Holiday Shopping Trends

             Parking lots are full, merchandise is scattered and money is being spent. Yep! It’s definitely the holiday season. The Fayette Mall is decorated with various Christmas trees, ornaments, lights and garland all through out the building. The stores have created their own holiday window displays that feature their new winter clothes, or holiday sales that are occurring inside. Stores are competing for attention this year because the newest holiday tradition is to shop online. Why bother driving to the store, finding a parking spot, bearing the cold and then stressing about what presents you need to get for whom when you can shop from the comfort of your own home? An important attention grabber that retailers are using today are their window displays. The display give them an opportunity to showcase what the store has available for sale; what sales might be happening and use their creativity to lure people in (and in this case, the bigger the better). The window displays vary from small ornaments hanging in the window to extravagant displays filled with fake snow and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. Going to the mall during the holiday season always helps to get in the holiday spirit! 

            The phrase “slow as Christmas” is constantly thrown around but there is nothing slow about this Christmas! It is right around the corner and coming faster than ever, but sacrificing no spirit whatsoever. Buying gifts for family and friends, checking out the best decorated houses, and making a trip to Fayette Mall around this time of the year is nothing short of enjoyable. Stores throughout the mall are spreading their holiday cheer by showcasing the biggest and best decorations and displays. Macy’s is done up from corner to corner, which is expected. They are showing off their hottest seasonal merchandise with the greatest deals hoping to attract the maximum of customers, which it seems they have no problem accomplishing. Sephora is another store with a fabulous, eye-catching window display. They do a great job of drawing people inside simply by creating and image on the outside that is impossible to go unnoticed. Holiday trends are changing every year but one thing that will forever remain is the spirit Christmas brings out in everyone!

 

Holiday Shopping Trends

             With the current condition of the economy, many holiday shoppers are opting to purchase the generic counterparts to many of the seasons top gift ideas. Many consumers realize the potential to gain a similar product for an inexpensive price and have taken advantage of that fact. For example, Sylvania has released an alternative to Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab in time for holiday shoppers to take advantage of the $149.99 price tag compared to the $499.99 price listed for the better known brands. Similarly, many companies have began to produce their own, more cost friendly version of Dr. Dre’s Beats noise canceling headphones. Many retailers are pricing the Beats at $299.99 or higher so many companies have taken advantage by appealing to consumers who aren’t easily influenced by brand name. Sony markets a similar set of noise canceling headphones for just $87.99. Freshman Dante Wheat is seen here with his Dr. Dre Beats headphones. Dante said he was willing to pay a little extra for the beats brand because when he tried them out in the store, they were “the best sounding headphones I had ever heard.”

              Another technology device that has been popular with holiday shoppers are GPS systems. Garmin offers a GPS device for $239.99 but shoppers that don’t mind a slightly smaller screen, or having a few less features can find a GPS unit by TomTom for $89.99. 

            Manufacturers as well as retailers have become aware of the price sensitive holiday shoppers and have taken advantage by price-lining their items so customers may feel as if they are spending less by getting a similar item in functionality without paying for the name of the brand. These deals are great for consumers who enjoy today’s newest technology trends but prefer to spend a lower price. So this holiday season, remember that comparing the features of alternatives to the name brands and could help you save on your holiday shopping.

Unique Holiday Gift Ideas

As Christmas of 2010 approaches a lot of people’s minds are occupied with the thought of what they are going to buy for everyone on their gift list this year.  One trend that can be applied to getting gifts for children, parents, siblings, and friends are handcrafted gifts. This is a trend this year because of the economy and everyone’s Christmas budget being a little tighter than years past. Handcrafted gifts can be a cheaper and more personal alternative than what you may find at a high-end department store this year. Some ideas for making your own gift are putting together a gift basket. If you’re a good baker an assortment of cookies along with a cookbook can be very pleasing gift. If you’re not so talented in the kitchen, then maybe opt for buying a plain picture frame at a craft store and decorating the frame and inserting pictures of you and whoever the gift is for. This is a very personal gift that someone can keep and remember forever. If you’re not a very creative or artistic person then don’t sweat it, because you can still find many crafty, handmade products that others have made to sell. One place to find crafty personal gifts is Etsy.com. Janna Coumoundouros Bissett, has a shop on etsy.com called LilacPop where she sells jewelry, knitted items, and fine art photos or drawings, all of which she has made herself. The products range from 14 to 80 dollars so there is something there for everyone’s price point. Below is a picture of a few necklaces from a craft show she did recently. 

              When it comes to buying presents we have, don't want it, can't afford it or your parents don’t even know because we don’t tell them anymore. It seems to be the most wonderful time of the year. But with it being only a few short weeks until Christmas it also seems to be the most stressful. You have to begin your budgeting and find that one perfect gift for that special someone. If you are in need of help this season we have also came up with some more ideas that are unique and trendy. Showing someone you care or not knowing what to get can end with buying something with that person’s initials or name. It is something that is a gift that’s slowly growing and becoming more popular with kiosks in the Fayette Mall or your hometown embroidery. You can do anything from mugs, bags, key chains, to even ornaments.  Don’t worry about spending your whole paycheck. On our college budget it could be as inexpensive as 10 dollars. 

Holiday Shopping Highlights

              The holiday season is officially here!  Many shoppers were out enjoying Black Friday sales and some waited for Cyber Monday, however the majority of great sales will continue until Christmas in most stores.  Retailers realize that most of us wait until the last minute to do our Christmas shopping, so that makes finding your gifts for a good deal easier than any other time of year.  These continued sales will bring in customers and encourage them to make larger purchases than intended.  Who can pass up a great sale, whether it be for others, or a gift for yourself!

              Stores such as Old Navy, Bath & Body Works, and Victoria Secret are all having great sales right now.  Old Navy had deals that last only a day to deals that last for weeks, such as BOGO sweaters and $5 holiday tank tops this past Saturday.  Bath and Body Works’ sales have been seasonal with Holiday scents buy 3, get 2 free, and Victoria Secrets are changing all the time for even better bargains.  These deals are great for those last minute shopping trips before Christmas, and most of these stores have gifts for everyone!