Apparently, there is no such thing as launching a winter holiday shopping deal too early. Thus far, early season promotions—layaway especially—have done brisk business for retailers like Walmart and Toys R Us.
gifts
When Did We Start Counting Down the Days Until Black Friday?
Only 42 days left until … the day you buy gifts that you’re supposed to hand out several weeks later. Black Friday used to serve as an unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season. The big day full of sales was a reminder …
Why Black Friday Will Be Subdued, and Cyber Monday Will Break Records
Black Friday has widely been called “the busiest shopping day of the year.” Often, this just isn’t true—the Saturday before Christmas usually yields the most holiday purchases. Quibbles aside, this year, Black Friday is being …
Millions on Pet Halloween Costumes? Why We Spend More and More on Pets
American consumers are expected to collectively spend $370 million on pet costumes this Halloween. That’s $70 million more than last year, and a whopping 40% increase compared to 2010. And how’s this for perspective: Americans …
Nothing Special about Retailers’ Early ‘Black Friday,’ ‘Cyber Monday’ Specials
There is only one true Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and one Cyber Monday (the Monday after that). But that hasn’t stopped retailers from using the terms—which have evolved into serving as catnip for shoppers—to apply to all sorts of other sales and promotions throughout the year. Often, though, the deals are a dime a dozen.
Ouch! Majority of ‘Hot’ Holiday Toys Cost $50 or More
We may still have over a month until it’s Halloween, and another couple of months must pass before it’s Christmas, but Toys R Us just released its Holiday Hot Toy List. Perhaps more surprising than how early the list is being …
Happy Holidays for Gamers: Price Wars Expected for Video-Game Consoles
Gamers won’t be able to get their hands on the new Nintendo Wii U games system until November 18, but preorders from some major retailers for the $300 consoles have already sold out. Discounts for the Wii U are unlikely in the …
Does It Make Any Sense to Reserve ‘Hot’ Holiday Toys?
Toys R Us just introduced a new “Hot Toy Reservation” program for the upcoming holiday shopping season. The retailer promises the new reservation system will put “an end to frantic searching in the days leading up to Christmas” …
Will Inflationary Tooth Fairy Payments Ever Be Stopped?
According to surveys and anecdotal evidence, there has been a significant rise in generosity at the high end of the Tooth Fairy payout scale. Instances of kids receiving $5, $10, even $20 per tooth appear to be increasing, and as …
Last-Minute Father’s Day Shopping Guide: A Guide for What Not to Buy
Every June we’re flooded with Father’s Day gift guides. While some of these ideas are reasonable, other gift recommendations don’t seem as if they were actually recommended by any dad on the planet. Bearing in mind that most …
Appreciating Fathers on Father’s Day 2012, by the Numbers
Dads today are probably more like Homer Simpson than Ward Cleaver. But fathers do more around the house and are far more involved with their children than their fathers were. So show a little respect and appreciation, huh?
When Dad Says ‘Don’t Waste Your Money’ on Father’s Day Gifts, He Means It
Why is it that it’s so difficult to buy gifts for dads on Father’s Day? The answer, which many marketers and quite a few sons and daughters don’t want to hear, is that plenty of dads truly don’t want anything that’s bought in a store.
