Shopping Tips Online

Lose weight. Get in shape. Get a better job. Eat right. Typical New Year’s resolutions. One quarter of the resolutions that are made are abandoned within 15 weeks of the new year.* Why? Because they’re HARD. Working out and losing weight? Hard. Getting a better job? Hard! Eating right? Someone brought donuts in to the office again. See, they fail because they are so hard.

So, here are my 10 easy-to-keep shopping resolutions:
1. Shop for fun.
2. Justify a purchase by saying how much I saved.
3. Splurge on something.
4. Scrimp on something.
5. Add to my collection of cocktail napkins.
6. Donate some clothes to charity; make room for new clothes
7. Buy something for someone I love.
8. Order more things online.
9. Browse once without buying anything.
10. Buy at least one pair of shoes this year. (I told you these weren’t hard to keep.)

Happy New Year, fellow shoppers! Here’s hoping 2007 brings you great stuff, super bargains, and lots of fun shopping experiences!

*Polivy, Janet, Herman, C. Peter.”If at First You Don’t Succeed.” American Psychologist Sept. 2002: 677-689.

New Years Resolutions, Shopping

Vodka used to be just vodka. Remember those days? Vodka originally comes from Eastern Europe, and has been produced since the the end of the 9th century. First distilled around 1174 in Khylnovsk, Russia, the potent potable was used mainly for medicinal purposes. There was no vodka produced in the US until the 1930s, but it really didn’t start gaining popularity until the 1950s (the golden age of the cocktail). Sometime in the 1960s we Americans figured out that the basically colorless, odorless and tasteless alcohol was immensely mixable, and we’ve been crazy for vodka cocktails ever since.

Manufacturers (and consumers) couldn’t leave well enough alone, of course. In my mind, the meeting went something like this: “Why water down perfectly good vodka with cranberry juice when we can put the flavor right in the bottle?” So, in 1986, Absolut introduced the first of many flavored vodkas, Absolut PEPPAR. Other manufacturers followed suit.

Now apparently we want our vodka to be a little less… vodka-ish? Enter Vodka O2, the first sparkling Vodka. You read right. This stuff has bubbles. The manufacturer says that the “infused bubbles create a lightly effervescent texture that gently tingles on the tongue.” Oh. Kay. Right now, Vodka O2 is only available in Canada and the UK, but look for it in the US after the first part of ‘07.

This is predicted to be one of the big drink trends in ‘07. The holding company that distributes Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Seagram 7, Johnnie Walker and others, is developing a process to naturally carbonate other non-bubbly-beverages.

Well, I’ll be. Sparkling vodka. Make mine a single malt scotch. Hold the bubbles.

Vodka O2, Drink Trends, Sparkling Vodka, Absolut

A: When you can get them both at the grocery store!

Sometime soon your grocery list could look like this: a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs and an iPodShuffle. Apple has placed iPods and Macs in a grocery chain in the UK. The Tesco chain of stores has devoted 120 square feet of space to merchandising Apple computers, accessories, and iPods.

Is it only a matter of time before this concept hits the US? I say yes for two reasons.

Reason #1: Apple believes in marketing to people wherever they are – online, in stores, and even on the road. That’s why, in 2005, iPod “vending machines” began springing up in airports, malls and hotels. It was an unconventional idea, but it took hold.

Reason #2: The trend in groceries in the US has been to improve their shoppers’ overall experiences by adding more products and services. It’s not surprising to see housewares departments and even full-service banks within the walls of the typical grocery store.

It’s a concept I believe Americans will buy.

Apple, iPod, Nano, Shuffle, UK Grocery Stores, Tesco

I wandered the Gap today. Wandered from one end of the women’s section to the other, gift card in hand. Wandered over to the sale rack, hoping to get more for my 25 bucks. Nothin’ but skinny pants, knock-off Police concert tees, too-deep-v sweaters and leftover holiday glittery ribbed turtlenecks. None of that looked fresh to me. Yawn.

For some reason I kept wandering. I wandered right on over to the kids section, where I grabbed an adorable boy’s gray, cabled quarter-zip ski sweater tipped in red, and a plaid wool patchwork newsboy cap. You may have to experiment with sizes to find the look and fit you want. For me, a boys XL (12-14) or XXL (14-16) usually work. The caps were sized S-M or L-XL, and I tried on both sizes to get one that fit.

This little shopping trip reminded me that there is nothing wrong with thinking outside your department. Men’s, kids and even the lingerie department can all be sources for inspiration, and maybe even that certain something you’re looking for.

After studying Style Bakery’s Fall Trend Report, I knew that menswear plaids were huge this year, so my little newsboy cap is just right. And at a clearance price of $6.99, it’s cheaper than anything similar that I was seeing in the women’s section. Sweaters, the bigger and cozier the better, are also in. So, score my little boy’s sweater for $14.97. I plan to wear it with jeans, but also with more feminine pieces, like a tweed skirt and boots.

Try looking for big belts, and plaid or knit vests in the men’s department. (Personally, I have taken to wearing men’s jeans again because I can get the waist and length I need, but I always try them on first.) You might find a pretty cami in a luxe fabric in the lingerie department. And maybe a cute red or leopard print bag in the girl’s department.

Check out the latest styles online, then think outside the department. You might score the hottest look for a lot less!

Gap, Gap Kids, Style Bakery, Fall Trends, Winter Trends, Sweaters, Newsboy Caps

This will date me, but I remember buying six-packs of BEER. Generic beer. I was pretty broke at the time, so I didn’t care that it was generic. Tasted fine to me. Those were the days. “Generic” was in. Down with brand names! Up with saving money!

Eventually, though, people equated plain white packages of PEAS (or cans of BEER) with low quality. So, generics became “store brands,” private-labeled goods meant to compete with brand names on price. But, in 1991, according to a study conducted by industry group Private Label Management Association, only 12% of us would admit to purchasing store brands.

In 2006, 41% of us say we frequently buy store brands. They call this the “Target effect.” In the early 90s, Target set the trend by offering their own brand of products that were well-designed and well-priced, and people responded. Retailers like Costco and OfficeMax are applying the same principle to their products, on everything from cruises to ink pens, and they are having some success. Read the whole story in this article in today’s Business Week.

I am a frequent purchaser of store brands. When it comes to food items, I seldom struggle with the decision. Brand-name food manufacturers private-label the same products. It is a few cents cheaper and the quality difference is marginal, in my opinion. There are exceptions, of course – if I feel the need for a gourmet product, I go for the big label. Day to day, though, store brands are just fine with me.

As for other consumer goods, I am probably a lot like most of you. If it’s designed well, the price is attractive, and the function is the same or nearly the same as the brand name, I will go for the store brand.

I have seen this swing occur before, particulary in clothing and accessories. For a period of time, you’re no one if you aren’t wearing a sweater that screams a designer name across your chest. Then suddenly that will seem “so 3 years ago.”

I recently reported about a Japanese clothing company opening a new store in New York City. Uniqlo, called “the Gap of Japan,” is known for it’s almost anti-designer, generic look. It was arguable whether their design sensibilities, as well as their commodtity-priced clothing, would go over in the U.S. Dave, over at Pop Buzz UK had a story not long ago about the trend toward the very “unfashionable” Plimsolls, cheap rubber soled shoes that are being snapped up by very fashionable celebs like David Beckham.

I say these are just signs of the trend toward a new brand – Generic. Keep watching.

Trends, Generics, Store Brands, Plimsolls, Uniqlo, Designers, Brand Names

I have made jokes about needing “retail therapy.” I have shopped for comfort when I have felt depressed. I have justified buying something expensive because “it spoke to me.” (Okay, not literally.) Am I a “shopaholic?”

This may seem like a strange topic for a “Shopping Tips” blog. After all, this site exists to bring you news about the retail industry, show you where to find cool stuff, and help you enjoy your shopping experiences. But, there is a serious side to shopping that can and does affect millions of people every year, and that is a real addiction to spending money.

According to an article on WebMD, compulsive spending is a serious addiction that can destroy a person’s finances and relationships.

“Compulsive shopping and spending are defined as inappropriate, excessive, and out of control,” says Donald Black, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. “Like other addictions, it basically has to do with impulsiveness and lack of control over one’s impulses. In America, shopping is embedded in our culture; so often, the impulsiveness comes out as excessive shopping.”

Here are some questions to ask yourself –
1. Am I spending over my budget? If you are spending more than you make, but keep going until you are in financial trouble, you may have a problem.
2. Can I keep myself from spending? If you go shopping for one thing but can’t keep yourself from buying 10, you may have a problem.
3. Do I have to shop 365 days a year? If you’re spending compulsively year-round, not just a one-time spending spree, you may have a problem.
4. Am I hiding stuff or lying about it? If you are hiding your purchases because you’re scared of what others will say, or if you have secret accounts, you may have a problem.
5. Do I act out of guilt? If you feel guilty and take things back, or if your guilt triggers another shopping spree, you may have a problem.
6. Is my shopping and spending hurting my relationships? If your shopping leads to coverups or deception that are affecting your relationships with family or friends, you may have a problem.
7. Am I out of control? If you have developed a pattern of spending, with negative consequences, and you are no longer in control of your actions when you shop, then you may have a problem.

Shopping can be fun and rewarding, but not if it’s an addiction. If you feel that you, a friend or family member are affected by this problem, there are many qualified resources to help. Start with the WebMD article, then consider a preliminary psychiatric evaluation, or join a recovery program designed for compulsive spending. With the help of mental health professionals and debt counseling services, these destructive behaviors can be changed, and spending can be brought back under control.

Shopaholics, Shopping Addiction, Compuslive Spending, WebMD, Debt Counseling

The gift cards were flying at our family Christmas celebration this year. I personally received a Gap gift card, and Bob got one from Gander Mountain. We gave gift cards to several people on our list, to Best Buy, iTunes and Hallmark. I believe just about everyone in the family received at least one gift card this year. We’re all in good company – the National Retail Federation reports that consumers spent $24.81 billion on gift cards this year compared to only about $18 billion last year.

A story by the Associated Press on Topix.com says that retailers are cutting prices even more, hoping to snap up as many sales as possible before the 31st. Last year, the week ending 12/31 accounted for a little more than 15% of holiday sales. It may be even more this year, considering the pre-holiday sales were disappointing to most retailers.

I will personally be scanning the sale and clearance racks, hoping to make the most of every dollar on my gift card. By contrast, Bob will probably use his card toward a more expensive item, offsetting the cost. Either way, we love the gift cards!

How do you plan to use the gift cards you received?

Gift Cards, Christmas, After-Christmas Sales, National Retail Federation, Best Buy, iTunes

You’re rockin’ around the Christmas tree today having an egg nog and basking in the glow of a holiday shopping season at its end. You have fought the good fight to get all the best gifts, wrapped them carefully and now… wait a second. What did I get cousin Luke? Oh. No.

Facing the mall today? Out of the question. It’s too late to go online. But what does that leave? Here are some ideas for last-minute gifts you can get at – get this – your grocery store! Groceries are becoming true one-stop shops with everything from floral departments to housewares to seasonal items and more. So take a deep breath. Here are some ideas for the last-minute gift ideas that beat the grab-and-go gift card for creativity.

1. Chili-Makin’ Fixins – If the grocery has housewares, pick up a stock pot and fill it with ingredients for quick and easy chili. Include dried beans, the chili powder and all the spices. Grab some cute red and white checked napkins and a bow for the pot. (For fun, you could also add a jar of Beano!)
2. Car Cleaning Kit – Grab a metal bucket from the cleaning aisle and throw in car wash, car wax, auto air fresheners, interior wipes and a big-o sponge.
3. Coffee-Lover Package – Start with a pound or two of gourmet coffee, then add flavorings, creamers and a travel mug.
4. Breakfast for Two – Put together some pancake mix, a can of blueberries, a jar of good maple syrup, and a couple of cute breakfast plates, placemats and napkins. This would look cute in a basket from the floral department.
5. Movie Night – Popcorn, popcorn salt, big candy bars or theater-style candy, two-liter of pop and a family-friendly DVD. (more…)

Do you suffer from “Wrap Rage?” I know I do. I have the experience on a regular basis. In fact, recently I purchased a four-pack of compact fluorescent lightbulbs that were in what’s called a “blister pack,” and shattered one of the bulbs trying to open it. When it comes to blister packs or “clamshell” packages, I frequently resort to a very sharp kitchen knife when wrestling and cussing don’t work. Thankfully, I haven’t suffered anything more serious than a broken nail and a headache from all the screaming.

A USA Today article reports that serious injuries can result from frustrated consumers resorting to unsafe means to open a clamshell package.

“We’re just one center and we see 10 patients a year who get cuts, half of which need surgery, and you have to remember we don’t know how many don’t go to get treated,” says Randall Culp, a surgeon with the Philadelphia Hand Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The injuries he has treated include severed fingers and cut tendons, he says. “I think it’s a real health issue.”

I understand that manufacturers face a different environment now than ever before. They need packaging that is easily merchandised by the retailer, that presents the product in an attractive way, and at the same time is sized and shaped to prevent theft. But you have to wonder if they realize that the consumer will want to get the darn thing open without bodily injury or long-term mental health problems.

Consumer Reports reviewed several kinds of packaging, and then presented the “best” – that is, the hardest-to-open – with their “2006 Oyster Awards.” The clamshell took first place. (more…)

BBC News reported today that the last installment in the Harry Potter series will be entitled “Harry Potter and the Deatlhy Hallows.” If you haven’t already, go to an online retailer like Amazon and sign up for an automatic email when the book becomes available. I would recommend getting on a waiting list – book 6, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” sold a record-breaking 2 million copies on the first day of its release in the UK.

Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter 7, Deatlhy Hallows

Since I have officially finished my Christmas shopping, I was out and about today picking up a few things for myself and realized that I do live up to my profile: One Tough Customer. There are things about shopping that deepen my wrinkles, give me acid indigestion and bring on periodic bouts of Tourette’s Syndrome.

I really don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings here, but let’s face it. A lot of shopping annoyances come from the folks in the stores. Sales people, register clerks, service personnel, etc. I understand that working retail is hard, I worked retail years ago, and I probably did most of what I am about to call out.

That being said, here are my top ten shopping pet peeves (standard disclaimers apply).

I can’t stand:

1. Salespeople who attack. Please do not rush me at the door. It’s startling, upsetting, and liable to make me run away.
2. Register clerks who ignore me. I spent time choosing my stuff, I have made my selections, and now I am in line to spend my hard-earned cash. So you don’t have to kiss my butt, but at least acknowledge my existence.
3. Salespeople who act pissed. You may actually BE pissed, and I can sympathize. But that attitude is contageous. You act pissed toward me, I act pissed right back atcha, and the five people behind me catch it, too. Why spend an entire day being pissed? Fake it if you have to, but don’t act pissed.
4. Slow motion sales. Time has stopped. I keep looking around to see if everyone else has noticed that nothing, absolutely nothing, is happening. By the time I reach the checkout, my will to live is virtually gone.
5. Fast motion sales. I want to go through the process as quickly as I can, sure. But it flusters me when you throw my stuff at me before I’ve had a chance to pull out my credit card. Suddenly I’m back in 5th grade track and field, running as fast as I can just trying to keep up, getting all sweaty and feeling like I am definitely letting down the team. Don’t put me through that.
6. Tag team sales. I told the first five salespeople that I was “fine” and “browsing,” don’t you guys communicate?
7. Sneaky salespeople. You can expect me to jump and scream when you sneak up on me while I am intently looking at flannel pajamas. Do not sneak up on me.
8. Invisible salespeople. There are occasions when I need to ask someone a question, get help finding something, or have a tall person help me with that box on the very top shelf. When I have to wander through 8 departments to find one salesperson, it bothers me. It bothers me more when I wander through 8 departments to find five salespeople talking about how late they stayed out last night. Be around.
9. Too talkative salespeople. I don’t dislike you, I just don’t know you. We’re probably not going to become best friends. So we can be nice, but we don’t have to get to know each other.
10. The Clerk’s Club. Nothing makes me feel more like I am interrupting your conversation than standing in line while you catch up with your co-worker. Excuse me? Can I, uh, bother you to give you some of my MONEY?!

I know this sounds harsh, but hey, I told you. I’m a tough customer.

Top Ten, Lists, Pet Peeves, Shopping, Salespeople, Clerks

USA Today reported that FedEx shipped a record 9.8 million packages on Monday – 10% more than last year. That’s 63% more than an average day.

Basically, the ship has sailed for regular, ground delivery – the cutoff was December 15th. You can ship up to December 22 with FedEx Overnight or SameDay. Check their site for specific services. FedEx lists last days to ship here.

If you still want to send your gifts “special delivery,” you’d better get them wrapped and ready!

Something was just not right. The hip hop music was okay. The celeb rappin’ it was okay. But the overall commercial just fell flat. They tried to be cool, but to me, they were blah. That’s unusual – I usually click with Gap ads.

Today I ran across an article on Washingtonpost.com that nailed it for me.

Though its ads featuring music, dance and celebrities have won acclaim for their inventiveness, store traffic is down as teens and young adults flock to trendier retailers Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Aeropostale Inc. , believing Gap jeans and sweaters are more appropriate for their parents.

Older shoppers, on the other hand, have been confused by Gap’s focus on younger-styled apparel like skinny pants and the use of hip-hop music in ads, analysts and customers say.

The article also points out that the ads focus on one item of clothing, like the hoodie featured in the holiday spots, rather than pushing the whole line. The Gap says that their strategy is working, and they are converting shoppers into multiple-item buyers. But, the same store sales figures don’t add up with that – dropping for 10 months running.

The company’s news release is more positive, of course. And, according to a National Retail Federation survey, the ads rank among consumers’ top 10 for this holiday season.

So, while they are cool ads, in the end, are they effective? I liked this quote from the Washingtonpost.com article:

For example, Kelly Collazos, a 15-year-old New Jersey high-school student, said she liked the music on the ad, but still skipped the store on a recent Christmas shopping trip.

“The music and the commercials are good but the styles, well, it’s a Mom store,” she said. “My aunts shop there.”

It doesn’t look like “peace love sales” for the Gap this year.

While at a Toys “R” Us in Midland, Texas, some shoppers noticed a 3 month old baby unattended in a shopping cart. Apparently, one family member was responsible for taking the kids home so the other adults could shop, but he forgot the baby. Read the article here. Midland police Sgt. Alfredo Grimaldo said that it was a case of family miscommunication, and not child neglect. Thank God for that. I know it’s a crazed time of year and I can sympathize. But people. Let’s keep it together and focus on what’s important – not what’s on sale.

Baby left in shopping cart

I thought I was ahead of the game. But I just checked my list. I haven’t even started shopping for two people on my list, and I need additional gifts for four of them, and stocking stuffers for everyone. According to a
recent study by Compete, Inc., an online market research firm, it’s not just me. Most people have not finished their holiday shopping, and will probably be buying gifts up to the zero hour.

Here are some of the findings.

• Survey respondents have yet to do 54% of their holiday shopping, and plan on doing about one quarter of that shopping the week before Christmas
• 38% of respondents said that they plan to leave a gift for their spouse until the last minute. Only 22% plan to leave a gift for their mother until the last minute
• 78% of respondents have delayed shopping because they can’t find appropriate gifts
• 14% delay shopping because they enjoy doing so at the last minute

Here are five things I like to keep in mind:
1. I will get it done. There’s no need to panic.
2. When in doubt, shop. If I’m stuck on an idea for someone, I resort to the old fashioned browse mode. More often than not I will find something that is perfect that I hadn’t thought of.
3. It really IS the thought that counts. Try as I might, I may not please everyone every time. That’s not about me.
4. People really do love gift cards. They don’t mean I didn’t know what to give, because I choose the retailer or restaurant because I KNOW the person likes it.
5. Last minute shopping fills me with the Christmas spirit! It suddenly feels like Christmas when you’re picking up those fun little surprises at the last minute.

So, last minute shoppers, let’s stop feeling bad about it! Let’s have fun while we’re getting it done!