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Sublimity, OR, United States
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I am artist of texture and color. I enjoy working with textiles, mixed media and the graphic arts. I am an avid cottage gardener with a love for pass along plants and big fluffy pink peonies and pink roses. Many of my tangible creations reflect my love of the garden and all its wonderful colors. I have been selling my creations online since 2002 beginning as a hobby. After 10 years I quit the day job to pursue my art as a full time passion.

09 November 2010

My stress free Holiday shopping strategy

 
I recently had lunch with a long time friend who worked in retail management with me several years back. We relished the fact that we both can relax now that we are now not the poor souls that have to work those awful retail holiday hours. I even had a few years that I actually hated the holidays. After I left the retail zone, it took me a few Christmas seasons to really get back to enjoying the traditions again. After reminiscing, we compared shopping strategies for low stress holiday shopping. I decided to share some of mine with you. These are just my opinions, maybe not yours. I have been on the other side of the counter, so many of these are tried and true. If you are into low stress Holidays....try them!

*Veterans Day is traditionally the retail kick off day to holidays--this is when everyone decides they should get started shopping. The stores will be busy on this day and most likely short handed in help. You will probably have long checkout lines. If you must shop this day, go very early at opening or after the dinner hour. If you can get all your shopping done before Thanksgiving, you are a true hero.

*The day after Thanksgiving (often referred to as Black Friday) Unless you are into crowds, shoving and total chaos, forget the early bird specials. Not worth the trouble in my book. If you keep an eye out in the ads prior or later in the season, most of the same stores have coupons and specials that you can get the items at the same price. My daughter and I do shop the day after Thanksgiving, but we treat ourselves to a tall latte  then hit the stores about 10am...most of the crowds have thinned out.

 *The first week of December. This is the hands down best week to shop. Best selection and the stores are relatively quiet and the sales are good.

*Best time of day to shop is early before noon or the dinner hour, this goes for the weekend days also.

*The last weekend before Christmas. Probably the worst time to shop. Shoppers are starting to panic, items are picked over, and the clerks are pretty much toast.

*Christmas Eve....this always cracked me up. The guys are all out buying at the last minute. The lingerie and housewares departments are their favorite haunts. Not a good time to shop. Shelves are wiped clean and many unhappy shoppers looking for what they can't find.


*The day after Christmas....crowds again all returning what didn't fit, or they didn't like. There will be some good buys but not many. The stores are all picked over. Maybe a good time to buy next years gift wrap and decorations. Your returns can wait a week, or go during the dinner hour when foot traffic is down.



Some options to not ever having to use the above strategy~
*shop online! I do a lot of that and many of the sites offer free or discounted shipping. Best to order no less than a week from the holiday so no one is disappointed.
*Handmade or homemade items. I do lots of this too, but there are those who don't appreciate those kind of gifts so retail shopping is still necessary. My husband still brings up the shirt I made him in the 70's
*Last resort--and my brother did this many times when he was single. One stop shopping at the Liquor store!

Here's hoping you have a wonderful Holiday shopping experience! (feel free to help yourself to the vintage images too)



5 comments:

Unknown said...

Debbi, thanks for the tips, sounds like good advice. Also thank you for the darling images. They are precious!

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Hi Debbie!

Thanks for all the tips! I have pretty much figured out most of these on my own, after many yrs of doing it the WRONG way. lol I too, have shopped on-line many times, even in my jammies with coffee in hand! Nope can't beat it. Driving around on a cold wintry day, not finding a parking spot, is not in my itinarary anymore. I have also waitied til the last minute to wrap on Christmas eve. Also not a good idea. Wrapping in the dark by the light of a flashlight cause the power went out is sooooo not fun. lol

Debbie

Char said...

I think my feet and head hurt already. These are wonderful tips for anyone leaving the house in the next month and a half......good luck to us all!! HA, Char

Unknown said...

Best advice and it is free...thank you for reminders that shopping the wrong times can and will give you one horrid headache.

My family is now at the point in our lives that just being together and sharing our time is the best gift we can give. We love it.

shannon i olson said...

my husband and I make a Black Friday tradition, we go and stand out in -20 temps with coffee. Eat the free breakfast at Sam's club and come home and take a nap!! We don't push and shove for items but we have a great time...once I actually get out of bed....uffda!

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