Monday, November 12, 2012

Holiday Shopping

Well, I feel like I really shouldn't ignore the topic anymore. Despite the fact that Thanksgiving has not even yet come and gone, since I work in retail it is totally clear to me that we are well into the holiday shopping season. I have a few tips, tricks and reminders for you as you work through your holiday gift lists.

1. Do your research

Sure, those deals in the Black Friday ads can seem pretty smoking, but make sure you do your research to find out if you are really getting as good of a deal as you think you are. It's pretty simple.

2. Really want to save money? Make your gifts!

Thanks to Pinterest and the internet, it is easier than ever to find ideas and tutorials that will help you makes fun handmade gifts for your friends and family. You get the satisfaction of making them something they will love and save a little money in the process. They will get an awesome, one-of-a-kind gift! Win-win!

or 3. Buy handmade.

There are tons of stores on etsy and Storenvy full of some truly awesome handmade gifts (like mine, wink, wink). I'll be working on a gift guide featuring some of these stores soon, but its easy to dive in on your own. Support small businesses!

4. Be nice!!!

This might just be the frustrated retail worker in me talking, but, please, please, please, be nice to people! Keep in mind, not only on Black Friday, but all year, that most of the time, the things that you are upset about aren't the fault of the people trying to help you. As cashiers, we don't have control over the way things are priced, the number of items available, colors and sizes available, etc. It isn't our fault that the company we work for has made changes that you are unhappy with. Computers are going to run slowly and there will be computer glitches. People will move items under sale signs that don't belong there. Please keep calm. Please be patient. Please keep in mind that no matter how early you got up to shop, most of us had to be at the store even earlier. Don't leave a mess behind you. Act like an adult. Holiday shopping can be total madness. Try not to make it worse for people. I could rant on this one forever, but it seems to me that people could really use a reminder on basic courtesy this time of year. And that is sad.

Something else to keep in mind: if you aren't able to score exactly what you went out to get, try to keep your cool. The people you are buying for will most likely love something else just as much, as long as it comes from the heart. I know, that sounds extremely cheesy from me, but its true. I would rather have a gift someone took the time and thought to make for me personally, than something they went to the store and knocked a bunch of people out of the way for so they could get it cheaper.

Anything to add? You know I love it when you share!

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