Showing posts with label 2011 Black Friday Deals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 Black Friday Deals. Show all posts
The phrase Black Friday conjures up images of crowds thronging big-box retail stores, and for good reason. But when you think of the low-price deals available this Friday, don't forget those big-ticket items on four wheels.
Some of the day's hottest bargains will be found on the auto mile, not at the mall, say automotive experts.
“Dealerships offer significant discounts on Black Friday, which can save consumers thousands off the purchase of a new vehicle,” says Jesse Toprak of the car-shopping website TrueCar.com in a report on the deals. “It’s an atypical day to purchase a car since consumers think of retail shopping, but buying a new vehicle on Black Friday can often lead to big savings.”
The website says it's the best day of the year to bargain for a lower new-car price, and that the rest of Thanksgiving weekend also offers good buying opportunities.
Consumer Reports published a list of new cars, from its "recommended" list, with deals this weekend of 15 to 20 percent off the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP).
Its list includes a broad range of mainstream 2011 models: the Toyota Camry, Ford F-150 pickups, Cadillac DTS, Honda Pilot, Nissan Frontier and Maxima, and a number of Chevrolets (Malibu, Traverse, Suburban, and Corvette). A few 2012 models are also on the list, including the Ford Mustang and Chevy Avalanche.
Consumer Reports says that if consumers can grab these discounts, they'll be doing much better than the roughly 6 percent discount off MSRP that's typical this year. Liza Barth of the consumer information firm adds that regional discounts sometimes add to the Black Friday savings by as much as $5,000, and "there are bonus incentives for returning customers and military personnel available on many models."
Among the dealerships promoting Black Friday discounts is Brickell Honda in Miami.
"While we can’t unveil the fantastic sales just yet, we can let our shoppers know about a $500 Visa gift card opportunity!," the dealership said in an online posting Monday.
At this dealer and others, low-interest financing is another lure for car shoppers.
TrueCar, which offers information on car prices designed to help buyers, is offering its own holiday-season promotion: a $25,000 giveaway on Nov. 28 and weekly $5,000 prizes open to car buyers who purchase from a TrueCar Certified Dealer.
The firm lists some other cars with big discounts possible this Friday: the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500, the 2011 Chrysler 200, and the 2012 Ford Escape.
Of course, not everyone wants to mobilize to sign papers for a new car on the day after Thanksgiving. But if a car is on your shopping list, it might beat jostling with the crowds at Wal-Mart.
source:http://www.csmonitor.com
Some of the day's hottest bargains will be found on the auto mile, not at the mall, say automotive experts.
“Dealerships offer significant discounts on Black Friday, which can save consumers thousands off the purchase of a new vehicle,” says Jesse Toprak of the car-shopping website TrueCar.com in a report on the deals. “It’s an atypical day to purchase a car since consumers think of retail shopping, but buying a new vehicle on Black Friday can often lead to big savings.”
The website says it's the best day of the year to bargain for a lower new-car price, and that the rest of Thanksgiving weekend also offers good buying opportunities.
Consumer Reports published a list of new cars, from its "recommended" list, with deals this weekend of 15 to 20 percent off the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP).
Its list includes a broad range of mainstream 2011 models: the Toyota Camry, Ford F-150 pickups, Cadillac DTS, Honda Pilot, Nissan Frontier and Maxima, and a number of Chevrolets (Malibu, Traverse, Suburban, and Corvette). A few 2012 models are also on the list, including the Ford Mustang and Chevy Avalanche.
Consumer Reports says that if consumers can grab these discounts, they'll be doing much better than the roughly 6 percent discount off MSRP that's typical this year. Liza Barth of the consumer information firm adds that regional discounts sometimes add to the Black Friday savings by as much as $5,000, and "there are bonus incentives for returning customers and military personnel available on many models."
Among the dealerships promoting Black Friday discounts is Brickell Honda in Miami.
"While we can’t unveil the fantastic sales just yet, we can let our shoppers know about a $500 Visa gift card opportunity!," the dealership said in an online posting Monday.
At this dealer and others, low-interest financing is another lure for car shoppers.
TrueCar, which offers information on car prices designed to help buyers, is offering its own holiday-season promotion: a $25,000 giveaway on Nov. 28 and weekly $5,000 prizes open to car buyers who purchase from a TrueCar Certified Dealer.
The firm lists some other cars with big discounts possible this Friday: the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500, the 2011 Chrysler 200, and the 2012 Ford Escape.
Of course, not everyone wants to mobilize to sign papers for a new car on the day after Thanksgiving. But if a car is on your shopping list, it might beat jostling with the crowds at Wal-Mart.
source:http://www.csmonitor.com
Anthony Hardwick says he resents working at Target Corp. on Thanksgiving and has garnered more than 37,000 signatures on an online protest petition.
Target, Macy’s Inc., Gap Inc., Kohl’s Corp., Toys “R” Us Inc. and Best Buy Co. all plan to open at midnight or earlier on Thanksgiving in an attempt to goose sales that the National Retail Federation says may rise just 2.8 percent this holiday season, or about half as much as last year.
Hardwick, 29, who says he has been a Target parking attendant in Omaha, Nebraska, for three years, began the petition two weeks ago on the website Change.org after learning that he and his coworkers would be required to start at 11 p.m. Nov. 24 for a 10-hour shift.
“I was so disappointed the day I found out about this because I did the math in my head and I was going to have to go to bed in the early afternoon on Thanksgiving to go in and work 10 hours,” Hardwick said in a telephone interview. “Everyone at work was resigned because the economy is bad and so our employer has us over a barrel.”
Hardwick said he hasn’t heard from Target and that he fears losing his job for starting the protest and speaking to the media.
The extension of Black Friday shopping hours into Thursday has caused many to decry the encroachment on Thanksgiving. As Ylan Q. Mui explained:
Thanksgiving is under assault.
Stores that once closed their doors in deference to the holiday are now touting Turkey Day deals starting as early as 9 p.m. Workers who should be on vacation are answering office e-mails on their smartphones. And those who plan on celebrating with a traditional dinner are finding that the cost of a bird is near its 30-year high, according to government data.
“I think we have a sort of Norman Rockwell view of Thanksgiving,” said Kit Yarrow, head of the psychology department at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. “It’s not really linked to reality for most Americans.”
Thanksgiving has long been in danger of getting subsumed by Christmas. Every year, Americans bemoan the encroachment of pine trees and presents on pilgrims and pumpkin pie, a phenomenon the retail industry calls “Christmas creep.” But for many, a line seems to have been crossed.
“RESPECT THE BIRD!!!” Doug Matthews, 49, an avid amateur chef from New Jersey, proclaimed in a blog post.
Matthews said he penned the diatribe last year when he spied Christmas candy on the shelf at a grocery store before the Halloween treats had been discounted. He took his rant to the social cooking site Allrecipes.com, where he had been posting recipes for corn muffins, carrot salad and other dishes for nearly 15 years.
Some shoppers will stay in instead of braving long lines, and many will use their phones to take advantage of Black Friday deals from home. As Hayley Tsukayama reported :
This year, holiday shoppers are expected to turn to their smartphones more than they ever have before. That’s the takeaway from a study by mobile ad network InMobi, released Thursday.
According to InMobi’s survey, 60 million mobile users will shop on Black Friday using their smartphones and 21 million intend to purchase goods directly from their mobile devices. That number is even higher with the more tech-focused Cyber Monday shoppers — the survey found 42 percent of shoppers plan to use their mobile devices to shop for gadgets and electronics.
More generally, smartphones have become an indispensable tool for holiday shoppers who are using them more often to compare prices and read reviews in stores. According to the study, 45 percent of shoppers will use their phones for price comparisons while shopping, up from 22 percent last year.
Shoppers also use their phones to check store hours and locations before heading to the mall. Wal-Mart recently released new iPhone and iPad apps that allow customers to check the inventory of their local stores during the holiday season.
source:http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Retailers are preparing for what they hope will be the biggest shopping day of the year. Unless you are in it to people-watch, don’t leave home without a plan.
Doorbuster deals that sound too good to be true. Bleary-eyed consumers loading up on caffeine. Lines so long that police supervision is necessary. It must be Black Friday!
The Friday after Thanksgiving has long been considered the beginning of the holiday shopping season. The name Black Friday, as the day is now known, was originally coined by members of Philadelphia law enforcement. These officers were dreading the inevitable consequences of colossal numbers of people shopping at the same time.
Retailers, not wanting the pejorative connotation to stick, offered a different interpretation of the name: the day that stores officially turn a profit, going from red ink to black ink.
Black Friday competition is fierce. Retailers want your business, and fellow shoppers want to beat you out and scoop any deeply-discounted items that are in short supply. Coming up with a strategy is paramount to success in this high-pressure environment.
Here is my advice for those who hope to hear Christmas carols before they’ve fully digested their turkey dinners:
Make a List and Check it Twice. No, you’re not Santa. But you need to think like Santa. Creating a spreadsheet with the names of all your gift recipients is a necessary first step. Next, assign approximate amounts to spend on each person and let Excel add up the total. If it’s more than your budget, make adjustments right away. If you have ideas for specific people, enter them on the spreadsheet.
Read Online Reviews. Typing an item’s name and the word "review" in the Google search bar will yield information about whether it’s a quality product. Amazon typically has large numbers of detailed reviews.
Do Price Comparisons Ahead of Time. The Internet boasts several sites whose sole purpose is to save consumers time by directing them to the retailer(s) with the lowest price on a particular item. Smart Money named Price Grabber the most user-friendly and accurate of the lot; the runner-up was Yahoo! Shopping.
Locate Desired Items. The Thanksgiving Day newspaper will be filled with fliers from retailers hoping to lure you to their stores. Buy a paper, visit individual stores’ websites, or consult Black Friday Ads for lists of specials. Make a note of the time that each store will open. Many will unlock the doors shortly after midnight, which is the earliest that Massachusetts state law will allow. Pay close attention to any notations about quantity. That $300 widescreen TV may look like a great deal, but if there are only 25 available per store, the chance of scoring one is low.
Map Out a Plan. Taking geography into account, devise a logical shopping route. If you are lucky enough to have a bargain-hunting companion, consider splitting up and each taking half the list. The Official Black Friday 2011 Website recommends that Black Friday shoppers go after the most deeply-discounted items first. If you have to miss out, have it be on the less expensive items.
When you arrive home, add all of your purchases to the spreadsheet. When you recover from Black Friday shopping sufficiently to venture out again, you’ll know just what you’re looking to find.
Mall and chain stores are not the only ones offering Black Friday incentives. Local small businesses are as well.
Moodz Day Spa, with locations in Acton and Wayland, will be discounting gift cards purchased in their salons on Friday. Save 10 percent on the first card, 15 percent on the second and 25 percent on the third. Pay only $125 for three $50 gift cards or $250 for three $100 gift cards. Tip: If you are a client, buy some to use yourself!
Cloud Nine Toys of Sudbury is holding a Black Friday sale on Melissa and Doug toys. Everything from $8 puzzles to $250 play kitchens will be on sale for 20 percent off.
Some retailers are featuring special deals that go beyond Black Friday.
Ralph Jordan’s of Acton will award a $20 gift card to their shop to anyone who spends $100 in the store from now until Dec. 9, 2011. A customer can buy $100 worth of merchandise, before tax and excluding Pandora jewelry, or a $100 gift card. The bonus cards will be valid starting the day after the initial purchase.
Elements of Acton is selling gift cards for all 55-minute or 80-minute massages for $20 off through Dec. 24, 2011.
My last shopping tip has to do with Small Business Saturday. This event will take place on Nov. 26, 2011. Designed to bring customers into independently-owned shops, many local merchants are putting together special deals for that day.
American Express cardholders who register for Small Business Saturday and spend at least $25 in single transactions patronizing local merchants will receive $25 credits on their next billing statement.
source: http://wayland.patch.com
Doorbuster deals that sound too good to be true. Bleary-eyed consumers loading up on caffeine. Lines so long that police supervision is necessary. It must be Black Friday!
The Friday after Thanksgiving has long been considered the beginning of the holiday shopping season. The name Black Friday, as the day is now known, was originally coined by members of Philadelphia law enforcement. These officers were dreading the inevitable consequences of colossal numbers of people shopping at the same time.
Retailers, not wanting the pejorative connotation to stick, offered a different interpretation of the name: the day that stores officially turn a profit, going from red ink to black ink.
Black Friday competition is fierce. Retailers want your business, and fellow shoppers want to beat you out and scoop any deeply-discounted items that are in short supply. Coming up with a strategy is paramount to success in this high-pressure environment.
Here is my advice for those who hope to hear Christmas carols before they’ve fully digested their turkey dinners:
Make a List and Check it Twice. No, you’re not Santa. But you need to think like Santa. Creating a spreadsheet with the names of all your gift recipients is a necessary first step. Next, assign approximate amounts to spend on each person and let Excel add up the total. If it’s more than your budget, make adjustments right away. If you have ideas for specific people, enter them on the spreadsheet.
Read Online Reviews. Typing an item’s name and the word "review" in the Google search bar will yield information about whether it’s a quality product. Amazon typically has large numbers of detailed reviews.
Do Price Comparisons Ahead of Time. The Internet boasts several sites whose sole purpose is to save consumers time by directing them to the retailer(s) with the lowest price on a particular item. Smart Money named Price Grabber the most user-friendly and accurate of the lot; the runner-up was Yahoo! Shopping.
Locate Desired Items. The Thanksgiving Day newspaper will be filled with fliers from retailers hoping to lure you to their stores. Buy a paper, visit individual stores’ websites, or consult Black Friday Ads for lists of specials. Make a note of the time that each store will open. Many will unlock the doors shortly after midnight, which is the earliest that Massachusetts state law will allow. Pay close attention to any notations about quantity. That $300 widescreen TV may look like a great deal, but if there are only 25 available per store, the chance of scoring one is low.
Map Out a Plan. Taking geography into account, devise a logical shopping route. If you are lucky enough to have a bargain-hunting companion, consider splitting up and each taking half the list. The Official Black Friday 2011 Website recommends that Black Friday shoppers go after the most deeply-discounted items first. If you have to miss out, have it be on the less expensive items.
When you arrive home, add all of your purchases to the spreadsheet. When you recover from Black Friday shopping sufficiently to venture out again, you’ll know just what you’re looking to find.
Mall and chain stores are not the only ones offering Black Friday incentives. Local small businesses are as well.
Moodz Day Spa, with locations in Acton and Wayland, will be discounting gift cards purchased in their salons on Friday. Save 10 percent on the first card, 15 percent on the second and 25 percent on the third. Pay only $125 for three $50 gift cards or $250 for three $100 gift cards. Tip: If you are a client, buy some to use yourself!
Cloud Nine Toys of Sudbury is holding a Black Friday sale on Melissa and Doug toys. Everything from $8 puzzles to $250 play kitchens will be on sale for 20 percent off.
Some retailers are featuring special deals that go beyond Black Friday.
Ralph Jordan’s of Acton will award a $20 gift card to their shop to anyone who spends $100 in the store from now until Dec. 9, 2011. A customer can buy $100 worth of merchandise, before tax and excluding Pandora jewelry, or a $100 gift card. The bonus cards will be valid starting the day after the initial purchase.
Elements of Acton is selling gift cards for all 55-minute or 80-minute massages for $20 off through Dec. 24, 2011.
My last shopping tip has to do with Small Business Saturday. This event will take place on Nov. 26, 2011. Designed to bring customers into independently-owned shops, many local merchants are putting together special deals for that day.
American Express cardholders who register for Small Business Saturday and spend at least $25 in single transactions patronizing local merchants will receive $25 credits on their next billing statement.
source: http://wayland.patch.com
NEW YORK—Here's one way to avoid
getting trampled by bargain-hunting hordes knocking down store doors on
Black Friday: Online deals service LivingSocial is unveiling a slew of
bargains for the holidays that are just a couple of mouse clicks away.
LivingSocial will offer discounts from national businesses such as Verizon Wireless, Electronic Arts Inc. and the sneaker brand Skechers USA Inc., a contrast to the local deals for spas, restaurants and weekend escapes that it's known for.
Such
offers will give national brands access to social media-savvy customers
who might not otherwise think to visit their stores. It's also good,
cheap marketing, as the deals are often widely shared on Facebook and
Twitter.
LivingSocial, meanwhile, gets to sign up new subscribers and take a cut from the money they spend on the coupons.
It
also gets to participate in a day-after-Thanksgiving shopping bonanza
that's normally reserved for brick-and-mortar retail stores.
One
set of deals, available for three days starting on Black Friday,
includes $5 for magazine subscriptions that normally cost $12. Customers
won't be able to redeem those coupons until Monday, so stores already
offering monster sales on Black Friday won't have to cut their profit
margins even thinner.
On
Cyber Monday, the online shopping day that follows Thanksgiving weekend,
LivingSocial will unveil another set of deals. Nearly all of the
discounts are 50 percent off -- such as paying $40 to be able to spend
$80 at wine retailer Wine.com. These coupons will go on sale Monday, Nov. 28, and can be redeemed starting the next day.
OfficeMax Inc.
isn't known for attracting big holiday crowds, but Chris Duncan, a vice
president of direct and loyalty marketing, said the company decided to
offer a LivingSocial deal to reach new customers looking for e-readers,
tablets and other gadgets.
Mitch
Spolan, senior vice president of national sales at LivingSocial, said
the service isn't changing its local-business focus, but gets the
opportunity to offer something special nationally from time to time.
LivingSocial,
which is based in Washington, D.C., has more than 46 million
subscribers, who typically get deals through emails and other alerts
sent at least daily.
LivingSocial's
larger competitor, Chicago-based Groupon Inc., is not doing Black
Friday promotions this year. Instead, it's promoting discounts on big,
expensive experiences dubbed "once in a lifetime," such as $5,000 for a
three-day trip to studio tours and tapings of the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Shopping on Black Friday can yield some great deals, but if you're not prepared, it can turn into a nightmare.
Tuesday on 16 Morning News, we showed you some of the best deals we could find that will be offered on Black Friday.
You can find sale prices in Black Friday ads or online at Black Friday websites.
When it comes to the category that's on many people's wish lists, electronics, Best Buy by far has the best deals on most items.
Some of the best sales we found includes a 24" LCD HDTV for $79.99, select DVDs for 99 cents each, select Blu-rays for $4.99 each, and a Toshiba Blu-ray player for $39.99.
You can also get Philips in-ear headphone buds for $7.49. That's with a 50 percent off coupon you use in store. A Lenovo laptop with a 15.6" screen will be $179.99, and an hp desk jet all-in-one printer will be $19.
Best Buy opens at midnight on Black Friday, but store employees will start giving out tickets for the most in-demand items starting at 10 p.m.
Best Buy is also offing a Black Friday price of $119.99 for a Nikon Coolpix S4100 digital camera, marked down from $179.99. However, Meijer is offering the exact same deal on that item. So if that's the only thing you're after, it might be worth going to Meijer and avoiding the Best Buy lines.
Many Black Friday shoppers will also be after toys and kids' items. Some of the best prices we found include Hasbro board games fro $7.99 at Meijer. They're normally priced at $14.96 to $19.94.
At Target, you can get select Lego sets for $14 and a Barbie Big Box Furniture Gift Set, which comes with a Barbie doll, a four room set and 40 accessories, for $24.99 after using an in store coupon.
The biggest deal we found at Target, is a Nintendo 3DS for $145. Some other stores are advertising their sale price for that item as $169.99. However, if you go to Nintendo's website, you'll see the retail price for the Nintendo 3DS is $169.99. So unless the game console comes in a bundle, where you get games or other accessories with it, don't be fooled.
Another great deal is at Wal-mart. Kids' character pajamas will be on sale on Black Friday for $4.47.
Now, there are some things you should avoid buying on Black Friday. Christmas decorations are generally cheaper on Cyber Monday, the Monday following Black Friday when companies offer huge deals over the internet. Also, you can get better deals on winter apparel in January. So if it isn't something you need immediately, hold out for the better prices.
And like we showed with the pricing on the Nintendo 3DS, don't get so caught up in the Black Friday hype that you forget to compare the sale prices to actual retail prices.
Nearly All 4,700 Rite Aid Stores Nationwide Open Thanksgiving on First of "Three Days to Save"
CAMP HILL, Pa., Nov 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
--Rite Aid Distributing Black Friday Survival Guides Offering Additional Savings and Shopping "Tips"
Rite Aid shoppers won't have to give up a good night's sleep to get the
best deals this holiday season. Holiday savings at Rite Aid begin on
Thanksgiving Day.
Additionally, the 44 million members of Rite Aid's free wellness+ loyalty
program will have Three Days to Save (Nov. 24-26) on great
gifts and just about everything they need to get ready for the holidays.
Select deals during the event include boxed holiday gift cards, wrapping
paper, Christmas lights, small appliances, digital cameras, iTower
speakers that dock with an iPhone or iPod and more. For sale details,
see the special Nov. 24 advertising circular in newspapers nationwide or
online at
www.riteaid.com/savenow/ .
On Thanksgiving Day, nearly all of Rite Aid's stores will be open. On
Black Friday, stores open at 7 a.m. Store hours are at
www.riteaid.com/stores .
"With 4,700 convenient locations and regular Thanksgiving hours, Rite
Aid wants to help customers get a great start on their holiday
shopping," said John Learish, Senior Vice President of Marketing for
Rite Aid. "Our shoppers will also find great deals on some hot holiday
gifts, including some fun finds they may not have expected to see at the
neighborhood drugstore."
Hot holiday items this year include tried-and-true toy favorites -- such
as Pillow Pets in new licensed characters -- and new toys including
Lalaloopsy dolls and Wuggles, the pets that kids bring to life with
stuffing. Electronics include wireless netbooks and e-tablets from Craig
Electronics, plus a throw-back Atari game system featuring 60 classic
games including Asteroids and Missile Command. Returning Rite Aid
favorites include the Record-A-Story books, which allow long-distance
relatives to send a personalized reading of a favorite story, practical
hostess gifts such as Hershey's Pot of Gold boxed chocolates, and
fragrance gift sets including Heidi Klum's new "Shine" fragrance in a
three-piece set.
Rite Aid is also issuing Black Friday Survival Guides this week via
e-mail to wellness+ members and to Rite Aid's more than 200,000
Facebook fans. Guides offer fun holiday shopping "survival tips" and
special prices on products to help deal-seekers stay energized, focused
and ready for some serious shopping. Guides contain deals for both the
big day itself -- water, snacks, gel shoe inserts and energy drinks -- and
after -- headache relief products and neck pillows.
Rite Aid has long held hours on Thanksgiving Day, when customers
frequently travel and may need to fill unplanned prescriptions or
require temporary supplies of medications that were left at home. In the
past several years, Rite Aid has also seen growing demand for its
expanded selection of grocery staple foods, which include last-minute
holiday meal items such as green beans, stove-top stuffing and baking
supplies.
Rite Aid Corporation
RAD
-2.65%
is one of the nation's leading
drugstore chains with approximately 4,700 stores in 31 states and the
District of Columbia and fiscal 2011 annual revenues of $25.2 billion.
Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press
releases, is available through the company's website at
www.riteaid.com .
SOURCE: Rite Aid Corporation
Rite Aid Corporation
Eric Harkreader, 717-975-5713
eharkreader@riteaid.com
ATLANTA, Nov. 21, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Before the left-over turkey gets put away and the hot apple cider turns cold, holiday bargain-hunters will grab their lists and begin circling all the door-buster deals, early-bird specials and super-saver steals for holiday gift buying. The shopping frenzy known as Black Friday will lure an estimated 152 million people to retail stores and online merchants, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).
This year's list of must-have items includes tablets, laptop computers, mobile devices, game systems and flat screen televisions, with consumers projected to spend an average of $515 on these and other gifts for family and friends, according to the NRF. But the joy of giving these trendy gizmos can soon be dampened by the disappointment of something going wrong – a missing part here, a broken screen there, a malfunctioning function.
That may be why Consumer Reports recently suggested that there are times when extended service plans really make sense. In its August 2011 issue, the consumer product rating guide highlighted several reasons why consumers should protect their electronics and appliances beyond the manufacturer's warranty. Based on a survey of more than 27,000 subscribers, the magazine found that product warranties tend to cover less and less; in fact, most warranties only cover parts for one year and labor for just 90 days. Consumer Reports also found that appliances most often break within two to three years after purchase, well after the manufacturer's warranty has expired.
Just ask Yolanda Crenshaw. The Carson, Calif., resident was "left in the dark" when her flat screen television went out shortly after the manufacturer's warranty expired, leaving her with no choice but to buy a new TV. She purchased her second flat screen TV along with an extended service plan in case it would need repair.
When her TV stopped working in June 2011, Crenshaw called the toll-free number for her Assurant Solutions service contract. The next afternoon, a service technician came to her home, replaced the main board and repaired the malfunction.
"It was like 'No problem, we can help you' and bam!" Crenshaw said of the prompt resolution. "They serviced my TV and got me on my way."
Assurant Solutions, a global provider of extended service contracts, issues customized policies for consumer electronics, appliances, jewelry and other products well beyond the manufacturer's warranty. The policies provide millions of customers such as Crenshaw with the assurance of knowing their products can be repaired or replaced.
"When people invest their hard-earned money in a nice gift for themselves or someone else, they really can't afford to take a chance on whether it will last," said Joe Erdeman, president of extended protection solutions at Assurant Solutions. "The peace of mind of knowing that you're protected is priceless."
This holiday season, Crenshaw plans to purchase another flat screen TV as a gift for a family member but says the service plan will be her gift to herself.
"I'm hooked on buying the service plan, because it's worth it," she said. "It's a load off your mind not to worry."
To learn about extended service contracts, visit http://www.assurantsolutions.com/extendedprotection.
This year's list of must-have items includes tablets, laptop computers, mobile devices, game systems and flat screen televisions, with consumers projected to spend an average of $515 on these and other gifts for family and friends, according to the NRF. But the joy of giving these trendy gizmos can soon be dampened by the disappointment of something going wrong – a missing part here, a broken screen there, a malfunctioning function.
That may be why Consumer Reports recently suggested that there are times when extended service plans really make sense. In its August 2011 issue, the consumer product rating guide highlighted several reasons why consumers should protect their electronics and appliances beyond the manufacturer's warranty. Based on a survey of more than 27,000 subscribers, the magazine found that product warranties tend to cover less and less; in fact, most warranties only cover parts for one year and labor for just 90 days. Consumer Reports also found that appliances most often break within two to three years after purchase, well after the manufacturer's warranty has expired.
Just ask Yolanda Crenshaw. The Carson, Calif., resident was "left in the dark" when her flat screen television went out shortly after the manufacturer's warranty expired, leaving her with no choice but to buy a new TV. She purchased her second flat screen TV along with an extended service plan in case it would need repair.
When her TV stopped working in June 2011, Crenshaw called the toll-free number for her Assurant Solutions service contract. The next afternoon, a service technician came to her home, replaced the main board and repaired the malfunction.
"It was like 'No problem, we can help you' and bam!" Crenshaw said of the prompt resolution. "They serviced my TV and got me on my way."
Assurant Solutions, a global provider of extended service contracts, issues customized policies for consumer electronics, appliances, jewelry and other products well beyond the manufacturer's warranty. The policies provide millions of customers such as Crenshaw with the assurance of knowing their products can be repaired or replaced.
"When people invest their hard-earned money in a nice gift for themselves or someone else, they really can't afford to take a chance on whether it will last," said Joe Erdeman, president of extended protection solutions at Assurant Solutions. "The peace of mind of knowing that you're protected is priceless."
This holiday season, Crenshaw plans to purchase another flat screen TV as a gift for a family member but says the service plan will be her gift to herself.
"I'm hooked on buying the service plan, because it's worth it," she said. "It's a load off your mind not to worry."
To learn about extended service contracts, visit http://www.assurantsolutions.com/extendedprotection.
Black Friday deals seem to be everywhere, including at hotels, resorts and travel companies. Instead of lining up at a big-box store, you could save on next year's vacation without ever leaving home. Gate1 Travel has a one-day Black Friday sale on all-inclusive tours that offers discounts of $50 to $500 per trip.
The deal: Here's how the discounts work: Take $50 off a trip costing $500 or more with the code "BLACKFR50"; $100 off a trip costing $1,000 or more with the code "BLACKFR100"; $250 off a trip costing $2,000 or more with the code "BLACKFR250" and $500 off a trip costing $4,000 or more with the code "BLACK500."
When: The offer is good from 9 p.m. PST Thursday to 8:59 p.m. PST Friday. Reservations can be made online during that time or by phone from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST Friday.
Tested: The sale isn't on yet so I couldn't test this deal, but I looked at some examples of Gate1 trips. The eight-day Affordable Italy inclusive tour leaves Feb. 4 and costs $1,831 per person based on double occupancy leaving from L.A. (prices fluctuate according to airfare costs.) Total cost for two: $3,662, which qualifies for the $250 discount on Black Friday.
Contact: Gate1 Travel, (800) 682-3333
The deal: Here's how the discounts work: Take $50 off a trip costing $500 or more with the code "BLACKFR50"; $100 off a trip costing $1,000 or more with the code "BLACKFR100"; $250 off a trip costing $2,000 or more with the code "BLACKFR250" and $500 off a trip costing $4,000 or more with the code "BLACK500."
When: The offer is good from 9 p.m. PST Thursday to 8:59 p.m. PST Friday. Reservations can be made online during that time or by phone from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST Friday.
Tested: The sale isn't on yet so I couldn't test this deal, but I looked at some examples of Gate1 trips. The eight-day Affordable Italy inclusive tour leaves Feb. 4 and costs $1,831 per person based on double occupancy leaving from L.A. (prices fluctuate according to airfare costs.) Total cost for two: $3,662, which qualifies for the $250 discount on Black Friday.
Contact: Gate1 Travel, (800) 682-3333
Save Time and Maximize Savings when Holiday Shopping
DALLAS, Nov. 21, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days of the year, and consumers and retailers are preparing for the shopping rush. The National Retail Federation predicts a 2.8% rise in holiday sales for 2011 and 36% of holiday shopping will take place online this season.Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, is traditionally known as the single best day to get the greatest in-store deals resulting in hectic, early morning, mad rushes to large name brand stores. In 2010, over 212 million shoppers bought holiday gifts and other items the weekend of Black Friday spending on average $365.34. However, some of those same retailers are looking to capitalize on the Black Friday fervor even longer online. Many retailers now offer the same, similar, or even better deals as those in their Black Friday ads through their online stores before Black Friday and extend those offers through Cyber Monday, the first Monday following Thanksgiving.
To help consumers find the best deals either online or in-store, consumers need to be aware of new retail trends associated with Black Friday and Cyber Monday while also leaning on new technological tools:
- Free Shipping – Often times when buying online, consumers are dismayed by bloated shipping charges. Retailers are noticing and many online stores now offer free shipping or free ship-to-store options. Free shipping isn't always advertised on store web sites, so checking sites like DealTaker.com or Coupon Sherpa helps consumers learn about free shipping codes that may otherwise be unknown.
- Mobile Apps – A variety of retailers and coupon web sites offer free mobile apps making it easier to compare prices and find special offers. Downloading applications like DealTaker.com's Black Friday iPhone and iPad app helps shoppers track new ads and special offers from their favorite stores. The Barcode Reader app by SHAPE Services helps consumers find the lowest possible prices in local and online stores simply by snapping a photo of any printed barcode.
- Start Earlier/Last Longer – Along with the trend toward midnight store openings, online Black Friday offers are getting an early debut as well. Many specials and sales are available online on Thanksgiving Day or earlier, running throughout the weekend and Cyber Monday. Shoppers who know which items they want can avoid long lines and dangerous crowds simply by shopping online first.
- Social Networks – Retailers and deal aggregators alike are promoting their Black Friday ads and offers through social network sites like Facebook. To take advantage of these "inside" deals, shoppers should visit the Facebook pages of their favorite retail stores like JC Penney or Target as well as sites like DealNews and DealTaker.com to learn more about upcoming sales on popular items.
Channeling the frenzy. Ever since a Wal-Mart employee on Long Island was trampled to death on Black Friday in 2008, retailers have been alert to dangers of stampeding shoppers. "Stores thought that creating this frenzy was good for business," Marsha Cohen, chief retail analyst for the NPD group tells The Boston Globe. "As it turns out, this puts retailers in a very precarious legal position and it creates a very inefficient system for consumers to take advantage of sales."This year, the Globe reports, Target is creating a buffer zone of at least 10 feet between entrances and the start of the lines. Groups of 30 people will be allowed into the buffer zone every 20 or 30 seconds to keep mobs from rushing en masse into the store.
Did you check online? Consumer Reports notes that many retailers offer the electronic goods at the lowest price of the year. But even then, CR says, the best bargains may not be at the brick-and-mortar stores. Don't forget to check Amazon.com and other websites, which often can do better. (Amazon is even starting its Black Friday deals early.)
Brick-and-mortars, though, are also using the Web to build excitement and lure buyers into the store. Best Buy already has announced some Black Friday deals on the Internet and promises more on its Twitter and Facebook pages this week. Already on tap: a 24-inch high-definition Dynex TV for $80, a Samsung laptop with a 320GB hard drive for $300, and a Toshiba Blu-ray disc player for $40.
The tech lure. Consumer Reports' James Willcox offers this advice when shopping for electronic goods:
Did you check online? Consumer Reports notes that many retailers offer the electronic goods at the lowest price of the year. But even then, CR says, the best bargains may not be at the brick-and-mortar stores. Don't forget to check Amazon.com and other websites, which often can do better. (Amazon is even starting its Black Friday deals early.)
Brick-and-mortars, though, are also using the Web to build excitement and lure buyers into the store. Best Buy already has announced some Black Friday deals on the Internet and promises more on its Twitter and Facebook pages this week. Already on tap: a 24-inch high-definition Dynex TV for $80, a Samsung laptop with a 320GB hard drive for $300, and a Toshiba Blu-ray disc player for $40.
The tech lure. Consumer Reports' James Willcox offers this advice when shopping for electronic goods:
Often retailers — and sometimes, manufacturers — will combine two or more items into a specially priced package they say will save you money. But you should check the individual prices of these items at both the store and its competitors to see if you're really getting a great deal. Our research during the past week uncovered some real savings, but also bundles that barely saved any money at all.Hottest deals. Fatwallet.com, one of the top sites for deals, offers a user-friendly Deal Finder, to check out sales either by category or by stores. Here are some of its hottlest Black Friday offerings so far this year:
1. Norton Internet Security 2012 (1-PC) [Boxed CD] - Staples - FreeFast and furious. It seems almost impossible to keep track of the waves of ads that are coming as BF looms. One tip: Bradsdeal.com puts the big ones all on one page for a quick peek. Here's one you'll find from Ace Hardware: A Radio Flyer red wagon for $49.99.
2. Toshiba Satelite C655D-S5332 15.6" Laptop - Radio Shack - $299.99
3. Xbox 360 4GB Console w/Kinect - Wal-Mart - $199.96
4 . Acer 23" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Staples - $99.99
5. BlackBerry PlayBook 7" Tablet - 16GB, WiFi - Staples - $199.99
Most people think about big chains and department stores when talk of "Black Friday" begins, but local businesses are also trying to coax customers to their shops.
The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association is promoting Black Friday specials "back by popular demand" for the third year in a row, said Kurt Tallis, events and marketing director.
As many as 50 shops will participate, and sales will range from 50 percent off clothing, to 30 percent off everything in one store, to 25 percent off all beer, wine and liquor at Fourth Avenue restaurants.
There will also be live entertainment at three sites.
Tallis said this is the time of year when Fourth Avenue shops offer some of their "steepest discounts," and added that shopping locally, even infrequently, makes a difference.
If Tucsonans did 10 percent of their shopping locally, it would create 1,600 new jobs, an additional $130 million in the local economy and $50 million in local wages, said Lisette DeMars, Tucson membership coordinator for Local First Arizona.
"The local businesses are our community," DeMars said. "They're really strong economic support, and we really need to shift our shopping."
Fourth Avenue deals
• At Pop-Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave., which specializes in sustainable products, everything in the store will be 20 percent off with select items up to 50 percent off. Store hours will be extended from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., said part-owner Shannon Riggs.
• Kanella's, 300 N. Fourth Ave., will start a store-wide liquidation sale Friday with everything 30 percent off. Part-owner Kanella Conklin said she plans to retire and close the store early next year, but she encouraged people to stop by and browse the selection of unique clothes and accessories.
"The brands we carry are hard to find at any mall," Conklin said.
• The Book Stop, 214 N. Fourth Ave., will have a store-wide 20 percent-off sale, said part-owner Claire Fellows.
• Delectables restaurant, 533 N. Fourth Ave., will have happy hour pricing all day and all bar drinks will be 25 percent off. It will also have a jazz concert at 5 p.m. featuring Bryan Dean and his wife, Koko, as well as a 7 p.m. performance by Duo Vibrato, a violin and guitar group, said owner Donna DiFiore.
And beyond Fourth:
• At Bohemia, 2920 E. Broadway, which features local artwork and eclectic gifts, almost everything in the store will be 20 percent off. Store owner Tana Kelch said Bohemia will have a benefit Saturday with 10 percent of revenue going to Casa Libre, an organization that supports both seasoned and novice writers. "It's our day of giving to balance Black Friday out," Kelch said.
The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association is promoting Black Friday specials "back by popular demand" for the third year in a row, said Kurt Tallis, events and marketing director.
As many as 50 shops will participate, and sales will range from 50 percent off clothing, to 30 percent off everything in one store, to 25 percent off all beer, wine and liquor at Fourth Avenue restaurants.
There will also be live entertainment at three sites.
Tallis said this is the time of year when Fourth Avenue shops offer some of their "steepest discounts," and added that shopping locally, even infrequently, makes a difference.
If Tucsonans did 10 percent of their shopping locally, it would create 1,600 new jobs, an additional $130 million in the local economy and $50 million in local wages, said Lisette DeMars, Tucson membership coordinator for Local First Arizona.
"The local businesses are our community," DeMars said. "They're really strong economic support, and we really need to shift our shopping."
Fourth Avenue deals
• At Pop-Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave., which specializes in sustainable products, everything in the store will be 20 percent off with select items up to 50 percent off. Store hours will be extended from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., said part-owner Shannon Riggs.
• Kanella's, 300 N. Fourth Ave., will start a store-wide liquidation sale Friday with everything 30 percent off. Part-owner Kanella Conklin said she plans to retire and close the store early next year, but she encouraged people to stop by and browse the selection of unique clothes and accessories.
"The brands we carry are hard to find at any mall," Conklin said.
• The Book Stop, 214 N. Fourth Ave., will have a store-wide 20 percent-off sale, said part-owner Claire Fellows.
• Delectables restaurant, 533 N. Fourth Ave., will have happy hour pricing all day and all bar drinks will be 25 percent off. It will also have a jazz concert at 5 p.m. featuring Bryan Dean and his wife, Koko, as well as a 7 p.m. performance by Duo Vibrato, a violin and guitar group, said owner Donna DiFiore.
And beyond Fourth:
• At Bohemia, 2920 E. Broadway, which features local artwork and eclectic gifts, almost everything in the store will be 20 percent off. Store owner Tana Kelch said Bohemia will have a benefit Saturday with 10 percent of revenue going to Casa Libre, an organization that supports both seasoned and novice writers. "It's our day of giving to balance Black Friday out," Kelch said.
Wal-Mart fired up its discount engine early; many malls kicked off midnight sales. Will shortages of hot products put shoppers in a bad mood?
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Bargain-hungry shoppers raced to malls as early as midnight to be the first in line to grab the best of retailers' so-called doorbuster deals on Black Friday, the kickoff of the 2006 holiday shopping season.
Some malls around the country ignited the shopping frenzy at the stroke of midnight as Thanksgiving turns into Black Friday.
The Citadel Outlets Center in L.A. County held a "Moonlight Madness" event this year with some stores opening their doors at 11:00 p.m. Thursday.
Anita Boeker, Citadel Outlets' marketing director, told CNNMoney.com that the Old Navy store already had a long line of people in front of it by 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
"By the time the store opened, they were facing overcapacity," she said. "Our parking lots are filling up quickly and it's only 3:00 a.m."
Who's got the hottest deals?
Holiday shoppers will see a clearly defined battle line this Black Friday: Wal-Mart on one side, everybody else on the other.Impatient shoppers were chanting "Open the door" shortly before a 5:00 a.m. opening at a Wal-Mart store in Union, New Jersey. As expected, toys and electronics were the busiest areas in the Wal-Mart store.
Wal-Mart (Charts), the world largest retailer, unveiled its big holiday deals weeks ahead of Black Friday, slashing prices on popular merchandise such as toys, electronics (including a 42-inch Plasma HDTV for $988) and a variety of home appliances.
Wal-Mart then announced a slew of further discounts at midnight on Thanksgiving morning, including XBOX 360s for $399 and KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixers for $149.
One of the most sought-after items Friday was a 20-inch flatscreen Symphonic TV for $68.97.
The day after Thanksgiving is dubbed "Black Friday" because it's when retailers are said to finally move out of the red, representing losses, and into the black, indicating profits.
It also marks the start of the four-week gift-buying shopping blitz leading up to Christmas.
For retailers, November and December sales are critical because the two months together account for as much as 50 percent of their profits and sales.
Eager to capture early holiday sales momentum, merchants battle each other on Black Friday by offering steep discounts on the season's hottest products in a bid to lure bargain-hungry shoppers and lock in critical holiday dollars.
What's the outlook for this year? Good but not great.
Despite concerns that a cooling housing market has made homeowners feel less wealthy and less inclined to shop, overall retail sales have increased so far this year.
According to some retail analysts, consistent income growth combined with the recently falling gas prices helped offset the negative housing effect and should continue to be a spending catalyst in the coming weeks. (Full story)
Nevertheless, the National Retail Federation (NRF), the industry's largest trade group, estimates holiday sales will grow 5 percent to $457.4 billion, slower than last year's 6.1 percent increase.
The NRF expects about 137 million shoppers will hit stores over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend.
Shoppers are getting stung as stores already post 'out of stock' signs on some of the hottest holiday items like T.M.X. Elmo, PlayStation 3, Wii and some plasma TVs.(Full Story)
Even though retailers say they'll restock these must-have gifts throughout the season, given that demand for these item is clearly outstripping supply, there's no guarantee that you'll find any of these products in time for Christmas.
But the 10th-anniversary version of the furry red doll is available on eBay if you don't mind paying double or triple its original price of $39.99.
E-tailers are already projected to have a stellar season this year, but industry watchers expect in-store shortages could also help pump up traffic and sales at many Web sites.
MURFREESBORO — The push to get holiday shoppers into area stores that began in earnest weeks ago will reach a fever pitch this week with the imminent arrival of Black Friday.
What's more, the traditional day after Thanksgiving Day shopping sales will begin earlier than ever this year — at midnight Friday, to be exact. Stores such as Target, Best Buy and Kohl's are opening at 12 a.m. Friday, some four or five hours before other businesses will begin admitting Black Friday shoppers camped out in the cold.
"It's exciting. People are friendly and talk to you while you are in line. It's just fun," said local shopper Trinace Cambell.
She definitely won't be alone in enjoying the early holiday shopping rush.
According to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 34 percent of consumers said they plan to shop on Black Friday. That number is up slightly over last year when 31 percent of consumers indicated that they planned to shop, and it is significantly up over 2009's 26 percent.
The self-proclaimed "queen of shopping early," Cambell began searching for great gifts after last Christmas. She picked up a couple shopping stuffers at Target earlier this week, but said she usually looks forward to the after-Thanksgiving sales as a way to complete her holiday shopping.
"I haven't really noticed a lot of things being on sale yet," she said.
Many retailers have been trying to get a leg up on Black Friday by offering one-day and pre-Thanksgiving weekend sales to encourage consumers to stop in before Black Friday as a way to boost sluggish sales. But, according to Sears store manager Shari Ollig, many were just looking.
"We are seeing a lot of people coming in to look and check out what we have to prepare for the after-Thanksgiving sales," Ollig said.
Employees at the department store located inside the Stones River Mall were unloading a truck of merchandise for the day's sales on Wednesday.
Sears will be opening its doors at 4 a.m. Friday.
Ollig said she was surprised to see some retailers opening at midnight and wondered how many people would actually begin shopping that late at night — or early, as the case may be.
"It might be better for us in the long run if shoppers start at other stores opening at midnight and then come here. We'll be keeping the tradition of the early day after-Thanksgiving sales," she said.
While there have been a good number of shoppers already scooping up deals for holiday gifts at JC Penneys, assistant store manager Jay Bolden said revenue numbers look "comparable" to last year.
"We have seen shoppers getting started, but not like we'll see after Thanksgiving," Bolden said. "The majority will wait to do most of their shopping then to get the best deals."
Bolden said JC Penneys has successfully marketed itself as an affordable, yet fashionable place to shop.
"We have right-priced merchandise, and many people are recognizing us as a national brand that provides the big name lines with affordable pricing," Bolden said.
Earl James, assistant manager of Kmart on Broad Street, said shoppers have not been biting at the pre-sales offered by many department stores.
"People are holding off. Money is tight, they are going to wait for the best deals," he said.
Kmart plans to offer several "early bird" specials to shoppers arriving at 5 a.m. Friday.
Another method many stores are using to entice shoppers this season is layaway.
"I think is such a good idea," said Shirley Cross, who wandered through TJ Maxx Wednesday. "When you have small children and money is tight, it can be really handy."
Kmart has been running a big advertising campaign to alert consumers to its layaway plans.
"We have two options: an 8-week and a 12-week payment plan. For the 12-week, you have to spend $300 or more," James said. "People have been very receptive, especially to the 12-week plan when buying electronics like TVs."
What's more, the traditional day after Thanksgiving Day shopping sales will begin earlier than ever this year — at midnight Friday, to be exact. Stores such as Target, Best Buy and Kohl's are opening at 12 a.m. Friday, some four or five hours before other businesses will begin admitting Black Friday shoppers camped out in the cold.
"It's exciting. People are friendly and talk to you while you are in line. It's just fun," said local shopper Trinace Cambell.
She definitely won't be alone in enjoying the early holiday shopping rush.
According to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 34 percent of consumers said they plan to shop on Black Friday. That number is up slightly over last year when 31 percent of consumers indicated that they planned to shop, and it is significantly up over 2009's 26 percent.
The self-proclaimed "queen of shopping early," Cambell began searching for great gifts after last Christmas. She picked up a couple shopping stuffers at Target earlier this week, but said she usually looks forward to the after-Thanksgiving sales as a way to complete her holiday shopping.
"I haven't really noticed a lot of things being on sale yet," she said.
Many retailers have been trying to get a leg up on Black Friday by offering one-day and pre-Thanksgiving weekend sales to encourage consumers to stop in before Black Friday as a way to boost sluggish sales. But, according to Sears store manager Shari Ollig, many were just looking.
"We are seeing a lot of people coming in to look and check out what we have to prepare for the after-Thanksgiving sales," Ollig said.
Employees at the department store located inside the Stones River Mall were unloading a truck of merchandise for the day's sales on Wednesday.
Sears will be opening its doors at 4 a.m. Friday.
Ollig said she was surprised to see some retailers opening at midnight and wondered how many people would actually begin shopping that late at night — or early, as the case may be.
"It might be better for us in the long run if shoppers start at other stores opening at midnight and then come here. We'll be keeping the tradition of the early day after-Thanksgiving sales," she said.
While there have been a good number of shoppers already scooping up deals for holiday gifts at JC Penneys, assistant store manager Jay Bolden said revenue numbers look "comparable" to last year.
"We have seen shoppers getting started, but not like we'll see after Thanksgiving," Bolden said. "The majority will wait to do most of their shopping then to get the best deals."
Bolden said JC Penneys has successfully marketed itself as an affordable, yet fashionable place to shop.
"We have right-priced merchandise, and many people are recognizing us as a national brand that provides the big name lines with affordable pricing," Bolden said.
Earl James, assistant manager of Kmart on Broad Street, said shoppers have not been biting at the pre-sales offered by many department stores.
"People are holding off. Money is tight, they are going to wait for the best deals," he said.
Kmart plans to offer several "early bird" specials to shoppers arriving at 5 a.m. Friday.
Another method many stores are using to entice shoppers this season is layaway.
"I think is such a good idea," said Shirley Cross, who wandered through TJ Maxx Wednesday. "When you have small children and money is tight, it can be really handy."
Kmart has been running a big advertising campaign to alert consumers to its layaway plans.
"We have two options: an 8-week and a 12-week payment plan. For the 12-week, you have to spend $300 or more," James said. "People have been very receptive, especially to the 12-week plan when buying electronics like TVs."
If you desire to find some great deals during Black Friday 2011 for clothing, footwear or beauty products, then one of the retailers which should be on your top list is Bealls.
Bealls is a chain of department stores in the United States, mainly present in the south of the country, with the main headquarters in Texas. The stores are mainly popular in the state of Florida as the products commercialized by the chain offer the best products to the consumer profile in the region. Most likely, in case of the state of Florida, Bells will be among the most sought retailers for great deals and possible Christmas gifts.
An important aspect about Bealls is that you can shop in the actual store and in the online store at BeallsFlorida.com even during the Black Friday shopping spree. It is advisable to get up early in the morning to take advantage of the great discounts, but if you do not desire to follow with the hassle, then you can find some of the Black Friday 2011 deals online.
The most popular categories for great discounts at Bells during the previous Black Friday shopping seasons were: pillows, mattress pads, sheets, shoes and sterling silver jewelry. And most likely, for this shopping season, Bealls will continue with the same strategy, offering deals for the above mentioned line of products.
Out of all of the above mention categories, shoes have the biggest share in sales. Bealls offers a large variety of brands and models and many shoe lovers usually follow Bealls in hope of purchasing a couple of new pairs. Among the popular brands which are being sold at Bealls, you might expect deals at: Mootsie Tootsie, Bay Studio, Skechers, Beartraps, White Mountain, New Balance, Nike, Avia, Easy Spirit, Shape Ups and LA Gear.
And if you desire to change the appearance and maybe improve the comfort of your bed, you might be interested in the bed related products to which you will find great deals during Black Friday 2011, as during the previous shopping seasons you could find great deals for sheets, blankets, comforters and pillows for twin, full, queen and king sized beds.
And in terms of jewelry, you most likely will find great deals for sterling silver jewelry which could make a great gift for a female person close to you, be it your girlfriend, fiancée, wife, mother or sister.
So, if you are in the south region of the US during Black Friday, and especially in Florida, you might desire to check out Bealls deals.
If you desire to find some great deals during Black Friday 2011 for clothing, footwear or beauty products, then one of the retailers which should be on your top list is Bealls.
Bealls is a chain of department stores in the United States, mainly present in the south of the country, with the main headquarters in Texas. The stores are mainly popular in the state of Florida as the products commercialized by the chain offer the best products to the consumer profile in the region. Most likely, in case of the state of Florida, Bells will be among the most sought retailers for great deals and possible Christmas gifts.
An important aspect about Bealls is that you can shop in the actual store and in the online store at BeallsFlorida.com even during the Black Friday shopping spree. It is advisable to get up early in the morning to take advantage of the great discounts, but if you do not desire to follow with the hassle, then you can find some of the Black Friday 2011 deals online.
The most popular categories for great discounts at Bells during the previous Black Friday shopping seasons were: pillows, mattress pads, sheets, shoes and sterling silver jewelry. And most likely, for this shopping season, Bealls will continue with the same strategy, offering deals for the above mentioned line of products.
Out of all of the above mention categories, shoes have the biggest share in sales. Bealls offers a large variety of brands and models and many shoe lovers usually follow Bealls in hope of purchasing a couple of new pairs. Among the popular brands which are being sold at Bealls, you might expect deals at: Mootsie Tootsie, Bay Studio, Skechers, Beartraps, White Mountain, New Balance, Nike, Avia, Easy Spirit, Shape Ups and LA Gear.
And if you desire to change the appearance and maybe improve the comfort of your bed, you might be interested in the bed related products to which you will find great deals during Black Friday 2011, as during the previous shopping seasons you could find great deals for sheets, blankets, comforters and pillows for twin, full, queen and king sized beds.
And in terms of jewelry, you most likely will find great deals for sterling silver jewelry which could make a great gift for a female person close to you, be it your girlfriend, fiancée, wife, mother or sister.
So, if you are in the south region of the US during Black Friday, and especially in Florida, you might desire to check out Bealls deals.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the days in which most desire to find the new laptop which they desire and Black Friday 2011 will not be an exception from the rule. And one of the most popular items which you might find on sale will be the Dell laptops.
During Black Friday 2011 and Cyber Monday 2011 you will most likely find at least 3 or 4 of the popular models marked down and you will most likely find great discounts at the most important retailers in the domain. You only need to keep alert and you will most probably be able to discover a deal for you.
Before we can make an actual prediction regarding Black Friday 2011, we should first take a look at the 2010 Black Friday offers for Dells laptops. The most popular sales and the biggest offers were for the Inspiron and XPS models which we compatible with Windows 7. These were the most popular deals:
- Dell Inspiron 12- $449.99
- Dell Inspiron 14R – $629.99
- Dell Inspiron 15R – $579.99
- Dell Inspiron 17R – $649.99
- Dell Inspiron Zeno HD – $559
- Dell Studio XPS 7100 – $799.99
- Dell XPS – $899.99
Currently, some of the most popular computers available on the market in terms of Dell laptops are the following:
- Dell D600 Laptop (1.6 GHz, 40GB HD, DVD/CD-RW)
- Dell D620 Laptop Duo Core with Windows XP
- Dell Inspiron 14R i14RN4110-8073DBK 14-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron 15R i15RN5110-7223DBK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron DUO iD-4495FNT Laptop with Docking Station (Foggy Night)
- Dell Inspiron i15R-526MRB 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mars Black)
- Dell Inspiron i17R-1713 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron i17R-6121DBK 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron N5030 iN5030-1723OBK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Obsidian Black)
- Dell Latitude D610-1.73 Laptop Wireless Computer (Refurbished)
- Dell Latitude D630 14.1-Inch Notebook Pc (Refurbished) Silver
- Dell XPS 15 X15-1024ELS Laptop (Elemental Silver)
- Dell XPS 15z XPS15z-72ELS Laptop (Elemental Silver)
You will most likely be able to find great deals for the Dell laptops which we have presented above and the most sought items will most probably be the laptops which are compatible with the new Windows 8.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the days in which most desire to find the new laptop which they desire and Black Friday 2011 will not be an exception from the rule. And one of the most popular items which you might find on sale will be the Dell laptops.
During Black Friday 2011 and Cyber Monday 2011 you will most likely find at least 3 or 4 of the popular models marked down and you will most likely find great discounts at the most important retailers in the domain. You only need to keep alert and you will most probably be able to discover a deal for you.
Before we can make an actual prediction regarding Black Friday 2011, we should first take a look at the 2010 Black Friday offers for Dells laptops. The most popular sales and the biggest offers were for the Inspiron and XPS models which we compatible with Windows 7. These were the most popular deals:
- Dell Inspiron 12- $449.99
- Dell Inspiron 14R – $629.99
- Dell Inspiron 15R – $579.99
- Dell Inspiron 17R – $649.99
- Dell Inspiron Zeno HD – $559
- Dell Studio XPS 7100 – $799.99
- Dell XPS – $899.99
Currently, some of the most popular computers available on the market in terms of Dell laptops are the following:
- Dell D600 Laptop (1.6 GHz, 40GB HD, DVD/CD-RW)
- Dell D620 Laptop Duo Core with Windows XP
- Dell Inspiron 14R i14RN4110-8073DBK 14-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron 15R i15RN5110-7223DBK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron DUO iD-4495FNT Laptop with Docking Station (Foggy Night)
- Dell Inspiron i15R-526MRB 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mars Black)
- Dell Inspiron i17R-1713 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron i17R-6121DBK 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)
- Dell Inspiron N5030 iN5030-1723OBK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Obsidian Black)
- Dell Latitude D610-1.73 Laptop Wireless Computer (Refurbished)
- Dell Latitude D630 14.1-Inch Notebook Pc (Refurbished) Silver
- Dell XPS 15 X15-1024ELS Laptop (Elemental Silver)
- Dell XPS 15z XPS15z-72ELS Laptop (Elemental Silver)
You will most likely be able to find great deals for the Dell laptops which we have presented above and the most sought items will most probably be the laptops which are compatible with the new Windows 8.
Even though is still early autumn and quite warm outside, winter will soon be knocking at the door and the demand for warm clothing will increase. And one of the popular items for Black Friday 2011will remain the sporting goods such as jackets or fleece. And one of the biggest retailers when it comes to this segment it Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Dick’s Sporting Goods or popularly known as Dick’s an American sporting goods and retail industry company. The company is known for the numerous products offered in the domain as well as the vast participation in the domain. It had 451 stores in 42 states in July 2011 and still growing.
Dick’s Sporting Goods specializes in the commercialization of: athletic apparel, outwear, sportswear, athletic shoes, casual footwear, boots, fitness equipment, golf apparel, golf accessories, golfing equipment, bicycles and outdoor equipment.
In 2010 Dick’s Sporting Goods had $ 4.41 billion in revenue, $2.25 billion in assets and a total equity of $1.08 billion.
From all of their products, one of the most sought for this 2011 Black Friday will be the North Face brand from different sporting categories and in particular sports goods. The most popular items which will be sought for Black Friday 2011 will be:
- Men’s Jacket
- Apex Bionic
- Apex Climateblock Full Zip
- Better Than Naked
- Denali
- Denali Hoodie
- Kishtwar
- Makalu Insulated
- Mountain Guide
- Mountain Light
- Pamir Windstopper
- Plasma Thermal
- Potosi
- Pumori
- Scythe
- Stormy Trail
- Varius Guide
- Venture
-
- Women’s Jacket
- Apex Climateblock Full Zip
- Apex Elevation
- Better Than Naked
- Blue Ridge Paclite
- Crimptastic Hybrid
- Denali
- Osito
- Oso
- Pink Ribbok Khumby
- Pink Ribbon Denali
- Plasma Thermal
- Resolve
- Scythe
- Thunder Vest
-
Dick’s Sporting Goods often offers considerable discounts on Black Friday and we expect this to continue for Black Friday 2011 and to follow the previous year’s offers. Last year Dick’s Sporting Goods offered a free $20 coupon with any North Face jacket which was priced over $150 from North Face or Columbia. And since most of the jackets being over $150, it was quite of a discount. We expect that this year you will also be able to receive $20-$30 gift coupon with any $150 or $160 jacket from North Face.
So, as you can see, you can easily find a jacket for your husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend for Christmas at Dick’s Sporting Goods, at discount prices even for the most popular brands.
Wait, what? Our plans for holiday are already needed? Isn’t it still summer?
That’s right, it’s that time again planning for the holiday, and in the search marketing world there are just a few days that become critical to this whole process. Those days are Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Green Monday, and increasingly Free Shipping Day.
The comScore data above shows some of the growth in retail spending by each of these days. We’re talking about some staggering numbers. As a result, it’s critical to think about three main areas as you plan for November through the end of the year.
1. Keyword Research
Think through variations of keywords that people might be searching for. Are terms like “Black Friday shoe deals” right for what you have to offer? If so, it makes sense to add them to your keyword list; if not, build out your negatives.
Keyword CPC’s increase quickly. If you haven’t done the necessary keyword research, you may get caught with traffic you didn’t budget for. Two great tools are your historical search query reports and Google’s Insights for Search to gauge the volume bump.
2. Search Experience
Research shows that for Cyber Monday the purchases consumers are making are for things they weren’t planning on buying for more than 24 hours vs. Black Friday where purchases are a bit more planned out. This means that how you leverage keyword selection, ad copy, and landing page experiences will influence consumers to make purchases in real-time.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Are you cross-selling on your landing page, or within your site?
- Are you leveraging ad copy that calls out the duration of your offers?
- Are you using ad sitelinks, and map integrations to facilitate consumer choice and demand?
- Do you have mobile specific campaigns that leverage click-to-call, or mobile optimized landing pages?
- Do you have an inventory management process that will help you pull down ads, offers, or keywords when items are out of stock?
3. Impact to Offline
While this period is increasingly growing online, there is a direct correlation to offline sales. Consumers are looking for deals, and heading into stores.
Source: Mastercard Spending Pulse 2010 Actuals
You can see above the spike in offline sales on Black Friday. It's important to note that your search programs are key to driving awareness and research for these offline events.
This is even more important if you think about your mobile campaigns. This year is likely to be thebiggest ever for mobile traffic as people research while in store to validate they have the best deal. Consider optimizing or valuing store locator visits during these dates vs. simply online orders.
Reduced PRICE for PlayStation 3 250GB Black Friday Sale Black Friday 2011 PlayStation 3 250GB Deals PlayStation 3 250GB Black Friday Offers.
I purchased the PlayStation 3 250GB Black Friday Sale for my son. We are very satisfied with our purchase with worth price.
Today Amazon Price Discounted to Very Low, Check Price Now!
AMAZON.COM/PlayStation-3-250GB-Black-Friday-2011-Sale
Customer Reviews ###
“The PlayStation 3 250GB Black Friday Sale is very quite compared to other game consoles. I have it hooked up to a 28″ HD TV and the graphics are fantastic. I also use it for limited Web surfing and watching DVD’s. Some games that are made to work on different game consoles, seem to be a little buggy and freeze more on the PS3. This may be due to not being originally designed for the PlayStation 3 250GB Black Friday Sale. The controller feels nice and is easy to use with good control of the buttons, except the R2 and L2 triggers are rounded down at the bottom.”
“I bought this PlayStation 3 250GB Black Friday Sale because my original 60 gig ps3 broke. so far i am loving this ps3 and no probloms yet. but i just have to get used to the fact that i can’t play my ps2 or ps1 games on the ps3 anymore.”
Today Amazon Price Discounted to Very Low, Check Price Now!