NORTHLAND'S FAVORITE HITS » shopping

Store Raises Eyebrows By Charging a $5 'Just Looking' Fee

Drew Weisholtz — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:02:29 +0000

The economy is getting so tough one store is actually charging customers who don’t buy anything. A specialty food store in Brisbane, Australia has taken the controversial measure of informing people they will be charged $5 just for browsing. And word of the policy has spread, since someone snapped a photo of a sign explaining [...]

The Best Ways To Price Match While You Shop

Chris Allen — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:30:35 +0000

There you are in a store that has 8 of the 9 things on your family list, but one of them isn’t on sale like store number 2 across town. You see that store 1 price matches. You over hear someone having problems, here’s some things that will help you. Some stores only price match [...]

Robotic Mannequins Are Being Used to Spy on Shoppers

Amanda Ferris — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:08:12 +0000

If you ever get a creepy feeling that the mannequins in the department store are watching you, you just might be right. Some fashion brands are now using mannequins equipped with technology used to identify criminals at airports to watch shoppers at their stores.

Small Business Saturday Invites You To Be Local, Shop Local

Chris Allen — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:33:48 +0000

Black Friday is always a rat race, you get pushed, you get shoved, and sometimes you get a deal that is hard to take back later because that item is closed out or was on a short special. Why not shop local, with local artists, businesspeople, and friends. Downtown Duluth is waiting for you. Travel [...]

Retailers Are Ruining The Holidays

Chris Allen — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:03:16 +0000

Remember when you could get up early and go shopping at 7 am the day after Thanksgiving? Seems like so long ago you could eat your weight in turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy etc. then undo your pants and sit on the couch and watch football. Now, there are 3 football games and you [...]

Let's Skip Christmas, 45% Of Americans Would, Here's Why

Chris Allen — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:44:54 +0000

In a poll taken recently of Americans, 45% of them said they would rather skip Christmas. The reasons were many. Americans still want to gather the families and celebrate, just not in the same way. For most people it means stress. Like me, what do I get them, what do they want. You know your [...]

Duluth Merchants Invite You To Shop Small Business Saturday

Steve Tanko — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:43:05 +0000

Help our Northland economy! Get some great deals! Take care of some of your Christmas shopping! There are many reasons to shop Small Business Saturday – November 24th. The Greater Downtown Council invites everyone in the Twin Ports to stop by and take advantage of the goods and services that are readily available right here [...]

Beat The Rush, See All The Black Friday Ads First And Print Coupons

Chris Allen — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:58:56 +0000

My wife’s family has a little group that heads out on Black Friday and buys deals and sales at stores in the area. I found this website that shows you ads early, and in some cases will let you print coupons. They go to this website and plan out the entire night and are very [...]

Holiday Shoppers Can Preview Black Friday Deals Right Now

Rayman — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:20:56 +0000

Holiday shopping is right around the corner, and some are in dread of the event. With large crowds, impulse buying, and limited sale merchandise, many opt for internet shopping. For those who prefer to shop "in store," there are great deals to be had now because inventory is plentiful, the stores are less crowded and your stress level isn’t so high you’ll be making bad decisions.

The Top 15 Toys for the Upcoming Holiday Season: The New Wii, One Direction Dolls and … Furby Again?

Ben Worcester — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:20:15 +0000

We know, we know—it's only September. When it comes to toys, though, it's never too early to start thinking about the holiday season, especially for retailers. It is big business. Huge business. The buying frenzy of the holidays can comprise 40 percent of the total annual profit for a toy store. With this in mind, Toys R Us has released their 2012 Holiday Hot Toy List to get a head start on the hottest items this year.

So what's on it this year?

Do You Only Buy Clothing When It's On Sale? — Survey of the Day

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:40:53 +0000

Recently, J.C. Penney announced plans to do away with sales and instead offer discounted prices every day. The retail giant’s new strategy is a risky one because many shoppers are in the habit of only buying clothing when they see red sale tags. In fact, a new Coupon Cabin.com survey found that 41 percent of [...]

JC Penney Gets Rid of Sales in Favor of Permanent Discounts — Dollars and Sense [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:06:31 +0000

For a die-hard shopper, there’s little more frustrating than buying something at full-price, only to see it go on sale shortly thereafter.

To ward that off, retailing giant JC Penney has announced that starting Feb. 1, it’s discounting all merchandise by at least 40 percent — permanently.

What Do We Buy Most in Warehouse Stores?

Tom Morgan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:14:44 +0000

Question: According to a national survey, what is the best-selling item at warehouse club stores? Answer: Toilet paper. Two-ply or not two-ply — that is the question. Stock up, everybody! [SoJO] Read Original: What Do We Buy Most in Warehouse Stores?

What Did President Barack Obama Buy on His Holiday Shopping Trip? [PHOTOS]

Nick Romano — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:35:20 +0000

Now here’s some fun holiday news. President Barack Obama shops at Best Buy and PetSmart… just like us! And what, pray tell, was our nation’s leader shopping for? Why, Christmas gifts for the family, of course. Along his route, Obama picked up ‘Just Dance 3′ for Nintendo Wii, a ‘Sims’ game and iTunes gift cards [...]

Pranksters Annoy Wal-Mart Employees With Fake Holiday Shopping Lists [VIDEO]

Don Deane — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:12:10 +0000

Greg Benson and Ryan Smith had such a fine time pranking Target employees that they decided to do it again. This time, the jokesters pestered retail workers at Wal-Mart with ridiculous shopping lists. With the help of a new addition to their team — Miles Grose — the pranksters assailed patient Wal-Mart employees with funny, [...]

Restaurant Owner Surprises Black Friday Shoppers With Cash

Steve Tanko — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:23:39 +0000

Maybe there IS Christmas Spirit – somewhere. A Tim Horton’s restaurant franchise owner in New England surprised Black Friday shoppers with gift cards. Jamie Myers owns several tim hortons restaurants in Bangor. He surprised Black Friday shoppers waiting in line at the Best Buy in Bangor. “The community does a great job supporting us. We [...]

Black Friday Deals Every Pet Owner Should Know About

Vetstreet Editors — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:31:46 +0000

Planning to get a jump on your holiday shopping this week? Don’t forget man’s best friend — a variety of pet retailers are offering steals and deals for the dog and cat sets on Black Friday. Get out there early and get Fido what he really wants for the holidays this year!

8 Weird and Wacky Thanksgiving Items From Etsy

Rose Maura Lorre — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:37:27 +0000

This Thanksgiving, let's all give thanks to online crafts, clothes and curios store Etsy.com. For without them, we'd be deprived of the following 10 items of pure holiday kitsch. 1 Pumpkin Pie Soap Buy it! These pumpkin pie-shaped hand soaps are certainly pretty and definitely tempting to look at. In other words, it's [...]

5 Things You Shouldn't Buy on Black Friday

Shauna Wright — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:33:00 +0000

Savvy buyers know Black Friday can be one of the best days of the year to find terrific bargains, but not all items are such great deals. In order to better your experience on that infamous shopping day, here are some things you may want to avoid purchasing, along with when you may be able to score the best deals on them.

Just Holding a Victoria's Secret Bag Makes Women Feel Sexy

Tony Hart — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 13:00:31 +0000

According to a new study from the University of Minnesota, women feel sexier by merely putting a shopping bag from Victoria’s Secret in their hand. The researchers gave one group of women a Victoria’s Secret bag and another group just a plain pink bag. After both groups walked around the mall for an hour with [...]