The next J.Crew warehouse sale will be held this weekend, May 25-26. Click here to see a map and get directions to the Lynchburg warehouse, or call 434-316-6324 to get more information.

To get an idea of what this sale is like, read about my experience in this blog post.

The Sears location in the New River Valley Mall is scheduled to close mid-July. Photo by Travis Williams | The Burgs

The Christiansburg Sears located in the New River Valley Mall is closing in mid-July, which means from now until that point you should be able to find some great deals.

Currently just about everything in the store is on sale, but no refunds or exchanges will be accepted — all sales are final. The store is still open during its regular hours and Shop Your Way Rewards members can still earn points on all purchases.

Right now fashion apparel and footwear are 30 percent off in the store, but discounts are sure to get deeper as we approach July.

According to this ad, the Christiansburg location is not participating in any Sears circulars you may receive in the Sunday paper and the auto center is not participating in any sales events.

Spring is here and that means your opportunities to shop are even more plentiful. Yard sales, flea markets, sidewalk sales and open houses are popping up everywhere. Locally, you can count on a few big events year after year and new prospects to explore as well.

Hit the road this weekend or mark your calendars now for these shopping events:

This weekend the J. Crew warehouse in Lynchburg is hosting another sale. The warehouse, at 25 Millrace Drive, will be open today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find more information and read about my experience at this sale on the blog, or contact the warehouse at 434-316-6324.

Another great opportunity to find some bargains this weekend is at the Sam’s Club Open House. This weekend only, the retailer is allowing non-members to shop or try various food samples with no strings attached. Samples will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and Roanoke store hours are today from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Current Sam’s Club members may want to steer clear of the store this weekend if possible — it’s going to get crowded.

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse will host its next sale May 6-11 and May 13-18. This warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave. in Roanoke, and sale hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers will find fragrances for men and women, skincare products, makeup and more at this sale. It is important to note that no one under the age of 16 is allowed in or on the premises of this sale. For more information, call 983-6400.

Next Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Roanoke Civic Center will be hosting the Monster Indoor Flea Market. About 100 vendors will fill the Special Events Center, and seller spaces are still available for $25 if you’re ready to make a few bucks off of your clutter. For more information, call 853-5483.

On May 11, North Cross School will host its annual Big Flea event. At this event you can find donated furniture, large appliances, household items and clothing for sale to benefit the school. Donations for the sale will be accepted through May 9, and if you have large items, pick-up may be arranged by calling Jenn Mitchell at 230-8584. Kids can also have some fun at this sale by participating in field day events like carnival games, a dunking booth and more. Concessions will be available for purchase. The sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and field day activities will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Another flea event that’s being held for a good cause is the 17th Annual Allstate Flea Market and Craft Event to benefit the March of Dimes. This event is also being held on May 11 between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. (the rain date is June 8) outside the Salem Civic Center. Shoppers can usually find between 100 and 150 vendors at this event. Interested in selling? Vendors may rent two parking spaces for a $35 donation or four spaces for a $55 donation. For more information, call 776-6163.

Global Partners in Peace and Development is hosting an event called Proceeds for Poverty May 16-18 at the former Kroger location located on Orange Avenue in Roanoke behind the KFC and Denny’s. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Global Partners will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from this sale to one of its four causes: clean water wells, small businesses, orphaned children and food programs. Items in good working condition (excluding clothes, entertainment centers and any TVs that are not flat screen) will be collected for the sale May 13-15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. behind the building. If you are moving or have large furniture or appliances ready to donate now, call Roy Carter at 537-2070 to arrange a pickup. For more information about the sale, visit www.gpartners.org.

This time of year you can also find flea markets at local churches and businesses. Many are submitted to The Roanoke Times at calendar.roanoke.com. Enter “flea” or “sale” in the search bar to find other events.

If you prefer adventuring around town and hitting yard sales all weekend, consider checking out the yard sale map on Roanoke.com. You can plan your route with this nifty tool at yardsales.roanoke.com.

Yard sale hosts may post the address, hours and a short description of what they offer on this page, and you may also get directions to each location. If you’re interested in posting your own yard sale on the map, you may do so at the web address above or by calling 981-3311.

You can also stay up-to-date with the local yard sale scene by signing up for text alerts from The Roanoke Times. Smartphone users can text “yardsales” to 96362 to sign up. Once you’re on the list you’ll receive up to four texts per month with a weekly update about yard sales on the map and a link to the mobile-friendly page (which is: http://bit.ly/ZeruCj).

What are your favorite local shopping events?

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse will host its next sale May 6-11 and May 13-18. The warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave. in Roanoke, and sale hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shoppers at this sale will find fragrances for men and women, skincare products, makeup and more. No one under the age of 16 is allowed in or on the premises of this sale.

For more information, call 983-6400.

This weekend, April 27 and 28, the J.Crew warehouse in Lynchburg will be hosting another warehouse/sample sale.

Check out the details below, and for more information call (434) 316-6324:

A new warehouse sale in Lynchburg begins today and runs through April 21.

Some brands available at this sale include: Orvis, New Balance, Wolverine, Castaway Nantucket Island, Patagonia and more. The names of some other brands participating were not allowed to be announced.

This sale includes apparel for men, women, and children, work boots, running shoes and more. The hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Brand Name Liquidations is hosting this sale at 7401 Timberlake Road in Lynchburg. For more information, visit the company’s website or Facebook page.

REBECCA BARNETT | The Roanoke Times
“I’m not a rummager, but this has been fun,” said Virginia Thornton of Lynchburg, as she shopped at a Vineyard Vines warehouse sale on Nov. 14.

You may remember way back in November I wrote about Vineyard Vines having its first warehouse sale — or “Whalehouse Sale,” as the company likes to call the events — in Lynchburg.

 Well, the first time must have been a success, because they’re coming back.

Thursday, March 21 through Saturday, March 30 you can shop the sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

This sale will be held in the same location, at 7401 Timberlake Road (the former Lowes) in Lynchburg.

For more information, click here.

The March sale dates for the Elizabeth Arden warehouse have been released.

You can shop now through March 23, and then again March 25-30. The warehouse is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information call 983-6594, or click the “A” on the map below for directions to the sale.

View Larger Map

Start your holiday weekend off right with these new printable coupons:

Arby’s is offering customers Reuben sandwiches buy one, get one free Friday through Sunday with this printable coupon.

If you’ve already caught spring fever and can’t wait to get out in the yard, be sure to print out this Lowe’s coupon offering $10 off a $50 purchase. The coupon doesn’t expire until May 18, but you never know when it will disappear online.

Starbucks is offering customers a free tall caramel or hazelnut macchiato with this printable coupon. You’ve got some time to use it, too — this coupon doesn’t expire until March 31.
Meanwhile, at Barnes & Noble Starbucks locations you can get espresso beverages buy one, get one free with this printable coupon from opening until noon, now through March 31. (There are also some other B&N coupons at that link.)

Olive Garden has a sweet new deal for families. Click here to print a coupon offering a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entree. You can get up to two kid’s meals free with the purchase of two adult meals per coupon, and it doesn’t expire until March 21.

Kohl’s is having a Friends and Family Sale this weekend, and you can save even more with this printable coupon offering an additional 20% off your entire purchase in stores and online. This coupon is valid Friday through Sunday.

This weekend at Macy’s you can get an additional 10% to 15% off select sale and clearance purchases with this printable coupon. This coupon expires on Sunday.

Hungry? Denny’s is celebrating bacon in its restaurants right now, and you can sign up here to get a coupon for two free bacon strips next time you dine. You can also use this printable coupon to get 20% off your entire check. This coupon is good through March 23.

Craving something different? Smokey Bones is offering customers $5 off a $15 purchase with this printable coupon, which is valid through Sunday.

If you’re thinking of hitting the mall this weekend, be sure to print this coupon from Aeropostale offering $10 off any purchase of $50 or more.  This deal is good through Sunday.

Don’t forget this printable coupon from The Limited too — you can use it to get $50 off a $150 purchase, $30 off a $100 purchase or $15 off a $30 purchase. This coupon expires March 19.

This is a fun freebie from Ulta: Print this coupon and you can get a free travel size of Redken hair spray. This coupon is good through Saturday, and no other purchase is necessary.
Additionally, you can use this printable coupon at Ulta to save $3.50 off of a purchase of $10 or more now through March 30.

Also, don’t forget about the return of JC Penney coupons, which I posted about yesterday.

Know of any other great coupons I missed? Share them!

This Saturday and Sunday the J.Crew warehouse will be hosting another sale.

See the flier below for all of the details, and for more information call 434-316-6324.

Good news — you don’t have to wait until Sunday for your coupon fix. On page 5 of today’s newspaper you’ll find three Stein Mart coupons.

*30% off entire purchase of red dot clearance
*20% off any one sale item (there are two of these)

All three coupons are good today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stop in for savings up to 80% off the retailer’s original discount prices.

Have you ever attended an LFA event? Courtesy photo.

The popular LFA Kids Consignment event is being held this Saturday, March 2, through March 10.

There will be over 450 consignors at this event, so if you’re in need of some new gear for the kiddos be sure to stop by.

The biggest savings will be found March 8-10, when the prices are discounted even more.
*March 8: merchandise will be discounted 40%
*March 9: merchandise will be discounted 50%
*March 10 merchandise will be discounted 75%

Of course, if you’re looking for something specific I would recommend visiting the sale early — things will get scooped up pretty fast.

Here are the specifics:

What:
LFA Kids Consignment Event
When:
*March 2 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*March 3 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*March 4-9 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*March 10 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
Where:
3419 Orange Ave., Roanoke (former Kroger location)
Contact:
www.lfakids.com

Have you been to this sale? Tell me about your experience in the comments section below.

This Saturday and Sunday the J.Crew warehouse in Lynchburg will be hosting another sale.

Here are the details:

When:
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where:
25 Millrace Drive, Lynchburg

Contact:
(434) 316-6324

The stock of this sale will be replenished over the two days, so there’s no particular reason to get there early unless you’re looking for a wedding dress (sometimes those are available, sometimes they’re not, unfortunately you don’t know until you go).

Also, all sales are final and there are no dressing rooms, so wear clothing that pieces can be slipped over to try on.

Click & save now at Walmart.com. Illustration by Rick Nease | Detroit Free Press

Finding deals on gift cards is one of my very favorite things — it’s like getting free money.

This deal by Walmart is especially nice,  it’s like cash back in your pocket and there are no hoops to jump through.

Head over to Walmart.com now and you’ll find these eGift cards on sale for 10% off:
*Domino’s Pizza $20 eGift Card (down to $18)
*Regal Movie $25 eGift Card (down to $22.50)
*Applebee’s $25 eGift Card (down to $22.50)
*Spa Week $25 eGift Card (down to $22.50)
*Logan’s Roadhouse $25 eGift Card (down to $22.50)
*Logan’s Roadhouse $50 eGift Card (down to $45)

These eCards would make great gifts, or buy one (or two…) for yourself. Each card will be delivered via email.

There’s no telling when this deal will expire, so if you’re interested make your purchase ASAP.

The As They Grow Consignment Sale is being held Saturday and Sunday at the NRV Fairgrounds in Dublin.

Items for sale include: Clothing (baby to small adult sizes), baby gear, furniture for kids, toys, board games, books, movies and more.

In addition to the consignment items, some vendors, like Tupperware and Amway, will also have booths.

Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, visit www.astheygrowconsignment.com.

**Don’t forget to enter the Valentine’s Day-themed MAC giveaway. Enter by Monday here**

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse is having another sale just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The warehouse is open today through Saturday, and then again Feb. 11-16.

Sale hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All sales are final, and no one under 16 is permitted inside the warehouse.

The warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave., Roanoke. For more information, call 983-6594.

Click the map below for directions to the sale.

View Larger Map

Another J. Crew sample sale (or warehouse sale, whichever title you prefer) is coming our way this weekend.

Shop the sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the J. Crew warehouse location in Lynchburg (25 Millrace Drive).

I’ve had tons of luck at these sales, but you never know what you’re going to find. The selection changes at each sale, though they do replenish the stock (so no need to get there early).
Just beware: All sales are final and there are no dressing rooms. I suggest you wear something that can fit under any merchandise you choose to try on.

For more information, call the store at 434-316-6324  or check out the flier below:

While making my usual trip to CVS this past weekend I saw something very exciting: makeup clearance.

Avid CVS shoppers may remember this from the past. Throughout the beauty department there are little stickers everywhere offering 25% to 75% off select products. This adds up to huge savings, especially if you have coupons to stack with the discounts.

Tons of popular brands were included in the sale. A few I noticed were Physicians Formula, Revlon, Covergirl, Dove, Herbal Essences and Sally Hansen.

I made some purchases that I would usually consider big splurges: Nexxus hair products and Organix lotion. The lotion even had a coupon for $2 off attached to the bottle.

This sale and the selection will vary by store, but it’s definitely worth checking out. You could find some awesome stocking stuffers or gifts to hold on to for later.

If you find some great deals, tell me about them in the comments section below.

If you’re starting off your weekend by shopping or dining out you might want to pick up today’s paper. Here are some of the goodies inside:

Macy’s
* 20% off select sale and clarance apparel and jewelry, and 15% off all sale and clearance watches and home items (valid today through Monday)
* $10 off a purchase of $25 or more (valid today and Saturday)

Stein Mart
* 20% off any sale item today and Saturday (there are two of these coupons)
* 40% off entire purchase of red dot clearance today and Saturday
* 50% off entire purchase of home red dot clearance today and Saturday

Frank’s Italian Restaurant (5933 Williamson Road, Roanoke)
* 2 slices of pizza (one topping) and a drink for $6
* Choice of pasta, salad and a drink for $10
* 2 large one topping pizzas and a two-liter of soda for $17

Ruby Tuesday
* $10 off two entrees (valid through Dec. 23)

Cinnabon (NRV Mall)
*$1 off a Classic Cinnabon (valid through Dec. 31)

Ben & Jerry’s (NRV and Valley View)
* $1 off a small or large ice cream (valid through Dec. 31)

The Elizabeth Arden warehouse in Roanoke is hosting one last sale before the holiday season comes to an end.

Today through Dec. 22 you can shop for makeup, fragrances and more — I’ve found makeup/travel bags there in the past, as well as some nice totes and gift sets. It’s a great place to get cologne for men, too.

The hours of the sale are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave., Roanoke. Click the map below for directions:

View Larger Map

For more information, click here or call 983-6594.

Note: No one under the age of 16 is permitted in the warehouse, so have a plan for the kiddos before you start shopping.

If you’ve been thinking about shopping a J.Crew warehouse sale for some gifts, this is your last chance.

Here are the details:
Hours
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Location
25 Millrace Drive, Lynchburg (click the map for directions)

Contact
(434) 316-6324

 
View Larger Map

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse sale is going on now through Dec. 1, and it’s a great place to pick up gifts for the holidays. Some items you can find on sale include fragrances, make up and travel bags. The ladies love it, but there are also plenty of gifts for men!

The warehouse will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be another sale Dec. 10 through Dec. 22. This sale will have the same hours.

The warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Avenue, Roanoke. Call 983-6594 for more information.

Note: All sales are final and no one under the age of 16 is permitted inside the warehouse.

Click the map below for directions:

View Larger Map

REBECCA BARNETT | The Roanoke Times, November 14, 2012 Rodney Davis of Forest is CEO of Brand Name Liquidations. His company hosted a warehouse sale on Nov. 14 in Lynchburg.

Warehouse sales come in all varieties: furniture at the Grand Home Furnishings outlet in Roanoke, cosmetics and fragrances at the Elizabeth Arden warehouse in Roanoke and clothing and accessories at the J.Crew warehouse in Lynchburg. If you’re a fan of warehouse-style sales, you’ll be thrilled to hear about a new liquidation company based in nearby Lynchburg, Brand Name Liquidations (BNLIQ).

Rodney Davis of Forest previously worked with J.Crew on its warehouse sales in the area, but now he is CEO of BNLIQ.

Drawing from his past retail work, Davis and his business partner Jim Rufus, who also works in commercial real estate and with a company called Whole Sale Food Group, created BNLIQ to be the liaison between shoppers and companies that want to have sales. The website states that BNLIQ “liquidate overstocks, returns, samples, damages via warehouse and sample sales on your behalf, while ensuring your brand is protected.”

Brand protection is key for Davis. He aims to keep the integrity of a well-known brand while still hosting a sale with deep discounts. For this reason, the location of each sale will be a respectful distance from any wholesalers and shops who sell the brand in the area. Shoppers can expect many sales to be held locally, though.

Can pop up anywhere

From Nov. 9 through 18, Davis hosted a Vineyard Vines sale in the old Lowe’s location off of Timberlake Road in Lynchburg. This was an appropriate distance from retailers, like Alligator Alley in Roanoke, who sell Vineyard Vines products regularly. He has no interest in competing with retailers who are selling the merchandise full price.

“Typically I just rent an empty space and set up shop,” Davis explained. You never know where his next sale might pop up.

There’s also no set schedule for the sales, as it generally depends on the seasonality of the merchandise and how much a company has to offer. But there are times of year when you’re more likely to see the sales.

“Fall is a really good time because of college kids, which is another reason the Lynchburg area works,” he said. Lynchburg is home to Liberty University and Lynchburg College — full of potential shoppers.

Don’t expect BNLIQ to work only with large apparel companies, either. Davis said he has “a lot of irons in the fire,” but wasn’t ready to release any prospective clients. He is open to hosting a variety of sales, though.

“We will work with smaller companies to do online flash sales and other things,” he said. “If they don’t have a huge amount of inventory it’s not a problem, we can still work with it.”

Loyal shoppers

Shoppers can sign up online to be notified of sales. So far the company has a database of close to 5,000 names. But the advertising for each sale will be different. Some clients are very brand oriented and prefer to advertise simply by word of mouth. If you’re trendy enough to know the brand, you’ll find out about the sale.

The savings at each sale can vary, but Davis said he would estimate most prices can be 75 percent to 80 percent off retail prices.

At the Vineyard Vines sale I attended, merchandise was an additional 40 percent off of the last marked price (which was usually at least 50 percent off). The sale had a very similar feel to J.Crew warehouse sales in Lynchburg, with merchandise set out in cardboard boxes or hung on racks. It’s definitely an atmosphere for the biggest of bargain hunters.

With a small laugh Davis said he can usually tell within a few seconds whether these sales are for customers who walk through the door.

Many shoppers at the Vineyard Vines sale were repeat customers and visited the sale numerous times.

Moms like Cami Wirt of Forest and Virginia Thornton of Lynchburg were shopping for their college-aged sons. And then there was Crystal Gerard of Charlottesville, who met Davis at one of his J.Crew sales and attends any sale he hosts.

Around lunchtime on Nov. 14, the women were all hovering around waiting for the next shipment to arrive — the boxes had been cleaned out of bowties.

“He runs a really great sale,” Gerard said. “It’s just fabulous. People love the bowties.”

Davis and Gerard both cautioned shoppers to dress appropriately and come prepared. There are no dressing rooms at warehouse liquidation sales, so many women opt for form-fitting workout apparel or leggings that clothing can be slipped over. With most companies only offering purchases as final sale (no returns or exchanges), it’s important to know the fit before you buy. Bringing snacks and water is also important.

Davis also warned that shoppers should be prepared to spend some time at the sale.

“It’s almost like a treasure hunt,” he said.

The next sale hosted by BNLIQ will be Moore & Giles, a leather company based out of Lynchburg. This sale will be held on Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1081 Tannery Row in Forest.

For more information about BNLIQ and to sign up for the company’s mailing list, visit www.bnliq.com.

Here’s a press release I received from the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control about some specials being offered by Virginia ABC stores on Black Friday. If you’re planning to throw a holiday party or have a beverage connoisseur in the family, it’s a great time to stock up!

Richmond, Va. – Virginia ABC will join other retailers by offering extended hours and discounted prices on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

Most of Virginia ABC’s 338 retail stores will open at 9 a.m. Five stores in Williamsburg, Richmond and Northern Virginia will open at 7 a.m.

All stores will offer a 25 to 50 percent reduction (or more) on selected items as well as 10 percent off any purchase totaling $50 or more (pretax).  Early morning specials will remain in effect Nov. 23 at all stores until 3 p.m.

“This is a unique opportunity for our retail customers to purchase quality items at reduced prices,” ABC Chairman J. Neal Insley said. “For individuals interested in trading up to more premium brands for themselves or as gifts, the discount will help offset the higher cost.”

No product will be excluded from the 10 percent discount.  Shoppers spending the minimum $50 will receive the discount on everything from miniatures to top-shelf specialty items.  During the holiday, ABC stocks gift packages from a variety of vendors that will be included as well.  As is true with most retailers, store gift cards, a popular stocking stuffer, will not be discounted.

“ABC encourages Virginians to drink responsibly.  As the holiday season approaches, we should be especially mindful of this,” Insley said.   

Stores that will open at 7 a.m. include Willow Lawn, Richmond; Monticello Avenue, Williamsburg; Sully Plaza, Chantilly; and two Fairfax stores in Fairfax Court and Fair Lakes Shopping Centers.

Check out your paper today for a couple early Thanksgiving treats.

On page 4 you’ll find a Macy’s Wow! Pass offering an extra 20% off select sale and clearance apparel and jewelry. You can also get an extra 15% off all sale and clearance watches and select home items.
This coupon is good today and tomorrow only.

Then, on page 10 you’ll find a coupon from Belk offering 20% off select sale purchases store wide, and 15% off home and shoes when you use your Belk card. With any other form of payment and the coupon you’ll save 15% off select sale purchases storewide and 10% off home and shoes.
This coupon is good today and tomorrow only.

My mom loves to go shopping on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. The mall is empty and you can find some great deals.

When do you plan to shop over the next few days?

Now, this is some Black Friday shopping I could get behind.

For more information, call: (434) 316-6324

Brad Wilson, 32, founded BradsDeals (www.bradsdeals.com), a website specializing in price comparisons, coupons and deals, in 2001 as a self-proclaimed “broke college student” at UNC Chapel Hill. Since then BradsDeals, now based in Chicago, has exploded and expanded into a second site and smartphone app devoted to the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday.

Shoppers can visit Black Friday by BradsDeals (www.blackfriday2012.com) to view leaked ads, store hours and some of the best deals of the big day as chosen by the site. And it’s never too early to start your research; in fact, Wilson says that’s key to having a successful shopping trip. 

“It’s really the one day a year where we get this kind of transparency where we can see what the stores are doing this far in advance. Start researching and make a plan,” he said.

So before you lie down for a long nap after dinner Thursday, plan your route and gather your ads. But Wilson also warns shoppers not to forget about the stores who aren’t advertising.

How to snag the big buys

“It’s really a retail-wide event. The big box stores get the most attention for putting out large ad circulars, but you can basically shop anywhere and they’ll be having some sort of promotion,” he explained.

Some of the most popular items that will be sought this year will include TVs, Kitchen Aid mixers, Dyson vacuums and apparel. BradsDeals tracks the number of clicks on products, and last Black Friday, televisions received four out of every five clicks on the site.

But just because TVs and electronics get the most attention doesn’t mean they’re the best deals available. Wilson suggests being open to any deals you see. Plus, prices will usually go back up for a couple weeks in mid-December.

Avoid the rush

Shoppers can expect the usual madness in stores this coming year, but most retailers are taking steps to reduce the rush.

Stores are staggering sale hours more this year, offering certain promotions for only a couple hours throughout the day, and some will be handing out tickets to shoppers who arrive first.

“In years past you got one bite at the apple,” Wilson said. “Now you get two or three at least if you incorporate sale times.”

The limited quantities of some of the best deals are the main cause of stress and conflict for shoppers, and this year Walmart has a solution.

“For the first time Walmart has guaranteed availability for their biggest deals,” Wilson explained. “The limited quantity thing has been a staple of the Black Friday phenomenon, but Walmart has said that anyone who’s there between 10 and 11 p.m. on Thursday will get a voucher for their best products.”

He believes that will be a game changer for the big day.

Watch out for warranties

The top concern for shoppers this year shouldn’t be return policies, as most stores extend those during the holiday season, but store warranties.

“We make a lot of big ticket purchases on [Black] Friday, and you obviously shouldn’t buy the store warranty because it’s really overpriced. Most products we buy come with a one-year warranty,” Wilson explained.

Instead of the store warranty, he suggested shoppers check with their credit card company to see if they offer extended warranty protection. Many American Express cards and VISA Signature cards offer this service.

With extended warranty protection, credit card companies can reimburse you the purchase price of products bought with select cards if the items break. Wilson explained that in many cases you end up with more money than the product costs to replace due to depreciation. If you have a card that offers this service, use it for your Black Friday purchases.

Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday

Even though Black Friday dwarfs the number of purchases made on Cyber Monday, Wilson says it’s one of his favorite ways to shop.

“The discount of online coupon codes jumps by about 5 percent that day. Pricing is a little better, discounts are aggressive and there’s a big sales tax benefit for many,” he said. “If I had to pick one day to shop, I’d pick Cyber Monday.”

While it’s true that some of the big door buster sales on Black Friday aren’t replicated online, many of the other bargains throughout the day could be.

 “If I was standing in line on Black Friday, I’d be on my phone cruising the Internet to find the same items I’m shopping for to see if I can find them for a similar price,” he said. 

What are you shopping for on Black Friday, and which stores do you plan to visit?

The Grand Home Furnishings Warehouse sale I blogged about last week has been extended through Sunday.

You can now shop today through Saturday from 10 a.m. to  6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

For more information, click the link above or call 777-4971.

If you missed the last Elizabeth Arden Warehouse Sale no worries, you have two more opportunities to shop before Christmas.

The first is today through Nov. 21.
The warehouse will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The second sale will be Dec. 10 through Dec. 22. This sale will have the same hours.

The warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Avenue, Roanoke. Call 983-6594 for more information.

Note: All sales are final and no one under the age of 16 is permitted inside the warehouse.

Click the map below for directions:

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Today through Sunday, Nov. 18 Brand Name Liquidators is hosting a Vineyard Vines Warehouse Sale.

The sale is being held at 7401 Timberlake Road in Lynchburg (formerly Lowes).

Click the map below for directions.

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Sale hours are:
Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

For more information, click here.

If this sale is anything like the J.Crew warehouse sales in Lynchburg there should be some major bargains to be found. I’ll be visiting the location and speaking to the company next week, so look for a story in the future.

Today through Monday shoppers can enjoy the popular Grand Home Furnishings Warehouse Sale, where you can find discounts up to 87% on all kinds of furniture.

The hours are today through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Here’s a breakdown on some of the deals:
* Sofas start at $198
* Recliners start at $277
* Leather sofas start at $298
* Master bedrooms start at $366
* Futons start at $199
* Dinette furniture starts at $158
* Children’s bedroom pieces start at $178
* Outdoor furniture starts at $98
* Mattress sets start att $99

A few notes about the sale: everything sold is in “as-is” condition, all sales are final, financing is available, there are no layaways (you must pick up your purchase at the time of sale or within one week of purchase) and delivery is available.

The warehouse is located at 1221 Rhodes Avenue, Roanoke. For more information, call 777-4971 or click here.

Click on the map below for directions.

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Tuesday is Senior Day at Belk, so shoppers 55 and older can grab some extra savings.

Check out page 8 of today’s paper for a coupon offering even more discounts.

Here’s the deal:
By using your Belk card and the coupon you can save 20% off regular and sale priced purchases with limited exclusions, 15% off home and shoe purchases and 10% off electronics and coffee purchases.
With any other form of payment and the coupon you can save 15% off regular and sale priced purchases with limited exclusions and 10% off home and shoe purchases.

This coupon isn’t currently available online to be printed, so be sure you pick up a copy of the paper if you’re interested in the deal.