Are shopping marathons the new trend?
A customer makes a purchase in the Times Square Toys R Us store in New York.
First, retailers didn’t want to lose sales on Thanksgiving, so Black Friday came early. Now, some stores don’t want to miss those middle of the night shopping binges, so several major retailers have announced they will stay open for days at a time and hold all night shopping marathons. Macy’s will open at 7 a.m. Friday through close on Sunday, which for most stores is midnight. Stores reopen Christmas Eve until 6 p.m.
Toys R Us takes it a step farther, with an 88-consecutive hour run starting at 6 a.m. Friday. Stores remain open until 10 p.m. Christmas Eve.
“By extending our shopping hours in the days leading up to Christmas, customers can take advantages of around-the-clock shopping at Toys R Us stores nationwide for all of their gift-giving needs whenever is most convenient to them,” said Troy Rice, executive vice president of Toys R Us stores.
Readers, what do you think? Is this good for shoppers? What about the employees who are up all night?
Christmas flash mob at Sooner Mall in Norman
This happened Sunday at Sooner Mall in Norman. A fun holiday video for your Tuesday.
Today is free shipping day
Is this what your front porch looks like?
While I generally encourage shopping locally, there are occasions to shop online. Free Shipping Day–today– is one of them. Thousands of online merchants are offering free shipping today with delivery guaranteed by Christmas Eve, and while some have minimum purchase requirements, many do not. Of course, big box retailers are there but take some time to browse the many smaller retailers and Etsy shops that are participating; free shipping may be something they wouldn’t normally offer. Check out the offers at www.freeshippingday.com.
Target plans Lawton store in 2013
Target in Moore.
Target announced Wednesday it will open a store in Lawton in July 2013 in the Lawton Marketplace shopping center. The 135,000-square-foot store will be one of 13 stores the Minneapolis-based retailer plans to open next year. The store will employ 200-250 workers and hiring will begin two months before opening. The most recent Oklahoma Target store opened in Moore in 2011.
Mathis Brothers opens sleep studio at The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City
Following the success of The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City, other retailers are beginning to pop up in the parcels surrounding the mall at I-40 and Council Road. Mathis Brothers celebrated the grand opening of its Sleep Studio on Thursday and I wanted to share photos of the new store.
