Bloomberg has just released information confirming what many traders had dreaded "Cutbacks on clothing, electronics and jewelry led U.S. retail sales to drop as much as 4 percent this holiday season as consumers limited purchases to necessities, according to SpendingPulse data." Retailers are hoping that the after Christmas sales will help pull back the situation.
"Spending was the lowest since MasterCard Advisors started tracking data in 2002 to provide the SpendingPulse service, said Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis, in an interview yesterday. He estimates sales, excluding autos and gasoline, fell 2 percent to 4 percent from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24.
“Overall this has been one of the most challenging holiday seasons on record,” McNamara said.
Consumers facing a recession, tightening credit and the highest unemployment rate in 15 years shortened their gift lists and spent less. Retailers including Macy’s Inc. and AnnTaylor Stores Corp. responded by increasing markdowns, which stand to hurt profit margins in what may be the weakest holiday spending season in four decades. "
I'm for the consumer and I say if you have some spare cash left over make use of it now in the after Christmas sales there are going to be some mighty discounts especially on high ticket prices.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Humphrey Bogart Was Born On Christmas Day
When it comes to film stars the old ones are the ones I like best and Humphrey Bogart is up there in the top three. That’s not to say I love every movie Humphrey Bogart made but anyway I just wanted to mention him on his birthday. Humphrey Bogart was born on Christmas Day, 1899.
While he spent 11 years in mostly forgettable movies or inappropriate roles. (Boy, is he out of his element in "The Oklahoma Kid" and "Dark Victory.") Then in 1941, Bogart had his breakthrough with "High Sierra" and "The Maltese Falcon." He died in 1957. But in 16 years, he left a film legacy that still astonishes and remains a vibrant part of pop-culture lore.
Here’s some of his best.
"Casablanca," probably his best-remembered movie, screens at 8. The Oscar-winning best picture of 1943 united him for the only time with Ingrid Bergman. Michael Curtiz won the direction Oscar for a movie that stands up as time goes by. Leonard Maltin, in his indispensable "Movie Guide," says of "Casablanca": "Our candidate for the best Hollywood movie of all time."
"The Big Sleep" at 10 gives us Bogart as Philip Marlowe working his way through a difficult-to-understand plot. Still, the 1946 detective drama is enjoyable for Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Dorothy Malone in a small, memorable role. Director Howard Hawks knows how to show you a good time.
"The Maltese Falcon" at midnight presents Bogart as Sam Spade. The top-notch cast, guided by director John Huston, includes Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Ward Bond and Gladys George.
"The African Queen," at 2 a.m. Friday, was the film that brought Bogart the best-actor Oscar. The 1951 adventure, also directed by Huston, matches Bogart with the remarkable Katharine Hepburn.
"High Sierra" at 4 a.m. was the acting revelation for Bogart, cast as old convict Roy Earle. Ida Lupino, Joan Leslie and Arthur Kennedy co-star. Raoul Walsh directed.
Maybe if your using up that Amazon Gift Voucher then in Amazons After Christmas Sales then take a look at these.
While he spent 11 years in mostly forgettable movies or inappropriate roles. (Boy, is he out of his element in "The Oklahoma Kid" and "Dark Victory.") Then in 1941, Bogart had his breakthrough with "High Sierra" and "The Maltese Falcon." He died in 1957. But in 16 years, he left a film legacy that still astonishes and remains a vibrant part of pop-culture lore.
Here’s some of his best.
"Casablanca," probably his best-remembered movie, screens at 8. The Oscar-winning best picture of 1943 united him for the only time with Ingrid Bergman. Michael Curtiz won the direction Oscar for a movie that stands up as time goes by. Leonard Maltin, in his indispensable "Movie Guide," says of "Casablanca": "Our candidate for the best Hollywood movie of all time."
"The Big Sleep" at 10 gives us Bogart as Philip Marlowe working his way through a difficult-to-understand plot. Still, the 1946 detective drama is enjoyable for Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Dorothy Malone in a small, memorable role. Director Howard Hawks knows how to show you a good time.
"The Maltese Falcon" at midnight presents Bogart as Sam Spade. The top-notch cast, guided by director John Huston, includes Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Ward Bond and Gladys George.
"The African Queen," at 2 a.m. Friday, was the film that brought Bogart the best-actor Oscar. The 1951 adventure, also directed by Huston, matches Bogart with the remarkable Katharine Hepburn.
"High Sierra" at 4 a.m. was the acting revelation for Bogart, cast as old convict Roy Earle. Ida Lupino, Joan Leslie and Arthur Kennedy co-star. Raoul Walsh directed.
Maybe if your using up that Amazon Gift Voucher then in Amazons After Christmas Sales then take a look at these.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
After Christmas Sales Are Starting
Christmas Sales are down there is no doubt about that. Many retailers are hoping that their After Christmas Sales will be enough to save them.
According to preliminary data from SpendingPulse — a division of MasterCard Advisors that tracks total sales paid for by credit card, checks and cash — retail sales fell between 5.5 percent and 8 percent during the holiday season compared with last year. Excluding auto and gas sales, retail sales fell between 2 percent and 4 percent, according to SpendingPulse.
A better indicator of how retailers fared won't arrive until Jan. 8, when major stores report same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, for December.
If you’ve managed to keep your hard earned cash in your pocket this holiday season but really need something now might be the time to strike as retailers are still trying to entice consumers with big markdowns, extended hours and other perks, it is expected that many retailers after christmas sales will be the biggest ever.
Toys R Us said it is cutting prices by 60 percent on some brands the day after Christmas. And kids who didn't get the Hannah Montana doll they wanted may be able to find it for half off.
Other retailers such as Target are pushing online deals, rather than in-store promotions, more heavily in the post-holiday period. Target said it is putting thousands of items on clearance and making them eligible for free shipping the day after Christmas.
Others, like Wal-Mart Stores, are waiting until the weekend to make markdowns on items such as televisions, office and home goods but say they will continue in-store promotions of the week.
If you have that gift voucher, some spare cash and there is something you might like then now is the time to strike: this years after Christmas sales will be the best ever
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Benefit From After Christmas Sales
Are you going to benefit from after Christmas sales?
After Christmas sales are going to be big, big, big this year.
It use to be that Christmas was the time traders looked forward to. Don’t get me wrong the still do only now after Christmas sales are almost as important to a stores success. ShopperTrak recon that the day after Christmas is now one of the top five busiest shopping days of the holiday season.
With people watching their hard earned cash traders are beginning to become anxious. The National Retail Federation has already asked President-elect Obama to plug sales-tax-exempt shopping days next March, July and October into his economic-stimulus program. In total the public would be getting a ten day tax free holiday and argue the retailers it would increase overall consumer confidence and spending.
Here’s the type of event you should be looking out for.
JC Penney will open at 5:30 a.m., for example.
Sign up for a JC Penney wake-up call, if you're that kind of shopper, and take advantage of more than 100 specials.
Walmart will be open at 6 a.m. and Target opens from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Mondawmin and Towson (call to confirm the hours of your closest Target location).
Crate and Barrel also sent out a circular advertising Dec. 26 sales, according to SlickDeals.
And just like Black Friday, online retailers are trying to clear out their warehouses, particularly seasonal merchandise. Check out ...
... I found these Macys.com coupon codes to save 15 percent off from Dec. 25 through Dec. 30. The same site had BestBuy.com coupon codes as well.
And Neiman Marcus, is already slashing holiday items by 50 percent online ... but I'm still not in the market for a knit penguin and chocolate, even at the closeout price of $70.
Tony360 recommended www.cybermondaydiscountcodes.com, a list of discounts for coupon codes. Just be sure to check the expiration dates for these deals --- some of them were intended for pre-Christmas sales.
Will these sales and discounts eclipse markdowns and closeouts? We'll have to wait and see. But with the economy putting a damper on what's usually the most wonderful time of the year for retailers, the sales are likely to be fabulous.
UPDATE: Don't see your favorite store listed? Try Googling the name of the store and "coupon" or "discount" to see if it can be located elsewhere --- and come back and share the tip here!
Monday, December 22, 2008
After Christmas Sales
I don’t know about you but I always hold some money back for the after Christmas sales. So my present to you this year is to show you how to get a little bargain, that something special that you’ve been promising yourself.
OK there are business out there and I mean the big ones that need the turnover, they need the cash constantly flowing into the tills and that’s why I think this years after Christmas sales are going to be massive. A lot of people have cut back this year and that means that stores will be overstocked and they are going to have to liquidate
So here’s my Christmas present to you the five top online stores, stores where you will find the best after Christmas sales deals
1. Amazon.com. Well it has to be number one after all they are the biggest. Still been the biggest doesn’t mean they can hold onto their stock indefinitely; start watching their site from about the 27 December.
2. Slickdeals.net is perhaps one of my favourite sites because they have thousands of readers on their forums telling of deals available both online and sometimes more important your ordinary standard Brick and Mortar business. You might also like to check out their rating system and see what you think
3. Dealnews.com – Another firm favourite, they not only post new deals on a constant basis but you’ll pick up an excellent list of coupons that you can make use of. A bit of advice here check to see if coupons are available, you’d be surprised at the dent they can make in the price.
4. Become.com is where you should point your browser if you are after something in particular – key in what you’re after and they’ll give you a dam good breakdown of what the best prices are.
5. Dealhack.com – Not one of my favourite sites but it does post regularly, somewhat random items.
If you are prepared to do some hunting around then there are loads of bargains to be had out there in after Christmas sales
OK there are business out there and I mean the big ones that need the turnover, they need the cash constantly flowing into the tills and that’s why I think this years after Christmas sales are going to be massive. A lot of people have cut back this year and that means that stores will be overstocked and they are going to have to liquidate
So here’s my Christmas present to you the five top online stores, stores where you will find the best after Christmas sales deals
1. Amazon.com. Well it has to be number one after all they are the biggest. Still been the biggest doesn’t mean they can hold onto their stock indefinitely; start watching their site from about the 27 December.
2. Slickdeals.net is perhaps one of my favourite sites because they have thousands of readers on their forums telling of deals available both online and sometimes more important your ordinary standard Brick and Mortar business. You might also like to check out their rating system and see what you think
3. Dealnews.com – Another firm favourite, they not only post new deals on a constant basis but you’ll pick up an excellent list of coupons that you can make use of. A bit of advice here check to see if coupons are available, you’d be surprised at the dent they can make in the price.
4. Become.com is where you should point your browser if you are after something in particular – key in what you’re after and they’ll give you a dam good breakdown of what the best prices are.
5. Dealhack.com – Not one of my favourite sites but it does post regularly, somewhat random items.
If you are prepared to do some hunting around then there are loads of bargains to be had out there in after Christmas sales
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)