Sunday, November 25, 2012
On Thursday, people gave thanks for what they have. The next day, they rushed out to buy things they want—whether for themselves or to give to others.
Thanksgiving has all but disappeared from the major media landscape. The Halloween candy wasn't even down to only Smarties when Christmas trees appeared in stores. Black Friday sales didn't even wait for Friday this year. There were several retailers who decided to bump up the rush by opening the doors Thanksgiving night. Walmart's Black Friday deals started at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving, according to the Journal Sentinel. And Target stores opened at 9 p.m. Thanksgiving, according to Bloomburg Business Week. In 2011, sales were estimated to be $11.4 million—a 6.6 percent increase over 2010—according to a CNN report on Black Friday sales. But almost half of them were buying things for themselves, 11 percent more than reported doing so in 2010. It'…
Friday, November 23, 2012
Cold, windy weather didn't keep shoppers from flocking to mall for big bargains.
When Mayfair Mall opened at midnight Friday, many retailers had long lines, but the crowd overall was orderly. Although many teenagers attempted to gain entry to the mall, security personnel strictly enforced the rules prohibiting unaccompanied minors during certain times of day.
It's Black Friday, and that means great deals—and huge crowds. What makes it worth the wait for you this year?
It's the official start of the holiday shopping season... Get ready for stores to open earlier than ever (even on Thanksgiving night), lines and incredible deals. Are you out shopping today? Upload a picture of yourself waiting in line (outside or inside) and be sure to share your bargains in the comments!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
It's time to get your shop on, and rise of online shopping and Cyber Monday has given deal-hungry consumers some options.
With Thanksgiving occurring on the earliest possible day this year, the official holiday shopping season is as long as it can be. For years, the Friday following Thanksgiving — Black Friday — was the unquestioned king of that season. But the furious growth of the Internet has spawned Cyber Monday, an online shopping frenzy that grew 22 percent from 2010 to $1.25 billion in sales in the United States. It still pales in comparison to Black Friday, which last year generated $52.4 billion in sales, up from $45 billion in 2010. Many shoppers enjoy the early rising, elbow-to-elbow aisles and energy of in-person shopping on Black Friday, and the game-planning that goes with it. Others would prefer to sit in their home or office and cross off gift…
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Bargain shopper extraordinaire Sara Conrad shares her plan for how to find the best deals—and survive—Black Friday shopping.
Can you believe it's that time again? The red, white and blue is through, turkey time is on the horizon and all that's left to do is fill our shopping bags with holiday cheer. If your pocket book is a bit tight this year or you just dig a good deal, Black Friday has your name written all over it. But before you head out into the retail rush, here's my top tips to make it worth your while to head out and take part in this traditional holiday hustle. 1) Getchyer game plan. Take a cue out of the NFL's playbook and choreograph your Black Friday moves. Know exactly what you want, where it is and when you're going to get it. In the olden days, pre world wide web, one would have to wait for the Thanksgiving Day newspaper to peruse and plan. Now…
Friday, November 25, 2011
Locally owned shops were relatively tame on the biggest shopping day of the year, but they're hoping things will pick up on Small Business Saturday.
Strolling through The Village of Wauwatosa and The Plaza shopping center in Brookfield on Friday morning, one thing was noticeable. It wasn’t the obscene amount of pushy shoppers fighting for the best deals, but rather the lack of people out and about. Still, there were a few locals who decided to ditch the big deals and big stores for a more low-key way to shop on Black Friday. Karen Wilman-Salituro, owner of Go Green in The Village, said business in Wauwatosa is great, but with all the great deals at the chain stores and mall on Black Friday, people are shopping there first. “We definitely have to compete with Black Friday,” Salituro said. “But after this day, business will go back to normal.” More of the same was found in Brookfield, …
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wired Wisconsin recommends the best apps to track the deals, comparison shop and keep your receipts organized.
Smartphones are becoming an ever-larger weapon in the Black Friday shopper’s arsenal. According to the annual Deloitte Holiday Survey of spending and trends, 27 percent of smartphone owners plan to use their devices to search for store locations, compare prices and check product availability. But how to choose the right apps from the thousands of options? Wired Wisconsin is the Wisconsin-based project of Midwest Consumers for Choice and Competition, a non-profit organization of individual consumers interested in technology, broadband, and telecommunication issues. Members dug in and tested some of the smartphone applications that might apply to shoppers trying to snag the best deals, or just make the most of their consumerist experience. …
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
As the disposable consumerism of Black Friday approaches, a walk along the river reminds one of the endless cycle of regeneration in nature.
November is a month of gathering darkness. Even on sunny days dusk arrives quickly, prematurely, it always seems to me, like a shroud drawn over a youthful corpse. I cannot help thinking: Too soon! The day dies too early. I am not yet prepared for the dark. I know I have no reason for despair. I have seen too many winters turn into springs not to be assured of another. And yet. I walk a dim forest trail. Even in bright light the somber colors lend the landscape the nostalgic aura of an old sepia toned photograph. Everything seems an intimation of death. The leaves are down, already trampled and brown. The bare branches left overhead are raised as if in supplication. Decay is everywhere apparent. The soft and crumbling heartwood of a once …
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sara from SarandipitySaves.com shares her Black Friday shopping tips and tricks, and a few of the top store's best deals.
There's some argument as to why we refer to the Friday following Thanksgiving as "Black Friday." Philadelphia claims their police force coined the term in the 1960s after throngs of folks took to the streets to shop 'till they dropped. Others say the name was adopted by retailers as it was traditionally the first day of the year in which their sales brought them out of the red and into the black. I'm leaning toward the latter explanation as last year more than 138 million consumers took advantage of the deep discounts of Black Friday, spending $45 billion in a single day. This year is expected to be an even bigger event. If you're gearing up to head out and throw elbows to snag the day's biggest steals, here's some tips on how to make it a…
Leah Szymborski
11:34 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
I think the stores should wait until Friday to open their doors. Thursday is still a day people should spend with their families, not rushing to get the best deals. more ›