December 27, 2007Happy ReturnsChristmas is over, and you’re likely still cleaning up leftover gift wrap and storing away new presents. Even today, some Roanoke area shopping centers appeared to be bustling with people who have taken the week off from work to nab after-Christmas deals, return items or spend prized gift cards. The National Retail Federation reported in a survey last month that people are returning less gifts each year because of the popularity of gift cards. But retailers’ return polices are becoming stricter by the year. Check out this story for specifics. Meanwhile, keep in mind a few of these tips for happy returns from Consumer Reports:
December 21, 2007The shopping clock is tickingAt 10 p.m. Thursday, shoppers still were moving in between racks of clothes and accessories at Macy’s in Roanoke, hunting for gifts and good bargains. But they didn’t have to worry about the store closing. The extended hours are enticing people who have waited until the latest possible minute to finish their Christmas shopping. Some locally owned stores, such as Vida Bela on Grandin Road in Roanoke, plan to be open on Sundays and other non-typical business days. Vida Bela will open this Sunday and Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. to drum up business, said owner Debra Carey. She typically closes her shop on these days. Check out my story in this Sunday’s Roanoke Times business section to learn more last minute shopping tips and how retailers are handling the final hours leading up to Dec. 25. I won’t be blogging for the next few days, but I’ll be back here by the middle of next week. Have a Merry Christmas! Still wrapping?If you’re still wrapping up your Christmas presents, Ukrop’s Super Market is marketing its grocery bags as gift wrap. The grocer's holiday paper bags can be turned inside out for use to wrap packages. Also, the store has left its logo off of the bag so the wrapping job won’t look odd. I've seen people use similar items to wrap gifts, such as comics, newspaper and other brown paper bags. 
A gift for you, a gift for meFour days until Christmas, and you're likely finishing up shopping or preparing for holiday gatherings. Perhaps you're also thinking about how great you’d look in a red sweater, now 50 percent off, or watching football games next week on a shiny--and discounted--flat screen television? Some retail analysts attributed strong November sales, which rose 5.1 percent from last year, not only to people who have bought gifts for others but to those who bought themselves a gift as well. “The consumers take advantage of these holiday promotional offers to spend additional things on themselves,” said Phil Rist, with BIG Research, an Ohio firm, during a briefing about holiday sales last week with the National Retail Federation. The NRF actually breaks out the amount of money that the average person spends self-shopping each holiday. In 2006, the average person spent $99.22 on themselves, the group reported. What about you? December 20, 2007A Christmas nest eggSaving money for Christmas has changed over time. I wrote last month about diminishing layaway services at some retailers. But there is another form of holiday savings that slowly is going away --Christmas Club accounts. 
Now, people use credit cards to pay for everything in their lives. Most large banks no longer have Christmas Clubs, yet they may offer savings accounts with similar conditions. I tracked down a local bank that still offers Christmas Clubs. It’s Carter Bank & Trust, based in Rocky Mount. This bank has had Christmas Club accounts since the bank was formed in the 1970s, and they still are popular, said Bill Wells, a senior vice president at Carter Bank & Trust. December 18, 2007Pass it on
It must be the holidays that are putting people in the generous mood. And this kind of monetary act isn’t unusual at this time of year. Many people who work in the service industry report receiving larger tips during the holidays. But this random act of kindness was inspiring. I'll consider trying it at other times of the year, not just at Christmas. So, thanks to the person who decided to pay for a stranger’s hot beverage. What kinds of generous acts have you noticed at shops or restaurants lately? Procrastinating men's guide to shoppingNot that I’m being stereotypical, but men often are procrastinators when it comes to Christmas shopping. In fact, the National Retail Federation reported today that one in five men, or 19 percent, have not begun their holiday shopping, based on a survey. That’s compared to 13 percent of women who have yet to begin. But guys, don’t stress. Wal-Mart has come to your rescue! Recently, I found an interesting and new Wal-Mart promotion aimed at procrastinating men. The discount retail giant has created a guide to help men shop for last-minute gifts for the women in their lives, whether it’s a grandmother, mother, girlfriend, sister or wife. At www.helpaguybuy.com, Wal-Mart takes visitors through a list of questions to determine the category in which the gift recipient falls. The choices lump women into several categories, such as women on the go, the ultimate hostess, sports enthusiasts, nature lovers and fashion fanatics. After the category is determined, a list of gift options pops up. Of course, they are items available at Wal-Mart. If you try out this gift guide, let me know if it's helpful at all. December 17, 2007Lukewarm weekendDid you shop last weekend? I headed to Valley View Mall for a few hours on Saturday, but it didn’t seem to be as crowded as it has been in year’s past. I expected parking spaces to be scarce and long lines of traffic circling the Ring Road around the mall, since it was the second to last Saturday before Christmas. Perhaps it was the looming freezing rain expected to fall late in the day on Saturday that kept people from venturing out to shop. But my preliminary assessment appears close to what much of the nation experienced. The Associated Press reports today that the weekend’s sales were “lukewarm” across the country. Consumers in other states weathered winter storms as well. And some analysts expect shoppers to delay their spending until next weekend, which is the weekend before Christmas. According to the National Retail Federation, the average person only had completed 36.4 percent of their holiday shopping at the end of November. So, people are guaranteed to be rushing to finish up their gift lists now. Dec. 25 is a week and one day away. Are you done with your shopping yet? December 14, 2007Wrapped up in the cost of gift wrapLast month, I considered having a gift wrapped at Macy’s. But after learning the price of about $6 per package for wrapping, I decided that it would be much cheaper to do it myself. That made me start to think about which retailers offer free gift wrap locally. For years, it seemed that gift wrapping mostly was a free service at most stores. Now it’s difficult to find a place where you don’t have to pay for it. You're lucky if a store associate hands you a free box with a purchase. 
Valley View Mall’s customer service area charges for gift wrap, but some of the proceeds will benefit the Roanoke Ballet Theater. The charge is $5 for small packages, $7 for medium sizes and $9 for larger ones. December 12, 2007You better watch out. Online shopping deadlines are near.Free shipping deadlines are upon us. Since October, retailers have been trying to lure shoppers online to spend for the holidays. Barnes & Noble recently warned consumers that Dec. 18, which is less than a week away, is the last day to order books and other products online and receive free shipping. Dec. 18 also is the final date to get shipping for free at Target. And other retailers say that time is fast approaching to order and receive items by Dec. 25. If you're ordering an item from Belk, the department store chain says that Dec. 14 by midnight is the latest for guaranteed Christmas delivery. December 11, 2007Gasoline cards and family potlucksI was at Valley View Mall yesterday evening, talking with people about how their holiday shopping is going so far, and I ran into several people with interesting stories to share. One woman told me that she and her family are cutting out all Christmas gifts this year. All of the children in the family are grown, so instead of buying gifts, they each plan to bring food for a family potluck dinner on Christmas Eve. Another shopper told me that she’s going the practical route with gift-buying. She is purchasing Sheetz gift cards for some family members. Recently several grocery chains and gasoline retailers reported increases in the amount of gift cards that consumers have purchased this holiday season. Perhaps there is a trend in practical gifting this year. I’m interested in what you may be doing to change up or cut back on your holiday budget this year, if at all. December 10, 2007Searching for layaway service? Find it online.Last month I wrote a story about how many retailers no longer offer layaway services to customers nowadays. Locally, you’ll only find layaway at a select few stores, such as T.J. Maxx and Kmart. But there’s a way to use layaway online. It’s at www.elayaway.com. By going to this site, you can purchase items online and pay the bill incrementally. The item is shipped to you once full payment is received. The site boosts at least 3.5 million products from numerous retailers, though they’re not all well-known national brands. The retailers include Comp USA, Affordable Home Electronics, Dreamtime Tykes and Summit Sports Inc. Elayaway.com, founded in 2005, also is reporting a 67 percent increase in the number of people who registered for layaway payment on its site during the week of Cyber Monday, compared to the previous week. Cyber Monday is marketed as the Monday after Thanksgiving and a time when online shopping for Christmas purchases usually rises. Elayway.com is based in Tallahassee, Fla. December 7, 2007Pumping up holiday salesTonight and through the weekend Roanoke area retailers are hoping to benefit from several local events to draw holiday shoppers and pump up December sales totals. · Dickens of a Christmas begins tonight. This is a holiday festival held in downtown Roanoke on the first three Friday evenings of December. You’ll find entertainment, food and shopping there. Many of the stores in the downtown Market area and elsewhere stay open through the evening to attract shoppers. · Tonight there is a Village Christmas open house at the stores at West Village, an outdoor retail center on Electric Road in Roanoke County. The retailers here are staying open until 8 p.m. or later to accommodate shoppers, with some serving up refreshments and discounts. December 5, 2007The tradition of holiday greetings
Still, I’m one of the millions of people who send Christmas cards, though I also send e-cards (email greetings) from a variety of retailers, such as Hallmark. Here are some statistics from American Greetings and the Greeting Card Association about Christmas cards: December 3, 2007Which toys are safe?A story in Saturday’s Roanoke Times discussed the issue of toy recalls and how it is impacting the way people shop for toys this holiday season. However, the recalls may be a reason that business has increased at some Roanoke area toy stores that do not sell the recalled toys. 
People are afraid of buying toys that are made in China because of the recalls. But consumer groups warn not to shy away from everything that is Chinese made. After all, it’s not specifically the country that is to blame. Boycotting toys from a certain country may not be the answer to finding safer toys. Here’s a helpful Web site by the Toy Industry Association that explains this and answers many other questions--www.toyinfo.org. Also, you can sign up to receive email alerts of recalled toys from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. If you have any tips for toy buying this season, share them with us. November 30, 2007Weekend shoppingThe weekend starts today. Below are two shopping events happening locally. --Some retailers at the Grandin Village in Roanoke are springing for a holiday open house today. From 6 to 9 p.m., Village Flowers, New to Me, Too Many Books and Vida Bela will be open longer and each is offering special sales. --If you’re an elementary or high school teacher, you can save 20 percent on books and gifts and 10 percent on DVDs and CDs for three hours on Saturday. Barnes & Noble at Valley View Mall is hosting an educator discount event from 9 a.m. to noon. It’s for those who teach Pre-K through 12th grades. And you have to present your educator discount card to be eligible for the savings. Happy shopping and saving! November 29, 2007Designing a gift cardAre gift cards on your wish list this year? You’ve probably noticed more creative marketing for these cards lately. 
Some people don’t think gift cards are personal. Think again. This year some retailers are offering new ways to personalize these plastic cards. At Borders, customers can add photos and personal messages to its cards. The cost is an additional $4.95. November 28, 2007Local closing salesMy story in today’s newspaper gives more detail about John Norman Clothiers' closing in late December. The 75-year-old men's and women’s apparel store joins at least two other Roanoke Valley retailers that are planning large closing sales through the holidays. John Norman’s store-wide sale will begin on Thursday. Other retailers with closing sales are the Orvis outlet in Salem and Bombay Co. at Valley View Mall in Roanoke. Retailers are expecting that these discounts will draw more shoppers during the holidays than at any other time of the year. Holding sales during this important season for retail helps stores move out inventory quicker as they near closing time.
November 27, 2007Shop with your cell phoneHow many times while shopping have you tried to find a certain item, but you didn’t know where it was? 
This new service, also available at River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg, is offered by NearbyNow, a company that provides Internet and mobile search technology. Valley View has an extensive product search function on its Web site, but mobile searching gives you the opportunity to find items while you’re out and about and not near a computer. This move is in line with efforts by other retailers lately to communicate with customers via mobile phones. J.C. Penney gave customers who signed up a wake-up call on Black Friday. Nordstrom and Wal-Mart are sending off text messages about sales and other discounts. I haven’t signed up for these mobile offerings, but I plan to test some of them out. If you’ve tried them, let me know what you think. November 26, 2007Online shopping and the holidaysIt’s back to the daily grind after last week's turkey, early morning shopping and traveling. Today is the day that online retailers may receive an early Christmas present. Retail experts market the Monday after Thanksgiving as Cyber Monday, a 24-hour period that is one of the busiest for holiday-related online sales. I received some statistics about online shopping today in my inbox from Yahoo! Shopping. Here’s some of the info: • Compared to the holiday shopping season of 2006, page view traffic is up 37% for the 2007 Holiday season (to date) • Top 10 products from the weekend, based on Yahoo’s poll: November 23, 2007Black Friday is here
The sales included $399.99 Sony laptop computers, $99.99 Kodak 6 MP digital cameras and $449.99 32-inch LCD televisions. Bobby and Ashley Menkedick of Roanoke County were among the early morning shoppers waiting for Best Buy’s doors to open at 5 a.m. They planned to buy a $1,800 television that was on sale for $1,200. Both had not yet slept during the night and instead headed to Best Buy to save their place in line. 
Two women who browsed the toy section at Sears said they were disappointed that the sales at some mall stores were not as large as in the past. I also asked them if higher gas prices would change their holiday spending this year. Nikki Burton of Covington said she usually sets a Christmas budget and sticks to it. She's not concerned about gas prices impacting her spending. “I have a range of how much I want to spend,” she said. According to the National Retail Federation, up to 132.9 million Americans will shop this weekend. Check out more photos from the morning here. The malls and other local shopping centers likely will be crowded throughout the day today and much of the weekend. Don’t forget to let me know about your Black Friday shopping experience. Have a good weekend! November 21, 2007Let the shopping begin!I’ve been busy most of this week, mapping out my Black Friday coverage course of action. If you’re planning to shop on Friday, read my story in today’s newspaper about some Roanoke area stores opening earlier on Nov. 23 this year. Also, some retailers are making Black Friday promotions available on their Web sites starting tomorrow. They include Circuit City and Wal-Mart. It seems that before long, Thanksgiving Day could become a large shopping day as well! Happy Thanksgiving! Last minute Turkey Day diningBy now, you’ve either decided to eat your Thanksgiving turkey at home or at a restaurant. By chance, if you’re still trying to find a place to dine on Thanksgiving Day, a few local eateries are still taking reservations or are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Here are some of them: Click here for more Thanksgiving related recipes and restaurant listings. Also, note that both the Hotel Roanoke's Regency Room and Crystal Ballroom are booked for Thanksgiving. Lindsey Nair, food writer for the Roanoke Times, has taken the time to compile much of this helpful guide for readers. To read her recipe ideas and other food and restaurant tips, check out her blog here. Pizza is hot on Thanksgiving Eve
The day before Thanksgiving, known as Thanksgiving Eve, often is Pizza Hut's largest day for sales of the year. The company has said in the past that sales on this day even outpace other common pizza-eating occasions, such as the Super Bowl. And Domino’s Pizza estimated that its pizza sales will increase 68 percent today, compared with a typical Wednesday night, according to a company news release. Domino’s also estimated that it will deliver more than 1.1 million pizzas tonight nationwide. In recent years, local pizza restaurateurs said they increase staff in expectation of large crowds for eat-in or carry-out on Thanksgiving Eve. This craving for pizza makes sense. Many people invite out-of-town relatives to their homes for Thanksgiving. But since the hosts likely have spent much time in the kitchen preparing for the Turkey Day feast, pizza is a logical option to feed crowds on the night before Thanksgiving. Some pizza restaurants even offer Thanksgiving Eve deals. At least one Roanoke Pizza Hut has some larger family size meal deals running through tonight. The specials include a meal for four for $29.99, featuring two medium pizzas, two orders of breadsticks and a two-liter drink. November 16, 2007One week until the season's kickoffWe’re a week away from Nov. 23, which is Black Friday, one of the largest shopping days of the holiday season. But if you’re mapping your shopping path that day, you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving Day to scour the advertisements in the newspaper. A few weeks ago, I blogged about some Web sites that post sneak peaks of the sales that retailers will have on Black Friday, which is the day after Thanksgiving. At that time, there were only a few sales from retailers posted. Circuit City: Target: November 15, 2007Who uses layaway?As a child, I knew that Christmas was near when my mom and grandmother rounded up my younger sister, Candi, and I for a shopping trip to the local Leggett store, which is now Belk. We would spend at least four hours in two cramped children’s dressing rooms trying on new winter clothes. We’d pick out bulky sweaters, character sweatshirts and pairs of corduroy pants in shades of purple and pink. It was quite an adventure for us. By the end of it all, clothes usually were strewn all over the dressing room floors, and Candi and I were worn out. We weren’t much on shopping those days, though now it’s one of our favorite ways to spend time together. After we chose our favorite items, my mom and grandmother would march over to the layaway counter. They would put every article of clothing on layaway. My sister and I didn’t see the clothes again until Christmas morning, when we ripped open perfectly wrapped packages. Most retailers offered layaway services at that time, which was in the late 1980s and through the 1990s. Layaway allows customers to pay for purchases in increments over a period of time while the store holds items. Now, you can’t find many stores with layaway programs. It was big news last year when Wal-Mart got rid of the service. Because more people use credit cards nowadays, retailers figure that layaway isn’t worth the time, space and extra staff. A few retailers still offer layaway, and in the Roanoke Valley, they include T.J. Maxx, Kmart and Samuels Diamonds. Stay tuned for a story about layaway services next week in The Roanoke Times. Do you make purchases using layaway? And if not, why? November 14, 2007J.C.Penney will open earlier on Black FridayMarathon shoppers, here’s another incentive to rise before daylight on the day after Thanksgiving. J.C. Penney announced today that it will open its stores nationwide an hour earlier, at 4 a.m. on Nov. 23, which is Black Friday. This is the day after Thanksgiving when stores across the country have door-buster sales that entice some shoppers in the wee morning hours. J.C. Penney’s 4 a.m. opening still isn’t as early as some malls and retailers across the country. Some now open at midnight on Thanksgiving night, hosting entertainment and give-away events to celebrate the kickoff to a competitive holiday shopping season. Still, the new hours reveal that J.C. Penney is getting more serious about drawing customers as early as possible on Nov. 23. The retailer will open earlier on Black Friday than other anchor stores at Valley View Mall in Roanoke, such as Macy’s and Sears. Those stores will open at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., according to the mall. And if you don't think you can swing the early morning awakening, you can sign-up for a Black Friday wake-up call from J.C.Penney on your cell phone! And no, I'm not kidding. Get more information about the wake-up call at www.jcp.com. |
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