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Halloween is weeks away but retailers are already pushing Christmas. Collective groan, am I right? Or maybe not and here’s why. When it comes to being financially savvy for the holidays, now is the time to start planning - and in some cases - shopping. You can check out this segment I did for NBC Boston TV for the full breakdown, but here are a few tips to get you started. •This year there are fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we are in an election year. Retailers know this will impact spending, so they are going to start offering promos and discounts much earlier, like NOW. Know the trends and get started early to maximize your savings. •Be mindful of price matching which is easier than ever to do online. Many big box retailers will honor the cheaper price found elsewhere. •Homemade gifts were not my idea (I'm far from Martha Stewart) but I am a fan of traveling together with family over the holidays in lieu of gifts to create lasting memories and cut down on all the stuff we have. It’s even better if you can travel on points. Check out the segment for more details on when is the best time to buy things like electronics (hint - now!) vs clothes and toys and much more. Don’t be tricked into thinking holiday shopping starts in November, you may miss out on all the treats. #holidaysavings #holidayshopping #candycorn

I’ve just started to do Christmas shopping this year.   I did post about this before, in terms of buying stuff, but I thought it might be useful to consider things from the other angle. Not that I’m expecting LinkedIn contacts to send me gifts, but plenty of people have someone around my age they need to buy something.   As a child, Christmas is great because not only do you get loads of stuff but you also get things you can’t afford with pocket money. A problem of buying for adults is that if they want something they tend to just buy it.   Over the years, I’ve shifted from (mostly) wanting books to preferring either necessaries that need replacing (socks etc) or delightful food and drink. No need to clear shelf space or hold off on getting myself a great book that way. To be fair, I’m also the easiest person to buy for as pretty much any type of chocolate is fine.   Ironically, anyone noting my interest in history would have a very rough time getting me a good present because unless they talk with me regularly they’d have little idea of whether I prefer primary or secondary sources, have a preferred period (been reading lots of Eastern Roman stuff lately), or if I own a given book already. Unless something’s specified (or specifically ruled out with everything else being ok) getting someone a book because they’re interested in the subject can be difficult to get right.   One approach is to get recurring gifts if you have someone who buys you a diary or calendar. This is handy for the person in receipt but can also make life easier for the person buying the present.   On the same note an ‘experience’ gift (means permitting as these can be pricey) might be worth buying. A hot air balloon ride, track day, or suchlike would be examples. For me, someone might consider F1 tickets but I’ve advised the family never to do this (it’s mildly amusing but I dislike both crowds and loud noises so F1 as a spectator in the stands would probably be something I wouldn’t like all that much).   Should anyone ask, I’ll probably ask for mead or suchlike this year, as I’ve always wanted to try that. And whisky cakes, because they’re fantastic. And, of course, chocolates. Dark, plain, milk, or white, I believe all chocolates belong together. In my stomach.

With Thanksgiving comes increased holiday shopping, including the dreaded Black Friday. Along with this season comes increased scams that can lead to either physical or fiscal harm, if not careful. Just because someone -- ANYONE -- male or female, young or old, single or couple, whatever the appearance or scenario approaches you with a request, an emergency, or a 'need' BE CAREFUL what you do next. WHAT are they asking you to do? WHERE are they asking you to go? Two key questions that can help you better discern a hidden agenda. Just don't "gobble up" whatever they tell you. Looking for additional insights? I know someone who can help. #defensebydesign #holidayshoppingtips #holidayshopping #holidaysafety #personalsafety #personalsecurity #selfdefense

🎁 Are you ready for Mother’s Day? If you still need to shop, you aren’t alone. 💐 Looking at Numerator verified purchase data on fresh-cut flowers in the two-week lead up to Mother’s Day 2023, over half (51.5%) of spend occurred on Mother’s Day weekend, with 25.8% on Mother’s Day itself. For greeting cards during that same period, 27.6% of spend occurred on Mother’s Day weekend, with 17.7% on the Saturday/day before Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day celebrants are planning to purchase their items from: 🏬 Big box stores (34%) 💻 Online retailers (32%) 🛒 Grocery stores (31%) 🛍️ Local shops / small businesses (21%) 🏬 Restaurants, bars, or food delivery services (16%) 💲 Discount or dollar stores (12%) Read the press release: https://bit.ly/3UNOlHh #Numerator #MothersDay #MothersDay2024 #consumerinsights #consumersurvey

With Thanksgiving comes increased holiday shopping, including the dreaded Black Friday. Along with this season comes increased scams that can lead to either physical or fiscal harm, if not careful. Just because someone -- ANYONE -- male or female, young or old, single or couple, whatever the appearance or scenario approaches you with a request, an emergency, or a 'need' BE CAREFUL what you do next. WHAT are they asking you to do? WHERE are they asking you to go? Two key questions that can help you better discern a hidden agenda. Just don't "gobble up" whatever they tell you. Looking for additional insights? I know someone who can help. #defensebydesign #holidayshoppingtips #holidayshopping #holidaysafety #personalsafety #personalsecurity #selfdefense

How does the gifting season make you feel? Throughout 4 years of operation, we found that there are 4 wider groups of gifting shoppers: 1. Those, who plan way in advance 2. Those, who react to Christmas decorations and playlists and start thinking about gifts around now 3. Those, who get overwhelmed by choice and put off gift buying until the last minute Whilst we can cater to all, I'm very driven to tackle the panic gift shopping. Because this reveals the bigger problem. People don't delay Christmas shopping because they DON'T care about their loved ones. It's because they get overwhelmed by choice. They WANT to get it right, but have a decision paralysis. Until it becomes too late. Then the budget, thought gets out the window. Speedy delivery is prioritised. At Shilta we set out to fix it, to ease the decision paralysis and provide you with personalised gift recommendations. No more scrolling through 5,0000 options. Just the gifts that make your loved ones tick. Shilta - your guide to thoughtful gifts.

Is there a way to avoid the pressure to overspend during the holidays, yet still have the pleasure of buying presents for your family and friends? Here’s a key strategy to use so you can take an organized approach to holiday shopping and actually enjoy it! #personalfinances #strongvalley https://bit.ly/3YOJE24

There's a reason stores put out holiday decorations this early, and it's not because they're eager to skip over autumn 👀 It’s a strategy to build an emotional bond with shoppers, prompting them to start considering their holiday plans and gift lists long before the rush. You should also be prepping for Q4! Here's how 👇 Schedule your holiday promotions early to ensure your brand is top-of-mind when shopping begins, and roll out irresistible holiday specials or bundles that make gift-giving easy and exciting. #holidaymarketing #marketingstrategy #seasonalmarketing #marketingtips

📢 Attention marketers - Valentine's Day is here! 💘 As you gear up for sales today, check out these insights about Canadian Valentine's Day shopping trends, brought to you by the Retail Council of Canada. You need to know that when it comes to Valentine's Day, it's not just about flowers and chocolates. 🌹🍫 Food, beverages, confections, and dining out reign supreme as the go-to gifts for many Canadians. 🍽️🍷🍬 Although that may not be that surprising, what might amaze you is that a whopping 35% of shoppers pick up gifts straight from the regular grocery aisle, just a few aisles away from shoppers' usual grocery list items! 🛒 With this in mind, marketers should implement seamless cross-promotional opportunities between grocery and gift items. Collaborating with grocery stores on themed displays or by offering discounts on chocolates or wine when purchasing flowers or greeting cards as this incentivizes shoppers to make impulse purchases. 💸 Also, did you know that nearly half of shoppers are expert multitaskers with about 50% of Valentine's Day shoppers snagging their gifts while tackling other errands? 🎁🛍️ Given this, marketers should always focus on convenience marketing strategies. This might include optimizing online platforms for easy browsing and purchasing, offering click-and-collect services, or strategically placing Valentine's Day gift displays in high-traffic areas of stores where shoppers are likely to pass by while completing their other errands. Additionally, promoting hassle-free gift options such as pre-packaged gift sets or ready-to-go gift baskets could appeal to busy shoppers looking to save time. 💻🏪 How are you seizing marketing opportunities on this special day? Share your insights below! 👇 #valentinesday2024 #valentinesday #valentinesgift #RCC #shopping #retailmarketing #shoppermarketing #canada #marketingagency #ascendamarketing

Starting to feel the holiday rush? 😱🎁 Keep calm with these low minimum and quick-ship gifts. Explore our Rush & Ready catalog for a seamless shopping experience featuring high-quality gift selections that arrive quickly, so you can meet tight deadlines without compromising on style or impact. ⏰ Don't delay. Contact me to place your holiday order! #SayHALO #BrandedMerch #Customgifts #CorporateGifting #EmployeeGifts #Quickshipgifts