In this most unusual year, the gift of giving will feel especially good. These tips can help make the season merry and bright for everyone.
What's Different This Year
Hot Ticket Items May Be Extra Hot: Some companies have scaled back their holiday ordering this year to trim inventory, so popular products might sell out fast — in stores and online. So if you see a good price for an item on your list, be sure to grab it. And plan to ship gifts at least two weeks before Christmas Eve.
Online Sales Will Start Early
This year, it maybe more like Cyber Season, with online promotions and sales starting right after Halloween. With concerns about crowds, retailers will likely save a lot of their inventory for online sales. To avoid parking lot chaos, try to pick up your purchases first thing in the morning or later in the evening, when wait times should be shorter.
Outlets Are Online Too
If one of your holiday shopping traditions is a trip to the outlets, you can still experience the thrill of the bargain hunt—from home. Shoppremiumoutlets.com is the virtual version of the country's largest outlet company. In someways, it's even better than an in-person trip because you can shop by item or category and immediately see what different retailers have in stock, rather than going store to store .
When to Shop
Not on Thanksgiving: Many stores that opened their doors on the holiday last year have announced that they will be closed this year. One upside for shoppers is rock-bottom prices as some stores liquidate (清仓). The downsides: They might not be around if you need to return something or use a gift card. In other words: Bankruptcy buyers beware.