shopping events, retailer sales, and a special partnership with Martha Stewart Living magazine, all taking place at participating GGP malls across the country.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Get your winter shopping done while it’s still nice out

Jennifer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:50:11 +0000

(ARA) – The calendar pages are flipping quickly and in just a short time, Old Man Winter will be here. Is your household prepared for colder weather?

Here’s a quick shopping list of the items you may need to keep your family warm and your house nice and cozy this winter.

* Clothing.
Kids grow up so fast, and every year you have to take stock of what kinds of pants, boots, sweaters, slippers and winter jackets they can wear, and what needs to be replaced. It’s a good idea for the adults in your household to take inventory as well, because it’s hard to remember what shape some of last year’s items are in.

To save money on your winter clothing purchases this year, visit www.CouponHeaven.com to find deals at Kohl’s, Shoebuy, or the Gap – just to name a few. CouponHeaven negotiates directly with manufacturers to find you great coupon codes that are current and work. All coupons are free, and there is no log-in or registration required, which means you can use the site anonymously.

* Yard care.
Head out to the garage and review your supply of snow shovels, ice scrapers and sidewalk salt. Do it when the weather is still nice, because if you wait until the first snow or ice storm, it will be too late. Besides, who wants to run to the store in the middle of a storm?

Make sure your landscaping has been prepared for colder weather as well. Consider buying a snow fence to protect your driveway and house from winter’s blustery and snow-laden winds. And don’t forget to purchase stakes and burlap wrap to protect trees from high winds and cracking bark.

* Window treatments.
If your house was a bit chilly last winter, why not put up some window treatments to keep out the cold this year? Go to CouponHeaven.com to search for online coupon codes for plastic wrap and caulking materials from Home Depot or heavy curtain window hangings from a number of different department stores. The better sealed your windows are, the better your heating bill will be at the end of the month.

* Fireplace fuel.
Besides providing heat during the colder months, fireplaces are great for bringing families together while watching some TV, playing games or socializing. But a fireplace isn’t going to do you any good without fuel to burn, so make sure you have a pile of wood ready to go to last you through the winter months.

By getting your shopping list complied and purchased before the first sign of cold weather arrives this year, you will have time to enjoy your busy fall months with your family.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Navigating a boat purchase

Jennifer — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:27:13 +0000

In tough economic waters, boating is one activity that doesn’t have to break the bank. To help you get started, Discover Boating, a national public awareness program that educates potential boaters on the boating lifestyle, offers these tips:

1. Determine Your Price Point. Many people don’t realize boating can be an affordable family activity. To figure out what kind of boat fits with your budget, DiscoverBoating.ca provides an interactive budget planner to help you find your price point.

2. Find the Right Fit. Now that you know what you can afford, ask yourself: what type of activities are you interested in? Where will you be boating? Who will you boat with? The answers should narrow down the boat types and sizes that are right for you.

3. Do Your Homework. You should now have an idea of what kind of boat would be a good fit and how much you want to spend. A great place to shop for a boat is at a boat show so you can comparison shop or by visiting a local boat dealer and asking to test drive a variety of boats. For initial research, visit DiscoverBoating.ca and use the boat selector tool to help you find your perfect boat.

4. Educate Yourself. Boating is a fun and easy-to-learn activity the entire family can enjoy. Ensure you and your passengers have more fun and build confidence in your on-the-water skills by completing a boater education course prior to setting sail.

Additional tips and resources can be found online at DiscoverBoating.ca.

- News Canada

Holiday Shopping Without the Runaround

Jennifer — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:11:15 +0000

Holiday Shopping Without the Runaround

Last year your family wanted a Nintendo Wii, Ugg Boots, and Guitar Hero III. This year it will be the Elmo Live doll, silver Converse shoes, and anything related to Disney’s High School Musical. Why is it they always want the most popular products, sending you scurrying from store to store only to find them sold out?

Reports suggest that shopping may be even more difficult this year, with cautious retailers reducing inventory levels to all-time lows. Online retailers may provide some relief, but only with additional shipping costs and the risk that it may not show up in time. Is there an easier way to shop locally?

NearbyNow thinks so. This new online service allows you to browse local stores for hot products, and even put them on hold in the desired size and color with just a few clicks. Just go to www.nearbynow.com and select one of 600 plus shopping areas, choose your product, and a NearbyNow concierge will call and reserve the item for you. Best of all, the service is absolutely free.

“Online shopping is convenient, but shipping and return costs add up fast,” said Scott Dunlap, CEO and Co-Founder of NearbyNow, Inc. “We knew there had to be a way to combine the best of both worlds. Search online, then let us find it close to you to pick up right away. It’s cheaper, convenient and better for the environment.”

Experts are reporting online or discount retail shopping may be at an all-time high this year. According to a TNS Retail Forward survey, 75 percent of consumers are consciously saving on gas by planning errands differently. Included in those figures are 55 percent of consumers looking to shop closer to either home or work and 26 percent using the Internet to check off their holiday gift lists.

NearbyNow not only allows you to find a specific item, but also to search generically, say for children’s toys or what’s new in cashmere sweaters. Once you instruct NearbyNow to find you an item, the concierge service will send you an e-mail or text message letting you know what store has it, if there is a sale price, and even the name of the salesperson to ask for when you pick it up. You could even potentially receive related sale coupons or specials for nearby stores exclusive only to NearbyNow.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Cost-Saving Strategies for 2008 Back-to-School Shopping

Jennifer — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:06:28 +0000

Cost-Saving Strategies for 2008 Back-to-School Shopping

Rising gas and food prices are putting the economic squeeze on most American households, and it’s already time to begin back-to-school shopping. Families with school-age children are expected to spend over $500 on back-to-school merchandise, according to the National Retail Federation.

They’ll also likely spend many days driving from store to store to get all the right items. It’s no wonder parents are looking for creative ways to save money and limit their time in the car.

“The kids may look forward to some new sneakers or the most stylish new backpack as a welcome silver lining to going back to school, but for parents finding a bargain and saving time becomes vital at this time of year,” says Theresa Boldrini-Laird, shopping expert for NearbyNow.com. “Planning, preparation and patience can help parents save money and limit the amount of time spent in the car.”

Here are some easy ways to save time and money when seeking back-to-school bargains this year:

* Remember that saving time is just as important as saving money. While online shopping may seem like an easy way to save time, many shoppers – including parents – are turning to a new shopping strategy that capitalizes on the Internet’s information-gathering power and the unbeatable immediacy of buying in a store.

NearbyNow, a California-based Web site, allows consumers to log on and search for specific merchandise at more than 200 local shopping malls across the country (go to http://www.nearbynow.com to find a mall near you). As a bonus, some shoppers who put items on hold may even get it for free thanks to the HOLD IT. WIN IT.(TM) for Back to School promotion.

Using the Internet or a mobile phone, parents can check the in-store availability of a much-needed item in 10 minutes or less, and if desired, put the item on hold for pick-up at a nearby store in the mall. Shoppers receive an e-mail or text message claim check to remind them where and when to pick up the item, and the claim check may also have other special offers from nearby stores. The NearbyNow service eliminates both hours and gas spent traveling to and from multiple store locations, shipping costs and time spent waiting for online orders to arrive.

* Make your list and check it twice. “It may sound so simple, but making a list is a great organizing tactic that too many people overlook,” Boldrini-Laird says. To draw up your list, first take stock of what your kids already have, and remember to think beyond just notebooks and pens. Do they need new Converse sneakers or will the pair you bought at the beginning of summer do just fine? Can they reuse last year’s backpacks, or can they use a new style with wheels? Does your teen desperately “need” a new cell phone – you know, the one that everyone has. Or does your college-bound child require a laptop? Be sure you know what you really need to buy.

* Decide on a budget and stick to it. Your budget should be generous enough to cover all the necessities and a few “extras” to make your kid feel cool at school. Get kids involved in budgeting; it’s a great way to teach them how to manage money. Plus, if everyone knows up front how much can be spent – and on what – you’ll possibly head off a few arguments.

* Shop smart. Take advantage of back-to-school sales, and visit retailers’ Web sites to print out coupons. Many offer online-only coupons to reward committed deal-hunters. As much as possible, avoid using credit cards to fund back-to-school purchases of short-lived items like schoolroom supplies, backpacks, clothes or sneakers.

To save money on gas, consider doing your back-to-school shopping in a single trip and carpool with other parents also tackling seasonal shopping.

“Smart shopping strategies may never really ease some kids’ desire to avoid going back to school and extend summer fun forever,” Boldrini-Laird says. “But they can definitely make the back-to-school experience more cost-effective, time-friendly and stress-free for parents.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Back-to-School Shopping Online? Here’s What You Should Know

Jennifer — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:49:10 +0000

Back-to-School Shopping Online

The back-to-school shopping season can be hectic for many parents. It’s no wonder that online shopping has become so popular when you can shop from home, work, and now—thanks to Blackberries and cell phones—even on the go. But with new shopping sites popping up every day, it can be easy for you and your money to get lost in the virtual world.

Here are some smart tips for online back-to-school shopping that will leave money in your wallet and a smile on your face:

Read the Reviews

Before you buy anything, read the reviews! Just because a product is flashy and has a high ticket price does not mean that it works well or even at all. Trust your fellow shoppers, and let their advice guide you to the perfect product.

Compare Prices

Comparison shopping sites are great for shoppers that already know exactly what they want and are willing to spend the time searching multiple merchants for the best price. These sites search hundreds of online merchants to find the lowest price on your chosen item.

Think With Your Head, Not Your Heart

How many times have you fallen so hard for a hot pair of shoes, the newest MP3 player, or even a 12-cup coffee maker that you overlooked the unnecessarily high sticker price in order to get the object of your affection, only to feel guilty later? Next time, stop yourself before you add the item to your virtual cart. Take a couple of hours or even a couple of days to think about your purchase—do you really want it? Do you really need it? If the answer is still “yes,” you’ll be able to make the purchase with a clear conscience.

Search for Online Coupons

Before making your final purchase, be sure to check out an online couponing site to save extra cash. Online couponing sites provide deals that you may not find in-store or even on the Web site of a particular merchant. For example, CouponCabin.com (www.couponcabin.com) is updated throughout the day and provides deals from more than 950 merchants.

Save Money Even after You’ve Spent It

Most of the major online retailers have a customer protection policy that allows shoppers to ask for a refund of the price difference if the price drops shortly after you purchased the item. Some online merchants will even beat a competitor’s price. This requires some follow-up on your part, but it will pay off in the end – literally.

Online shopping may be an open frontier, but you don’t have to be afraid. With these tips in mind, you and your wallet can tame any shopping Web site.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Five Tips for Saving Big on Back-to-school Shopping

Jennifer — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:13:11 +0000

Five Tips for Saving Big on Back-to-school Shopping

It’s almost time for the kids to go back to school, and this year shopping for school supplies will be a lot more difficult for many families. Due to high gas prices and stretched budgets, financially pinched parents are looking for creative ways to save money.

In addition to cutting back on normal back-to-school purchases, parents are comparing prices and looking for bargains so they can get what they need without having to spend a lot of money. Here are some ideas that will help you shave costs on your back-to-school shopping.

1. Do your back-to-school shopping online.
All of the major retailers have an online presence, and many offer significant savings if you shop through their Web sites. Some retailers will even offer free shipping.

According to a recent survey done by the National Retail Federation (NRF), online shopping will experience a significant increase this year. Of the 200 people surveyed in the study, 25 percent said they planned to do their back-to-school shopping online this year. The top two reasons to shop online are to find deals and to save gas money.

But those aren’t the only reason consumers like Marisa Olson of Philadelphia, Pa., will choose to shop online this year. “I like shopping online for the convenience of it, and because it allows me to comparison shop without having to run all over town to check prices,” says Olson, who is happy to share her secret for finding the best deals online. Rather than logging on to the sites of several individual retailers to check prices, she uses Microsoft’s Live Search cashback (www.live.com/cashback) to find the best deals.

The site has partnerships with hundreds of the nation’s major retailers to offer brand name products at bargain prices. Simply log on to www.live.com/cashback, enter the name of the product you are looking for into the search box, and the site will bring up the best prices available at several different stores. Click on the deal you like best, and if you make a purchase, in addition to a great price, you’ll also get cashback which comes directly from Microsoft.

“I recently bought a Louis Vuitton bag and saved over 20 percent. I got more than $200 deposited into my PayPal account. That’s a great thing, considering it was a splurge that I wouldn’t have made otherwise,” says Olson.

2. Hit end-of-the-summer clearance sales.
Behind the holiday season, back-to-school is the most important shopping period of the year for retailers. And as a result, the weeks before school begins are a great time to shop for clothing, footwear, electronics, house-wares and school supplies. It’s not uncommon to find items marked 50, 60 or even 70 percent off since stores are desperate to clear out inventory in order to bring sales numbers up and make room for fall merchandise.

3. Shop at local consignment shops.
Why pay retail prices for clothes that the kids are going to outgrow anyway when you can find some great bargains at your local consignment shop? Consignment stores accept clothes that are gently used and in good shape, so if you’re willing to invest a little time thumbing through the racks, you may be able to find inexpensive children’s clothes that are nearly new at a fraction of retail prices.

4. Buy in bulk.
Another strategy you can take to save money is to buy in bulk. Warehouse stores carry a wide range of seasonal merchandise, including back-to-school supplies. But before you purchase a 100 pack of book covers, a box of 100 pens or pencils, 50 Crayola markers or a two-pack of scientific calculators, do your homework to make sure it’s a great deal.

Bring a notepad to your local office or discount store and write down the unit price for each item you plan to purchase. Then when you return to the warehouse store, compare the numbers and make sure your savings will be significant enough to be worth it.

5. Reuse some of last year’s school supplies.
But perhaps the best way to save money is if you can reuse some of last year’s school supplies. Those Fiskar’s scissors probably don’t need to be replaced yet. Neither does your son or daughter’s pencil box, or the markers that came home unused.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Making Valentine’s Day Shopping a Sweet Experience

Jennifer — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:45:02 +0000

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if you are like most people, you’ve left the shopping until the last minute. So, do you buy the $70 roses like everyone else, take a gamble on an online gift that might not show up in time or can you quickly find a personalized gift that shows you put some thought into it?

A new online service from NearbyNow has created a new way for last minute shoppers to find the perfect gift at their local mall, and even pick it up the same day. Over 190 malls across the US run the NearbyNow service, allowing shoppers to search inventory in nearly every store in the mall using the Internet or mobile phones, check availability on an item in 10 minutes or less, and even reserve products to pick up. Shoppers who use the mobile phone service may even receive special offers for free chocolate and other Valentine’s Day specials.

The service is the brainchild of Scott Dunlap, from Los Altos, Calif., who says he developed the product search for “quite selfish” reasons. “One afternoon, my wife saw a pair of boots in a magazine and tried to find them at her favorite mall while I was stuck on the bench with all the other spouses. I realized I could develop a program that would make these trips more efficient, allowing my wife to always know who carried the products she wanted, and if they were available in her size. That would make the shopping experience more pleasant for all of us – me, my wife, the retailers, and the others on the bench.”

Here’s how the service works: consumers log on to www.nearbynow.com from their home computer, find their local mall and select the “Product Search” button to navigate through the process. If they know their loved one wants Kenneth Cole boots, for example, they type “Kenneth Cole boots” in the search box, and all retailers in the mall who has the shoes in stock will be listed. A customer can then click on a particular shoe, see the details, use the ‘check availability’ feature and “reserve” the product on-line for pick up at the mall. NearbyNow contacts the store, reserves the product, and sends the customer a confirming e-mail or text message. Shoppers can also send an SMS text message to NEARBY (632729) to get connected to the service at their local mall.

Gretchen Mathews of Portola Valley, Calif., found the site by chance one day and has already used it a couple of times to reserve an item online. She says it’ll be a real time saver this Valentine’s Day. “I’m a busy person and my shopping strategy for Valentine’s Day has always been to preview and reserve items online before heading to the store. I used to have to log on to several different store Web sites to do that, but now I can search the whole mall from one place. It’s a fabulous tool,” she says.

“Shoppers call our service ‘Google for malls’ because they can search every brand, product, and sale at the mall,” says Dunlap. “It is the most stress-free way to shop your local mall. It helps keep the focus of Valentine’s Day on the right thing – your loved one – rather than the hassles of gift buying.”

If you agree, be sure to log on to www.nearbynow.com before heading out the door or send an SMS text message to NEARBY (632729)

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Survival Shopping Tips for the Day after Christmas

Jennifer — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:13:58 +0000

You might still be stuffed from the Christmas turkey or ham, but any serious shopper worth her or his salt knows that the day after Christmas is to shopping what the checkered flag is to car racers - the sign that you have arrived at the sale of the year. Of course, shopping on this day is usually done by hard-core shop-a-holics or those who are looking for any and every avenue to escape their families on this day, although the latter will usually congregate at the local watering hole.

Knowing that you will have stiff competition from other serious bargain hunters, you will need to know these five survival-shopping tips for the day after Christmas.

Understand the reasoning behind these sales. Retailers do not want seasonal items to take up valuable space on their shelves, especially with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. In addition to the foregoing, some retailers have overstock they are trying to shed rather than sending it back to the manufacturers, and they are willing to compromise on the price just to make some profit on the item rather than sending it back to the factory to receive a credit of the cost only. Add to this a store manager’s worry that certain non-season specific items, perhaps such as electronics, were originally ordered with the idea of making great Christmas gifts, but if many are left over, they will be outdated as soon as the next wave of product will hit his or her shelves. Unable to return them - in some cases - and unable to sell them as Christmas bargains, these items will make hot sellers the day after Christmas, when the store manager has a shining opportunity to get rid of these boat anchors.

Clearance items are found everywhere in the store. Not just overstock anymore, the clearance items show that the store is anticipating the next wave of products to come in and shelf space is at a premium. If you do not think you will need or want the latest bells and whistles of a product, then this is a great time to find a bargain.

Get to the store early, really, really early! As a matter of fact, be there an hour or two before the store opens and be prepared to stand in line. Bargain hunters do not mind waiting in line, and if you want to get your hands on some incredible electronics deals, you do need to make this sacrifice.

Some of the best deals out there are not necessarily on the high ticket items, but on the small odds and ends that nickel and dime you throughout the year. For example, if you can find little items - heavily discounted - that would make great wedding, birthday, or other occasion presents, go ahead and purchase them! Wrapping paper should be a steal on this day, and you will be able to get non-specific paper and bows for a fraction of the price.

One overlooked item is food. After all, some manufacturers get in the swing of things by baking Christmas cookies, snowflake shaped crackers, and other food items that are heavily themed. After Christmas, you will be able to purchase them for a song, and it is highly unlikely that you will taste any difference in a snowflake cracker or a regular round one.

So go ahead and make the day after Christmas your personal bargain day. Get there early, stay in the action, and do not wait a couple of days because then the best deals will already have been snapped up and the inventory will be sorely picked over.

Savvy Online Shopping Secrets to Help You Save During the Holidays

Jennifer — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:04:34 +0000

More people than ever before will buy gifts online this holiday season, retail experts predict. In fact, online shopping rose 20 percent last year to a total of $211.4 billion, according to a Shop.org study, and the trend shows no signs of abating. So how do you make the most of your online shopping dollars?

“Online shopping is a popular and convenient way to lessen the stress of the holidays,” says Stephanie Nelson, the Coupon Mom. “Not only can you save time and energy, but with a little savvy shopping, you can also find some great deals.”

Whether you’re merely looking for stocking stuffers or planning to check off your entire gift list, Nelson offers the following advice for online shoppers:

* Have your online coupons ready and waiting. As you begin perusing your favorite retailers’ websites for the perfect gifts, sign up for their e-newsletters and begin receiving special holiday offerings in your inbox. Major brands often offer special deals such as if you spend $100.00 you receive an immediate 15 percent discount. That way, if you buy the majority of your gifts at one place, you save money for doing so. Be sure and save these offerings in a special folder or print them out so you have them on hand when you reach the online check-out line.

* Ensure gifts arrive before the holidays. “Most online retailers clearly explain their shipping times and policies, so you’ll know your deadline for ordering,” Nelson says. Enhance your chances for the gift to arrive on time by having items shipped directly to the recipients. Many sites offer gift packaging and the ability to include a note with your shipment.

* Make your dollars work for you – in the form of cash rewards that can be applied to student loans or a 529 college fund. Log on to Upromise.com and search more than 550 online retailers, including top sites such as eBay and Target.com, as well as retail giants like Apple, Best Buy, Red Envelope, and Pottery Barn. When you spend with participating Upromise retailers, the companies give back a portion (up to 25 percent) of your spending in college saving rewards. You can even link your Upromise account directly to your child’s 529, so that available funds conveniently go directly into their college savings account. What’s more, you can invite friends and family to join in by registering for their own Upromise account and designating their spending to benefit your child’s college fund.

* Don’t forget about price guarantee policies, which are detailed on each retailer’s site. If your item’s price goes down after your purchase, which is very likely after the holidays are over, you may be entitled to a refund. A site that make it easy to get refunds is www.priceprotectr.com.

To learn more about Upromise, visit www.upromise.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent