25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #8

As a retail veteran, I have studied upclose many aspects of consumer spending and what makes consumers spend more at any given retail store. One aspect of consumer spending is the aspect of group suggestive selling, or a kind of "pack" mentality that occurs when people shop in larger groups.

This is very common when parents shop with their kids. Kids watch TV, they see commercials for all of that neat stuff that they "need" (read: want) and when they go shopping with mom and dad those savvy kids "suggestive sell" those "needs" to their parents! I love to shop with friends, and often take a friend when I am making an important shopping decision so they can help gauge what looks good on me, if something fits right, etc. However, that friend subconsciously suggestive sells to me as well. Retailers LOVE this, and will use commercials to show parents shopping with their kids, gals with their girlfriends, etc.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #8:

If you can, with your personal safety first in mind, shop alone.

I do stress "if you can" in this shopping tip as I would always err on the side of safety first. If you are shopping at odd hours, when it is dark, or you are carrying larger sums of cash, this tip may not be the right one for you.

However, you can still shop using the "buddy system". With cell phones you can keep in contact via calls or text messages and still do your targeted shopping alone, while your friend or family member does their targeted shopping alone. Doesn't sound like much fun? Well, you will save money, you will stay on your budget, and you can always enjoy a great cup of mocha or lunch together!

And, truly, I do advocate if possible not shopping with your kids. Retailers deliberately merchandise their stores year around with kids in mind, however, at this time of the year they make it all the more dangerous! What you spend on a babysitter may be well worth the investment in what you save when you do not fall prey to kids begging for this and that..."this and that" can add up too quickly!

p.s. Here is an easy item to shop for alone, online! Barefoot Contessa Pantry items are wonderfully delicious! Fantastic food items for your holiday needs, or gift-giving needs!



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25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #7

During my over 15 year retail tenure, I got to have amazing experiences in understanding the strategy behind the physical layout of a store. I was able to be part of new store openings and remodels. There is a true science to a layout of a store and it has everything to do with the way that we shop not only with our wallets but with visual cues and emotional cues.

Without getting into the hardcore theory and strategy, I will give you two of the easiest examples... Sugar cereal is lower on the aisle so that it is at eyelevel of the kids who will beg their parents to buy them the sugar cereal. Trust me, I know as I am a bit vertically challenged and have to seriously stretch to get at my Grape Nuts and "good for you" cereals! Candy is at the checklanes so that while mom is unloading the cart, kids have yet one more chance to beg for sugar! This leads me to my next shopping tip...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #7:

Avoid departments in a store that are YOUR weakness.

Yes, this seems like a no-brainer, however, retailers have worked long and hard to get the weakness departments right in front of you. Why put toys in the back of the store? TO MAKE YOU WALK THROUGH EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT FIRST...AND YET ONE MORE TIME TO GET TO THE REGISTERS! Shoes and handbags are my vices. I will actually walk out of my way in some retail stores to stay away from those departments. Do I lack restraint? No. But, during this time of the year, when it is easy to spend a little here, a little there...impulse buying is simply not a sound shopping strategy if a budget is in place!

I even recommend using store maps. Don't wander, retailers depend upon you wandering through the store, impulse buying, picking up this little box of chocolates, that candle. The reason so many retailers have special tables and merchandise displays up this time of the year is to capture the wandering eye and the wandering consumer.

p.s. If you have a wandering eye, let it wander here! Barefoot Contessa Pantry items are wonderfully delicious! Fantastic food items for your holiday needs, or gift-giving needs!



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25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #6

During my over 15 year retail tenure, I was known for building strong sales cultures. What is a sales culture? A culture in your store in which your team is laser focused on sales through product knowledge, instocks, great customer service and other key elements of a sales culture.

Retail teams are trained to not only provide you with the product knowledge you need to make your purchase, but if they are well-trained, they also know how to sell you expensive, high margin add-ons that can easily take you from making your budget to busting your budget!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #6:

Beware the add-ons, stick to your planned purchase.

Do your research upfront. Know what you need to make your product work to your expectations. Cables to connect a flat screen or a game system to your entertainment center can cost an arm and a leg...in some cases almost as much as your gaming system! Know exactly what you need, and only buy to that need.

I can be completely candid in telling you that retailers do not want you to be that knowledgeable. They rely on you needing THEIR knowledge, and expect that consumers come to them for the "answers". That is fine, if you want their "answers" that have the most expensive solutions to your consumer product inquiries.

p.s. No upselling here. Fantastic food items for your holiday needs, or gift-giving needs!



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