Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #13

If you have been following these tips, you will already know that I have blah, blah, blah years in retail blah, blah, blah management. Well, one thing that I can share with you is that when it comes to retail management, you are looking to run your store as smoothly as possible. With that "smoothly as possible" comes many "not so smooth" customer challenges and concerns.

I have always trained my teams, and I believe this to be fairly universal in the retail world (at least those retailers with a shot at survival!) that if a customer asks for something reasonable, it is reasonable to grant that wish. Reasonable is in the eye of the beholder, or hurried retail manager, in this case. What I am going to advocate in this tip is very, very, VERY reasonable: When it comes to your online shopping, you have to ASK for something very easy for an online retailer to do to make you happy and click through to buy your shopping cart:

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #13:

Ask for FREE SHIPPING!

Not a huge secret, really. Most retailers have an online code that they can offer you for free shipping. All you have to do is ask. The best place to go to is a live online customer service "chat" associate. Trust me, if you ask, they will give the free shipping code (along with other great shopping codes that they may be offering!).

Google your favorite online retailer for free shipping codes, and you can also find that there are many sites and blogs out there that will give you those very codes! Here is a fabulous site, MomsWhoSave.com. I found this site on Twitter, a great place to find such resources.

Speaking of Twitter, log on and send out a message to see if anyone can give you codes for a website that you are interested it. I have seen people helping each other out on Twitter, it is a great place to network and find such information. (BTW...you can follow me at http://twitter.com/KellyAlvarez!

You can also email or call the online retailer, but often at this time of the year, response times are longer than usual. If you are trying to lock into a great price, or have a short timeframe, that may not work.

p.s. Here is one online retailer that is offering free shipping: Benefit! For any of you that have beauty enthusiasts on your holiday list (or you need to get some special beauty products for yourself!) Click on these links for some of the best beauty products out there with fantastic savings!!!!



Enjoy FREE US Standard Shipping on any order for 4 days only. Enter promo code GIFTSDEC at checkout. Offer expires at 11:59pm PST 12.7.08. Not valid with other offers.

Retailers using text, Twitter and more technology to get your sales!

Shoppers of the world, get your cellphones and laptops ready!

This season, more and more retailers are getting tech savvy and reaching out to their customers, and potential customers using social media and cellphones. This is going to be a challenging retail season, and retailers will be battling it out for your shrinking discretionary income.


Retailers are using Twitter to communicate special sales and exclusive offers. Twitter allows users to send short messages to a tech-savvy audience. For anyone who is on Twitter knows, it becomes quite addictive, and retailers will be keen to tap into that addiction with frequent updates on sales, special events, and custom offers for their Twitter followers! Even I Twitter, follow me at http://twitter.com/KellyAlvarez!


Retailers also use other social media sites to attract shoppers and keep them updated. Target has a Facebook page, featuring exclusive Target offers and access to special games and music. As of this blog post, they are offering a free ringtone of Christina Aguilera's new song, "Keep Gettin' Better". All you need to do is text "FREE" Target at 827438.


Speaking of text messaging, retailers are also using text messages to contact customers about sale events, special instore events and customized offers. I get text updates from a handful of retailers, and I also get coupons texted to me for savings at my favorite grocery store. I receive Amazon.com text messages that update me on their "daily deals".

JC Penney's is offering text messages that inform their customers about holiday shopping tips. No doubt those are JC Penney specific shopping tips! Even cooler...you can now text an order to Sears and they will text you back when it is ready for pickup, and from which store you can pick up your items. Consumer beware: know your texting plans and rates for your cell carrier. However, this can be a great way to hone in on savings if you are willing (and able!) to act quickly on that text message! Not to mention saving yourself a trip to the mall to buy that one item you know you want and need!