Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
7 Shopping Tips For Smart Affiliate Marketing ROI
For affiliate Marketers (AMs) success is all about investing in effective advertising. That sounds simple enough. Except that, for every successful AM, there are dozens who never get past the "first base" of making an income (no matter how small) from their efforts.
Why not?
Because, no matter what the elements of any advertising campaign,one vital factor is knowing how to choose the best, most cost-effective products (advertising tools), for the investment dollar. In short, they need to learn how to shop smart.
While "smart shopping" is a term usually reserved for back-to-school moms or the choice of a ripe melon (in which case, the ladies definitely have it all over the guys in this segment of the business), for an AM to break out and start showing a profit, they must adopt the same, basic principles. They must find good, cost-effective, yet quality products and services.
Here, then, are the basics of smart Shopping, Affiliate Marketer-style:
1. THE WORLD (WIDE WEB) IS YOUR OYSTER No matter the service -- whether it's lead generators, auto-responders, links, ad trackers, you-name-it -- when looking for a product or service, enjoy the advantages of the competitive marketplace. In other words, shop around. The time is past of being blindly led, either by recommendations, past experience or, worst of all, habit. Realize the potential and look around because every day, just as in any other aspect of the internet, new advertising competitors are joining the ranks, with fresh ideas, competitive pricing, new or better offerings. For example, while many still swear by such lead generators as Lead Factory and Cutting Edge Media, SimplerLeads.com has stepped in to offer true high-quality, double opt-in leads, plus offer their own auto-responding system and auto-mail system for true auto-pilot access-- all at rates lower than the competition.
2. INVEST NOW, IT PAYS LATER Invest the time now to research and study the various companies and it will pay off richly later. Pick a few different companies, research them, get familiar with the various features of all of them. Or, even more importantly, features that some companies have while others don't.
In doing all this -- and, yes, it often takes a week or two -- a marketer not only benefits from the education, but can can also gain a clear perspective of what's available and a product versus pricing comparison.
3. ASK AWAY-- EMAILS TO CUST SVC Never be afraid to ask questions. Even stupid ones. It's all part of the educational process. And that's what Customer Service -- bless their CS little hearts! -- are there for. And, too, CS gives a marketer a good idea of the quality of the company. It a good idea to note their turn around time. By and large, companies go out of their way for their newest and/or prospective customers. So if their response is anything less than stellar, keep looking. After all, if they treat new customers shabbily, how will they treat existing customers. Note, however, two things about CS: 1) They MAY have a good reason for a poor response rate (such giving preference to existing customers); 2) Never bother a company with truly silly questions. Don't, for instance, ask their cost, when it is clearly visible. Find questions that are relevent and genuinely add to your information. Then wait for the response.
4. NOTES, NOTES, NOTES While it sometimes happens that one company stands out among the rest, it's more common for the differences to be slight or the offers varied enough to leave a marketer dizzy. So note-taking becomes essential in the research process. For anyone who never kept good notes in school, the marketing version is simply a matter of deciding on the key factors in the proposed business, then keeping track of those factors from prospective business to business.
5. COMPARE COST VS. SERVICE This is when those notes become elemental in the process. Once several different companies have been explored and notes compiled, it simply becomes a matter of choosing which company offers the best product/service for the money.
6. TRIAL PERIOD Once chosen, the process is far from complete, however. As the old saying goes, "the proof is in the pudding," meaning that a marketer will see how a company/service performs only once they begin using it.
The next step is to follow a company closely for the first 1-3 weeks, making a note of any problems, delays, etc., that might arise. This doesn't necessarily kill a company's possible success, but a bad experience at this point does not bode well.
If there is a continued or repeated problem, the company should be re-evaluated, based on the new information.
7. REGULAR REVIEW Okay, so the AM has all the marketing they need, the business is well-established and the advertising has performed well. The AM's smart shopping has been successful and the job is done, right? Wrong.
As mentioned in Tip #1, above, the market is constantly changing and so are the advertising options available. Plus, while a company may perform well initially, their performance could change. Sometimes those changes are sudden and dramatic. But more often they experience a gradual decline that only becomes discernable when analyzed overa period of time.
So, unless a marketer decides to *opt-out* themselves, it is essential to continuously monitor and regularly review their advertiser's performance. And, when necessary, begin the process of smart-shopping all over again.
Friday, July 3, 2009
5 Tips to Better Clothes Shopping
Shopping can be a pleasure or a chore. However you look at it, use these five tips to save money and look
your best.
1. Dress well. In order to spend less and buy wisely, dress up in comfortable clothes. It's the same concept as going to the grocery store on a full stomach.
2. Shop with a plan. Know exactly what you need and how much you can spend. Write it down. Create a budget.
3. Keep an ongoing list of needs in your closet. As you dress each morning, note items needed to better complete outfits.
4. Before you make a purchase ask yourself, "Does this match my wardrobe in terms of color, style and price?
Is this on my needs list? How many ways can I wear this item?"
5. Shop first at high-end mass merchants, outlet malls, and off-priced stores for basics such as tees, shirts and pants. You'll then have more money for seasonal updates like jackets or accessories.
your best.
1. Dress well. In order to spend less and buy wisely, dress up in comfortable clothes. It's the same concept as going to the grocery store on a full stomach.
2. Shop with a plan. Know exactly what you need and how much you can spend. Write it down. Create a budget.
3. Keep an ongoing list of needs in your closet. As you dress each morning, note items needed to better complete outfits.
4. Before you make a purchase ask yourself, "Does this match my wardrobe in terms of color, style and price?
Is this on my needs list? How many ways can I wear this item?"
5. Shop first at high-end mass merchants, outlet malls, and off-priced stores for basics such as tees, shirts and pants. You'll then have more money for seasonal updates like jackets or accessories.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
De-Mystifying Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping is a long time and very easy to understand concept. In this very competitive age customer service is paramount to retailers. These retailers hire mystery shoppers, also known as secret shoppers to evaluate staff performance, check on customer service and evaluate front line cashier staff. Retail managers use mystery shopping for efficient evaluation of their business practices, their goods delivery and their employees' company and product knowledge as well as customer service practices and skills.
Those hired for mystery shopping visit retailers in the pose of a customer and then write up the details of their experience shopping there. Typically they are responded to a questionnaire. Retailers are not the only ones using mystery shoppers, however. Banks and other financial institutions hired mystery shoppers, as well as convenience stores, restaurants, manufacturers, entertainment firms and even service firms.
While in theory anyone can mystery shop, you do need to be professional and responsible, with a good level of observation and memory skills, and the ability to succinctly and clearly put into written words the details about your experience.
You should never have to pay upfront for the opportunity to do mystery shopping. If a mystery-shopping firm is asking you to do so they are not making you a legitimate job offer. This is a scam. They may call it a registration fee or say that you are purchasing a list of firms that offer mystery shopping. But, whatever they call it you shouldn't pay the fee.
Legitimate mystery shopping companies will train you, give you tips for improving your mystery shopping skills and sometimes let you keep what you shop - for free. There are several ways of reimbursing you for your services. You will either get a fee for each shopping experience that is agreed upon before you shop, or you'll be reimbursed for your purchase, or you may get both. The worse that will happen is that you get to dine for free, buy clothes and other goods that you choose, at no charge, or avail yourself of services that you don't have to pay for.
Most mystery shopping companies have a very short online registration to apply for the mystery shopper position. They'll ask for your e-mail address and phone number. You have to show a lot of flexibility, though - at least at first. Many assignments could be last minute, and this is no nine to five job. You may need a digital camera for some shopping evaluations, and you should have Internet access, email and fax availability.
Mystery shopping is not a regular job. You could wait months for your first work, with no set schedule guarantee. You might get an assignment that requires an hour or two of work, or one that sends you off on a two week cruise. You just never know. You should plan on registering with several mystery-shopping firms. You might do well to look at online message boards and forums for mystery shopping to find firms that are looking for new mystery shoppers.
Companies that offer legitimate mystery shopping work include Mystery Diners Inc., which specializes in sending mystery shoppers to evaluate employees and services of the restaurant and bar industries; Bare associates, a global firm that offers online mystery shopping training; Certified Reports Inc. that specializes in the entertainment industry such as theatres; and a Closer Look that provides mystery shopping evaluations for the hospitality (hotel and restaurant) industry.
Another mystery shopping firm is Intelli Shop which not only offers on-site mystery shopping evaluations but call centers that can evaluate your telephone sales and customer service team and online evaluations of your site's services. The mystery shopping company Employee Evaluator specializes in evaluation of real estate agencies and services, but can also offer mystery-shopping evaluations of just about any type of firm; and Amusement Advantage. This firm specializes in the amusement industry, offering mystery shopping evaluations of arcades, amusement parks, theatres, golf courses, aquariums, zoos and even convention and visitors bureaus and tourist information centers. Alex Ruban is the owner of Paid Surveys since March, 2003. His site provides information about hundreds of free legitimate paid online surveys, polls, and focus group providers along with detailed reviews, descriptions of each program, paid survey guidelines and useful tips.
Those hired for mystery shopping visit retailers in the pose of a customer and then write up the details of their experience shopping there. Typically they are responded to a questionnaire. Retailers are not the only ones using mystery shoppers, however. Banks and other financial institutions hired mystery shoppers, as well as convenience stores, restaurants, manufacturers, entertainment firms and even service firms.
While in theory anyone can mystery shop, you do need to be professional and responsible, with a good level of observation and memory skills, and the ability to succinctly and clearly put into written words the details about your experience.
You should never have to pay upfront for the opportunity to do mystery shopping. If a mystery-shopping firm is asking you to do so they are not making you a legitimate job offer. This is a scam. They may call it a registration fee or say that you are purchasing a list of firms that offer mystery shopping. But, whatever they call it you shouldn't pay the fee.
Legitimate mystery shopping companies will train you, give you tips for improving your mystery shopping skills and sometimes let you keep what you shop - for free. There are several ways of reimbursing you for your services. You will either get a fee for each shopping experience that is agreed upon before you shop, or you'll be reimbursed for your purchase, or you may get both. The worse that will happen is that you get to dine for free, buy clothes and other goods that you choose, at no charge, or avail yourself of services that you don't have to pay for.
Most mystery shopping companies have a very short online registration to apply for the mystery shopper position. They'll ask for your e-mail address and phone number. You have to show a lot of flexibility, though - at least at first. Many assignments could be last minute, and this is no nine to five job. You may need a digital camera for some shopping evaluations, and you should have Internet access, email and fax availability.
Mystery shopping is not a regular job. You could wait months for your first work, with no set schedule guarantee. You might get an assignment that requires an hour or two of work, or one that sends you off on a two week cruise. You just never know. You should plan on registering with several mystery-shopping firms. You might do well to look at online message boards and forums for mystery shopping to find firms that are looking for new mystery shoppers.
Companies that offer legitimate mystery shopping work include Mystery Diners Inc., which specializes in sending mystery shoppers to evaluate employees and services of the restaurant and bar industries; Bare associates, a global firm that offers online mystery shopping training; Certified Reports Inc. that specializes in the entertainment industry such as theatres; and a Closer Look that provides mystery shopping evaluations for the hospitality (hotel and restaurant) industry.
Another mystery shopping firm is Intelli Shop which not only offers on-site mystery shopping evaluations but call centers that can evaluate your telephone sales and customer service team and online evaluations of your site's services. The mystery shopping company Employee Evaluator specializes in evaluation of real estate agencies and services, but can also offer mystery-shopping evaluations of just about any type of firm; and Amusement Advantage. This firm specializes in the amusement industry, offering mystery shopping evaluations of arcades, amusement parks, theatres, golf courses, aquariums, zoos and even convention and visitors bureaus and tourist information centers. Alex Ruban is the owner of Paid Surveys since March, 2003. His site provides information about hundreds of free legitimate paid online surveys, polls, and focus group providers along with detailed reviews, descriptions of each program, paid survey guidelines and useful tips.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Benefits of shopping jewelry online
Time has changed completely, gone are the days when you spend hours locating your kind of jewelries in different malls and stores that costs you more than you actually spend on the jewel. Now, the same quality and varieties are available in just a click of the mouse i.e. internet that has revolutionized the way of shopping.
Nowadays, the wholesale internet shopping market has widen and reached to its heights. It provides a hassle free and enjoyable experience for shoppers who get their kinds of goods at rather economical range. So, internet has becoming a great source of fine and beautiful jewels to serve the purpose of buyers ultimately.
The benefits of shopping from internet is not only limited to cost saving and time saving factors but it is also a convenient mode that carries different attractive offers and discounts that is quite important while shopping for a jewelry. Moreover, some sites on internet are selling jewelries for general public and for dealers that increases the choice for buyers to look out for best deal. Not only this, you may also get some of the rare gems and jewelries on the sites that are generally difficult in stores.
Having reach to the world wide gem stores and manufacturers, internet shopping brings you different kinds and types of jewels and gems at one place. It is only place, where you can get glorious from different shades of Indian rubies to brilliant emeralds of Brazil thus it is a whole world in itself. These sites also have a team of experienced gemologists and experts, who value the jewel at the correct prices on the basis of their actual worth. They also undertake the work of providing useful and necessary information related to jewels and their precautions to buyers that enhance the confidence and trust of buyers towards the sites. Therefore, shopping from internet is becoming really popular.
If, you are planning to gift someone, internet provides you really cool gift items that are not only classy but economical too. You can everything from an inexpensive pair of earrings to a costly set in diamond, internet features something for everyone. Even if you don't like the gift, order your preferred gift with your ideas that will surely find it somehow and deliver it you shortly as they have got a wide access. Besides, it also has the facility to deliver the goods anywhere no matter where you are so; it has connectivity from one corner of the world to another corner.
Nowadays, the wholesale internet shopping market has widen and reached to its heights. It provides a hassle free and enjoyable experience for shoppers who get their kinds of goods at rather economical range. So, internet has becoming a great source of fine and beautiful jewels to serve the purpose of buyers ultimately.
The benefits of shopping from internet is not only limited to cost saving and time saving factors but it is also a convenient mode that carries different attractive offers and discounts that is quite important while shopping for a jewelry. Moreover, some sites on internet are selling jewelries for general public and for dealers that increases the choice for buyers to look out for best deal. Not only this, you may also get some of the rare gems and jewelries on the sites that are generally difficult in stores.
Having reach to the world wide gem stores and manufacturers, internet shopping brings you different kinds and types of jewels and gems at one place. It is only place, where you can get glorious from different shades of Indian rubies to brilliant emeralds of Brazil thus it is a whole world in itself. These sites also have a team of experienced gemologists and experts, who value the jewel at the correct prices on the basis of their actual worth. They also undertake the work of providing useful and necessary information related to jewels and their precautions to buyers that enhance the confidence and trust of buyers towards the sites. Therefore, shopping from internet is becoming really popular.
If, you are planning to gift someone, internet provides you really cool gift items that are not only classy but economical too. You can everything from an inexpensive pair of earrings to a costly set in diamond, internet features something for everyone. Even if you don't like the gift, order your preferred gift with your ideas that will surely find it somehow and deliver it you shortly as they have got a wide access. Besides, it also has the facility to deliver the goods anywhere no matter where you are so; it has connectivity from one corner of the world to another corner.
Friday, May 15, 2009
4 Great Reasons to Love On-Line Shopping
More and more people are shopping on-line today than ever before, especially with the holidays just around the corner. We're looking for gifts for our kids, gifts for our family, and gifts for our friends. But is shopping on-line safe? Is our information secure? Is it convenient? For as many of those who are on-line shoppers (and I am a big on-line shopper myself), there are just as many, or more, who don't or won't shop on-line. They cite various reasons for their reluctance. Believe me, it can be scary to try new things. So, I have considered the reasons for their fear and apathy and have come up with what I believe are great reasons you gotta love on-line shopping.
1. Security Issues
Many people are worried about putting their personal information out into "cyberspace". Personally, I feel safer on-line. Identity theft actually occurs more in the malls and department stores than on-line according to a recent report on CNN. They report that there are far more opportunities available in a mall. The truth of the matter is that through the process of encryption, the internet is actually a safe place to shop. Encryption is like coding. The only one who knows what is being coded is the one with the key. Secure socket layers, or SSL, is the protocol that most browsers and web servers use to protect our personal information while it is being transmitted. Keys are created with each transaction and then discarded, with each new transaction producing a new, unique key. There are so many combinations possible with 128-bit, for example, that is has been likened to trying to find one particular grain of sand in the Sahara Desert. You can tell that you are using encryption when you see the padlock symbol on the toolbar. And you should see an "s" appear after the http in the address window.
2. Save Money
These days it is a lot easier to save money on the internet. Shipping and handling can get pretty pricey. However, today many of the stores you can shop at on-line are offering some great shipping deals. In some instances, shipping and handling are waived entirely, if you spend a certain amount of money. Many of the book clubs and stores are offering a low fee for S&H, too, when you purchase a specific dollar amount. The price of gas alone is well worth the cost of S&H. And, although the price of gas has come down some, it can still get pretty costly as you run from mall to mall in search of the newest, hottest, gotta have item.
3. Convenience
This one is a biggie for myself. Rather than fight the throng of mad shoppers, I can shop in the comfort of my own home and buy, compare, research anything I want. You can find just about anything on-line, too, no matter how obscure. I also love the fact that I don't have to beat the traffic to get my shopping done. I don't have to run from store to store to store to try and purchase the items and gifts I know will please everyone on my holiday list. One stop gift shops are perfect in that you can shop for everyone on your list in one place and still get that special something for each person on your list.
4. Comparison Shopping
There are a number of sites on-line where you can comparison shop and get the best deal. The holidays are about giving. That doesn't mean you should break the bank in order to do so. Look at sites like froogle.com, yahooshopping.com, or pricegrabber.com to buy at the best prices on-line or even in your area. There you are. No more reasons not to avail yourself of the convenience and safety of shopping on-line. I hope I have been able to help you become more comfortable in cyber space. You should enjoy your holidays and shopping on-line gives you that extra time to spend with family and good friends. Happy Holidays and Great Wishes to all of you and yours!!
1. Security Issues
Many people are worried about putting their personal information out into "cyberspace". Personally, I feel safer on-line. Identity theft actually occurs more in the malls and department stores than on-line according to a recent report on CNN. They report that there are far more opportunities available in a mall. The truth of the matter is that through the process of encryption, the internet is actually a safe place to shop. Encryption is like coding. The only one who knows what is being coded is the one with the key. Secure socket layers, or SSL, is the protocol that most browsers and web servers use to protect our personal information while it is being transmitted. Keys are created with each transaction and then discarded, with each new transaction producing a new, unique key. There are so many combinations possible with 128-bit, for example, that is has been likened to trying to find one particular grain of sand in the Sahara Desert. You can tell that you are using encryption when you see the padlock symbol on the toolbar. And you should see an "s" appear after the http in the address window.
2. Save Money
These days it is a lot easier to save money on the internet. Shipping and handling can get pretty pricey. However, today many of the stores you can shop at on-line are offering some great shipping deals. In some instances, shipping and handling are waived entirely, if you spend a certain amount of money. Many of the book clubs and stores are offering a low fee for S&H, too, when you purchase a specific dollar amount. The price of gas alone is well worth the cost of S&H. And, although the price of gas has come down some, it can still get pretty costly as you run from mall to mall in search of the newest, hottest, gotta have item.
3. Convenience
This one is a biggie for myself. Rather than fight the throng of mad shoppers, I can shop in the comfort of my own home and buy, compare, research anything I want. You can find just about anything on-line, too, no matter how obscure. I also love the fact that I don't have to beat the traffic to get my shopping done. I don't have to run from store to store to store to try and purchase the items and gifts I know will please everyone on my holiday list. One stop gift shops are perfect in that you can shop for everyone on your list in one place and still get that special something for each person on your list.
4. Comparison Shopping
There are a number of sites on-line where you can comparison shop and get the best deal. The holidays are about giving. That doesn't mean you should break the bank in order to do so. Look at sites like froogle.com, yahooshopping.com, or pricegrabber.com to buy at the best prices on-line or even in your area. There you are. No more reasons not to avail yourself of the convenience and safety of shopping on-line. I hope I have been able to help you become more comfortable in cyber space. You should enjoy your holidays and shopping on-line gives you that extra time to spend with family and good friends. Happy Holidays and Great Wishes to all of you and yours!!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
5 ways to super savings internet shopping
Save at least 200 dollars for 1000 dollars of shopping– that is 20% of the total money spent. With common sense and little prudence you can save hundreds of dollars on your holiday shopping bills. From my past experiences, I have chosen the five best practices that will give you the maximum savings. Peruse them, put them into action and email me your numbers on savings.
Comparison Shopping:
Gone are the days when there was no easy way to compare the price of a product at different stores other than visiting the stores. In this new era of cyber-shopping, there are numerous options to compare the price of a product at different locations of the globe. With very little effort, internet would find the best and right price, at the right store for you to save big bucks.
A few days back, I was shopping for a Mini DV camcorder in the price range of $500 to $700. An ardent internet shopper, I researched on brands, their prices and decided to buy a JVC GRD200 Mini DV camcorder. It is (may be “it was”) my belief that Amazon.com delivers the best products at the lowest prices (It does sell the best products, but not at the cheapest prices – at least in this case). As always, I was poised to buy the product from Amazon.
The comparison on the price of this product (via www.shopping.com) revealed that the product was sold as low as $299.00. With further research I understood that the price was indeed 299 US dollars. Delaying no more, I bought the camcorder from this seller instead of my first option – to save only $400.
As I look back, it still perplexes me how I saved $400 on a single buy. Does it not surprise you when you cut down 400 dollars on a single item? Perhaps the most important thing I did was comparing the prices for this product on www.shopping.com. It paid!
Cognizant Shopping:
As a customer, your goal is to buy the best product at the cheapest price. Right?
You agree with me that it is not an intelligent idea to buy a product for 10 dollars when it is sold at 3 dollars less at the near by store. Neither do you accord it a savvy-shopping, to buy a product for 50 dollars when its price can be reduced by 10 dollars via the special store discount/coupon for the product.
Many of us do not realize the power of coupons. They hold tremendous potential for huge savings. Depending on how you use them, a coupon for 10 dollars for every 50 dollars would save 40 dollars over a period of month, assuming shopping once a week. Extrapolating, it is a 200 dollars savings over a 1000 dollar shopping-money. A typical Christmas shopping would amount to these numbers easily.
Although the example seems to be ideal, it resonates the ideas of retails stores like JC Penny or Sears, whose holiday-shopping-placards read “$10 off for every $50 shopping – JC Penny”, “$35 off for every $250 spent on electronics – Sears”. Get into the habit of using the coupons whenever possible to appreciate the savings accumulating into your pockets.
Selective Shopping:
Depending on which state you buy the product from and which store you buy it from, you may or may not be charged a sales tax. If the sale is exempted the sales tax, it is a savings of 6 percent to 9 percent of total sale amount. Each seller clearly indicates if a sales tax would be applied on the sale in the geographical location. Thus, a little cautiousness would translate to a savings as high as 9 percent.
On the downside, you may have to pay for the shipping for the product which in most cases would compare less to the total of sales tax. And, by the way, due to the immense competition among the internet-sellers, you may end up making a bargain by not paying the taxes and not paying for the shipping either. Free shipping – as it is called, is common on many internet sites these days. For an item priced at $1000 you would save as much as $90 as sales tax savings – all you do is pick the right seller.
Early Shopping:
Planning on shopping near the beginning of the season will give you ample time to compare the prices on the product at various sellers. During this process, you will form a ballpark estimate of the item.
Let me remind you that the variation of the price can be any where from few dollars to few hundreds of dollars depending on the original price of the product, which makes it necessary for you to do this homework as to know the kind-of best price before you finalize on buying the product.
In addition, sellers usually hike the prices as the holiday season approaches so that they can display higher discount-numbers on their sale-advertisements. The higher discounts not only attract more customers but also compensate and compete the prices for the similar items at other stores. The fact is, even when you see greater discounts, you would not realize tangible savings around the holiday season unless you end up getting an early bird discount. I am somewhat reluctant to say this is true all the times, but is the case in several occasions.
Team Shopping:
Like in a workplace, collaborative shopping produces amazing results. You are not mandated to go to a shopping mall as a team, but exchanging ideas and information as a team would be advantageous.
Talk to your friends about their experience buying a similar item in the past. Gather information about the quality of the product, prices at different stores, seller reputation, etc that play a vital role on your buying-decision. Moreover, ask your friends and relatives if they could share any discount coupons. If preferred customer, they would share the coupons with you, which in turn would give you the opportunity to cut down on the final price. Beware that some sellers distribute non-transferable coupons in which cases you need to be creative to maximize your savings.
So finally:
These ideas only scratch the surface of the iceberg. You can get innovative and creative to find the best deals on the market. Websites like www.techbargains.com, www.ecoupons.com, etc are some of the few sites that gather information about the greatest deals of the day. Internet has many such great money-saving ideas.
Armed with this information, I am sure you would be able to craft a good plan which would save you many dollars each shopping trip. If you are meticulous enough, you would save at least $200 for every $1000 dollars spent. I guarantee it. If you deny my proposition or have a different opinion write to me and I will help you see the potential of putting the above facts to work.
Comparison Shopping:
Gone are the days when there was no easy way to compare the price of a product at different stores other than visiting the stores. In this new era of cyber-shopping, there are numerous options to compare the price of a product at different locations of the globe. With very little effort, internet would find the best and right price, at the right store for you to save big bucks.
A few days back, I was shopping for a Mini DV camcorder in the price range of $500 to $700. An ardent internet shopper, I researched on brands, their prices and decided to buy a JVC GRD200 Mini DV camcorder. It is (may be “it was”) my belief that Amazon.com delivers the best products at the lowest prices (It does sell the best products, but not at the cheapest prices – at least in this case). As always, I was poised to buy the product from Amazon.
The comparison on the price of this product (via www.shopping.com) revealed that the product was sold as low as $299.00. With further research I understood that the price was indeed 299 US dollars. Delaying no more, I bought the camcorder from this seller instead of my first option – to save only $400.
As I look back, it still perplexes me how I saved $400 on a single buy. Does it not surprise you when you cut down 400 dollars on a single item? Perhaps the most important thing I did was comparing the prices for this product on www.shopping.com. It paid!
Cognizant Shopping:
As a customer, your goal is to buy the best product at the cheapest price. Right?
You agree with me that it is not an intelligent idea to buy a product for 10 dollars when it is sold at 3 dollars less at the near by store. Neither do you accord it a savvy-shopping, to buy a product for 50 dollars when its price can be reduced by 10 dollars via the special store discount/coupon for the product.
Many of us do not realize the power of coupons. They hold tremendous potential for huge savings. Depending on how you use them, a coupon for 10 dollars for every 50 dollars would save 40 dollars over a period of month, assuming shopping once a week. Extrapolating, it is a 200 dollars savings over a 1000 dollar shopping-money. A typical Christmas shopping would amount to these numbers easily.
Although the example seems to be ideal, it resonates the ideas of retails stores like JC Penny or Sears, whose holiday-shopping-placards read “$10 off for every $50 shopping – JC Penny”, “$35 off for every $250 spent on electronics – Sears”. Get into the habit of using the coupons whenever possible to appreciate the savings accumulating into your pockets.
Selective Shopping:
Depending on which state you buy the product from and which store you buy it from, you may or may not be charged a sales tax. If the sale is exempted the sales tax, it is a savings of 6 percent to 9 percent of total sale amount. Each seller clearly indicates if a sales tax would be applied on the sale in the geographical location. Thus, a little cautiousness would translate to a savings as high as 9 percent.
On the downside, you may have to pay for the shipping for the product which in most cases would compare less to the total of sales tax. And, by the way, due to the immense competition among the internet-sellers, you may end up making a bargain by not paying the taxes and not paying for the shipping either. Free shipping – as it is called, is common on many internet sites these days. For an item priced at $1000 you would save as much as $90 as sales tax savings – all you do is pick the right seller.
Early Shopping:
Planning on shopping near the beginning of the season will give you ample time to compare the prices on the product at various sellers. During this process, you will form a ballpark estimate of the item.
Let me remind you that the variation of the price can be any where from few dollars to few hundreds of dollars depending on the original price of the product, which makes it necessary for you to do this homework as to know the kind-of best price before you finalize on buying the product.
In addition, sellers usually hike the prices as the holiday season approaches so that they can display higher discount-numbers on their sale-advertisements. The higher discounts not only attract more customers but also compensate and compete the prices for the similar items at other stores. The fact is, even when you see greater discounts, you would not realize tangible savings around the holiday season unless you end up getting an early bird discount. I am somewhat reluctant to say this is true all the times, but is the case in several occasions.
Team Shopping:
Like in a workplace, collaborative shopping produces amazing results. You are not mandated to go to a shopping mall as a team, but exchanging ideas and information as a team would be advantageous.
Talk to your friends about their experience buying a similar item in the past. Gather information about the quality of the product, prices at different stores, seller reputation, etc that play a vital role on your buying-decision. Moreover, ask your friends and relatives if they could share any discount coupons. If preferred customer, they would share the coupons with you, which in turn would give you the opportunity to cut down on the final price. Beware that some sellers distribute non-transferable coupons in which cases you need to be creative to maximize your savings.
So finally:
These ideas only scratch the surface of the iceberg. You can get innovative and creative to find the best deals on the market. Websites like www.techbargains.com, www.ecoupons.com, etc are some of the few sites that gather information about the greatest deals of the day. Internet has many such great money-saving ideas.
Armed with this information, I am sure you would be able to craft a good plan which would save you many dollars each shopping trip. If you are meticulous enough, you would save at least $200 for every $1000 dollars spent. I guarantee it. If you deny my proposition or have a different opinion write to me and I will help you see the potential of putting the above facts to work.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
5 Tips to Better Clothes Shopping
Shopping can be a pleasure or a chore. However you look at it, use these five tips to save money and look
your best.
1. Dress well. In order to spend less and buy wisely, dress up in comfortable clothes. It's the same concept as going to the grocery store on a full stomach.
2. Shop with a plan. Know exactly what you need and how much you can spend. Write it down. Create a budget.
3. Keep an ongoing list of needs in your closet. As you dress each morning, note items needed to better complete outfits.
4. Before you make a purchase ask yourself, "Does this match my wardrobe in terms of color, style and price?
Is this on my needs list? How many ways can I wear this item?"
5. Shop first at high-end mass merchants, outlet malls, and off-priced stores for basics such as tees, shirts and pants. You'll then have more money for seasonal updates like jackets or accessories.
your best.
1. Dress well. In order to spend less and buy wisely, dress up in comfortable clothes. It's the same concept as going to the grocery store on a full stomach.
2. Shop with a plan. Know exactly what you need and how much you can spend. Write it down. Create a budget.
3. Keep an ongoing list of needs in your closet. As you dress each morning, note items needed to better complete outfits.
4. Before you make a purchase ask yourself, "Does this match my wardrobe in terms of color, style and price?
Is this on my needs list? How many ways can I wear this item?"
5. Shop first at high-end mass merchants, outlet malls, and off-priced stores for basics such as tees, shirts and pants. You'll then have more money for seasonal updates like jackets or accessories.
Monday, May 4, 2009
6 Smart Tips To Avoid the Stress of Shopping For Holiday Gifts
For those who find making their gifts list for the holidays a very exciting activity, good for you. Those who find it less than an appealing bustle don't fret. Many share your sentiment. The problem with making a list is that it seems to become never ending especially when you decide on checking it twice. Okay, you're no good ol' Saint Nick but hey, this is only looking at it with a bird's eye view. What you don't know is that buying the gifts could actually cause a bigger headache than the preparing of the list.
Who wants to wallow in the stress brought by holiday gift-giving? Holidays need not always put you in a major state of panic. Here's how to breeze through the holiday season with these tips on buying gifts.
1. Say no to a rigid gift list.
This doesn't mean that when you arrive on a situation like when you get to see a "spunkier" Ipod when you originally thought of giving out a Walkman, you'll always give in. The thing is that you should be open to alternatives with your choice of gifts. You might as wel, jot down all the possible options on that gift on your list in case you're having a hard time looking for it.
2. Nifty over Hefty.
An expensive price tag does not necessarily mean a perfect gift. What is more appreciated is creativity and when someone puts in genuine effort. Your budget does not have to suffer so much during the holidays. Doing your homework will get you a long, long way.
3. Doing some favor is a labor of love.
Instead of material presents, an act of kindness can very well serve as a very valuable holiday gift. One may run errands or do things like babysit for a busy aunt, cook dinner for a couple, or do a car wash. Of course, just don't forget to do this for free. One more thing, you can also do this goodie-two-shoes stuff not only for your family and friends but also for those less-fortunate.
4. Techie not Newbie.
For those who are still thinking that the Internet is only a mirage of the future, please wake up. You're so late! Online shopping is one of the many conveniences the Internet offers. Just click the mouse and voila! Before you are a wide array of brands and pricelists for your choice of gifts. Amazon.com, EBay, and Overstock.com are just a few of the best web sites that can help you in this endeavor. Just remember to provide ample time for delivery.
5. Comfort Zone.
During the commotion from shopping for holiday gifts, it's wise to wear your most comfortable outfits. This will make it easier for you to rummage through shelves of stuffs and will make scurrying not much of a hassle.
6. Early Bird Gets the Most Appreciation
Yes, there's still no better way of dealing with this gift-buying problem but to do it ahead of time. Creating your list about two months before the "season to be jolly" will help a lot in downsizing the hassles of this activity. Some can even go the length of preparing for it at least three months before the holidays.
Some people never have to worry about buying for gifts. Can you imagine having a closet of stuff always ready to be given out for various occasions? Yes, these cases exist. But you don't have to really succumb to such almost-paranoid acts. Following the simple but noble tips above will do.
About the Author
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
How Shopping Malls Can Increase Your Gig Audience
If you have been to a shopping mall on, at least, one occasion, you know the tremendous crowds that most of them attract daily. Hundreds, and even thousands, of daily shoppers flock to the largest shopping malls.
And, while most malls have large crowds year round, two of their busiest shopping periods are during summer and Christmas seasons, which adds even more potential mall shoppers.
Also, most people tend to, naturally, shop in their own neighborhood malls in the interest of convenience and saving time.
And, there is an entirely different crowd that frequents malls during summers, and that is the one that desires to stay cool for free while reducing its home cooling bills.
But, while the mall itself is a large crowd attraction overall, a number of its stores are even more attractive with consistent repeat customers. Such stores include; hair salons, sports stores, game stores, clothing stores, eye clinics, nail salons, music stores, restaurants, just to cite a few.
And, while you may feel that the only stores your music is likely to have anything in common with are mall music stores, here is an idea on how you can get other unrelated mall stores working with you in increasing your gig audience as well.
First, for maximum effect in increasing each gig's audience, select the mall that is closest to your upcoming gig.
Next, approach various store managers in the mall with the proposition of a "barter" deal, whereby, through a co-promotion, you agree to distribute fliers at your gigs that include their store coupons, discounts or ads in exchange for their placing your band's promotional fliers on their checkout counters for their customers (this will, obviously, involve your creation of two separate fliers).
Flyer #1:
Flyer #1 will be your normal flyer (you do have one, right?) that you use to promote your gigs. Again, this will be a group of your fliers (say, 50, or so) that is left with each store.
Flyer #2:
Flyer #2 is the flyer that you will use that contains your various stores' coupons that you will distribute at your area gig.
In creating this particular flyer, if each store can provide you with a discount coupon, this is great as you can then take the coupons and photocopy them onto a master sheet, then easily make copies from the master sheet.
If some stores agree to the co-promotion, but do not have discount coupons, have them provide you with a business card with a special notice or symbol on it which you will photocopy on the flyer, and which store personnel can identify as the co-promotion campaign when a customer brings one in.
If, for whatever reason this will not work, ask the store manager if you can create a simple design on computer with your band name and the store name, along with any discount the store wishes to present. The store will also likely wish to approve your design before you distribute it.
While the preceding may sound like a bit of effort initially, keep in mind that this is not a one-time deal, but is to be an ongoing relationship with the store since you will likely play in the area again and, therefore, is worth this small investment of time and task.
Also, at such office supply stores such as Staples and Office Max, you can usually get copies at a nominal cost, from two to seven cents per copy.
Now, consider the possible increase of your audience over a short time period if you can:
* Get an agreement with ten stores in any given mall
* Distribute 50-100 fliers to each mall store
* Pass out 50-100 store coupon fliers at each gig
* Multiply this process by five area malls
Then, repeat the entire process.
Special Note: Approach stores for co-promotion *only* after you have obtained permission from each upcoming gig management to distribute such a co-promotion sponsorship flyer in the gig venue.
Doing so, in advance, will save any unnecessary time and effort should the venue not approve later.
And, while most malls have large crowds year round, two of their busiest shopping periods are during summer and Christmas seasons, which adds even more potential mall shoppers.
Also, most people tend to, naturally, shop in their own neighborhood malls in the interest of convenience and saving time.
And, there is an entirely different crowd that frequents malls during summers, and that is the one that desires to stay cool for free while reducing its home cooling bills.
But, while the mall itself is a large crowd attraction overall, a number of its stores are even more attractive with consistent repeat customers. Such stores include; hair salons, sports stores, game stores, clothing stores, eye clinics, nail salons, music stores, restaurants, just to cite a few.
And, while you may feel that the only stores your music is likely to have anything in common with are mall music stores, here is an idea on how you can get other unrelated mall stores working with you in increasing your gig audience as well.
First, for maximum effect in increasing each gig's audience, select the mall that is closest to your upcoming gig.
Next, approach various store managers in the mall with the proposition of a "barter" deal, whereby, through a co-promotion, you agree to distribute fliers at your gigs that include their store coupons, discounts or ads in exchange for their placing your band's promotional fliers on their checkout counters for their customers (this will, obviously, involve your creation of two separate fliers).
Flyer #1:
Flyer #1 will be your normal flyer (you do have one, right?) that you use to promote your gigs. Again, this will be a group of your fliers (say, 50, or so) that is left with each store.
Flyer #2:
Flyer #2 is the flyer that you will use that contains your various stores' coupons that you will distribute at your area gig.
In creating this particular flyer, if each store can provide you with a discount coupon, this is great as you can then take the coupons and photocopy them onto a master sheet, then easily make copies from the master sheet.
If some stores agree to the co-promotion, but do not have discount coupons, have them provide you with a business card with a special notice or symbol on it which you will photocopy on the flyer, and which store personnel can identify as the co-promotion campaign when a customer brings one in.
If, for whatever reason this will not work, ask the store manager if you can create a simple design on computer with your band name and the store name, along with any discount the store wishes to present. The store will also likely wish to approve your design before you distribute it.
While the preceding may sound like a bit of effort initially, keep in mind that this is not a one-time deal, but is to be an ongoing relationship with the store since you will likely play in the area again and, therefore, is worth this small investment of time and task.
Also, at such office supply stores such as Staples and Office Max, you can usually get copies at a nominal cost, from two to seven cents per copy.
Now, consider the possible increase of your audience over a short time period if you can:
* Get an agreement with ten stores in any given mall
* Distribute 50-100 fliers to each mall store
* Pass out 50-100 store coupon fliers at each gig
* Multiply this process by five area malls
Then, repeat the entire process.
Special Note: Approach stores for co-promotion *only* after you have obtained permission from each upcoming gig management to distribute such a co-promotion sponsorship flyer in the gig venue.
Doing so, in advance, will save any unnecessary time and effort should the venue not approve later.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
10 Inside Tips to Saving Money and Making the Most of Your Retail Shopping Experience
In addition to running my regular consulting business, I also work part-time as an Ad Set Supervisor for a national retail store. During this time I have learned many of the ins and outs of the retail business and how to get the most bang for my buying dollar. If you follow these same ten tips I guarantee that you too will save more money. Following are ten of the best inside tips I’ve learned about the retail world since becoming part of it.
1.How to Get the Best Clearance Price in Stores
In most retail stores, clearance is marked down at the beginning of the month. And for stores that use the tiered clearance system, where items fall in price as the month progresses, you will find that the best time to get the lowest price for a clearance item is toward the end of the month.
2.Yellow Tag, Red Tag Clearance Method - When the Best Price Isn’t Always the Final Clearance Price
Stores that use the yellow tag to red tag clearance method also use a tiered system to incrementally mark down items on clearance. Generally, items are placed on clearance at the beginning of the month and will be gradually marked down as the month progresses. Any remaining yellow-ticketed items are then red ticketed for final clearance at the beginning of the following month. Because this system is percentage based, when the yellow-ticketed price drops to its lowest percentage off (usually 50% off the yellow-ticketed clearance price) makes this the best item to buy. This way you can save as much as 80% off the regular price of an item. However, if you wait until the same item is red-ticketed for final clearance, you will pay a higher price and only receive about 50-60% off the regular price. This is a clearance strategy used by many major retailers.
3.Too Early/Too Late For a Great Sale – Not Anymore
Most retail stores have an unpublished policy that allows customers to receive the sale price for an item either a day before or a day after the begin and end dates of an advertised sale. You just have to ask to receive the sale price.
4.Price Adjustment – Too Late, Not Necessarily
Most retailers have a published policy allowing customers a specific timeframe to receive price adjustments and an unpublished policy that actually extends this timeframe anywhere from 7 to 14 days. Even if you are outside the official timeframe for a price change, make the request, as most stores will honor the adjustment based on the unpublished policy and because they won’t risk losing a customer.
5.Buy One, Get One Free and Buy One, Get One ½ Off Sales (BOGO) – Great for the Retailer, Bad for the Customer
The national retail store I work at part-time as Ad-Set Supervisor usually has a Buy One, Get One Free, and Buy One, Get One ½ Off Sale, also know as BOGOs, twice every sale cycle (12 weeks). It always amazes me how many people flock to the store for these sales because in the retail industry, these are known to be one of the worst sales for customers. How? By breaking the numbers down one can quickly see just what I mean. Let’s say you need a pair of jeans and find that there is a BOGO sale at your favorite store offering you ½ off the second purchase. If you paid $20.00 for the first pair and $10 for the second pair (since it was ½ off) your total purchase amount on two pairs of jeans is $30.00, with an overall savings of $10.00 or 25%. But more than likely, these same jeans usually go on sale for 30 to 40% off during one of the store’s regular sale events. That means if you had purchased these same jeans during a regular 30% off sale you would have paid $14.00 per pair or $28 for two pairs a savings of $12.00, or 30% off saving you an additional $2.00 than the BOGO Sale. At 40% off you would have paid $12.00 per pair or $24.00 for two pairs, or 40% off saving you an additional $6.00 than the BOGO Sale.
Buy One, Get One Free Sales are only good if you plan on purchasing two of the same items anyway. Otherwise, they force customers to purchase more than they had planned causing them to bring home two items they only wanted one of in the first place. A way around this dilemma is to shop with a friend or relative who intends to purchase the same type of item that you are going to purchase. Stores love these sales because it is a way of getting customers to spend more money, reduce store inventory quicker, and increase sales figures.
6.Shopping Day Savings Passes, Just Ask
Several national retail stores offer Shopping Day Savings Passes, coupons offering the customer anywhere from 10-20% off every purchase made throughout that day. These “savings passes” are available at customer service desks. All you need to do is ask. One large retailer that offers these passes is Macys.
7.Those People with the Scanners – They Know More Than You Think
Ever go into a store and see some of the associates with a scanner scanning items? Well, more than likely those are “Ad Setters” responsible for placing sale signs for upcoming sale events. Almost every store has an Ad Set Crew. Some stores have the Ad Set Crew set ads for upcoming sales after store closing. Most, however, have the Crew start setting ads a few hours prior to closing. Shop during these hours and seek these people out. Why? They are the most knowledgeable about what store sales are the best for customers and when these sales are going to occur since they know about upcoming sales weeks in advance. If you are wondering if an item you are interested in purchasing is cheaper during the current sale or cheaper during an upcoming sale, they can usually scan it and tell you. I have helped countless customers save this way and then proceeded to tell them about the day prior, day later rule covered in tip number three. Most regular sales associates don’t have this inside information about upcoming sales, nor do they have the ability to find out what upcoming sales prices are going to be on items - that’s why you need to speak to an Ad Setter.
8.Imperfections = Discounts, Even Packaging
Everyone probably knows about getting an additional discount on imperfect merchandise, but many don’t know that imperfect packaging gets the same discounts. The store I work at, like most stores, has a policy that allows at least an additional 10-20% discount on damaged items. Even if the only damage is to an item’s packaging, we gladly give this discount when someone asks. As a result, I have learned to purposefully seek out items that have damaged packaging and to always ask for this extra discount. To date, I have always received it. Being willing to purchase items with damaged packaging creates a win-win situation for both customers and the store: the store gets rid of slightly blemished items and customers save money.
9.Forgot Your Extra Savings Coupon – No Problem, Just Tell the Cashier
Many stores send out extra savings coupons to holders of their credit cards or loyal customers on their mailing list. Sometimes, however, customers get to the register only to realize that they forgot to bring their “Extra Savings Coupon” with them. If this happens to you, no problem, since most stores have a policy granting the discount to the customer anyway just by telling the cashier that you forgot your savings coupon.
10.The Clearance Merry-Go-Round
Most stores have what is called “back stock.” This usually refers to clearance items that have not sold during the previous season’s clearance sales. These items are placed in a designated area in the stockroom and then brought back out onto the sales floor during a store’s next seasonal clearance event. For example, January and February are two good months to find last season’s bathing suits on clearance in many stores. May and June are good times to find heavy coats and leather jackets at rock-bottom prices. I know our store does this routinely, and have found this to be true for several other major retailers as well.
I hope you are able to save tons of money as I have by using these ten tips. Prior to working in retail I would have considered myself a frugal and smart shopper but have since become even better and saved more. By learning the ins-and-outs of the retail world and by using these tips, I now pay less for brand-new brand-name clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods than I had previously paid at thrift stores and I hope you do too. Happy Shopping and Saving!
1.How to Get the Best Clearance Price in Stores
In most retail stores, clearance is marked down at the beginning of the month. And for stores that use the tiered clearance system, where items fall in price as the month progresses, you will find that the best time to get the lowest price for a clearance item is toward the end of the month.
2.Yellow Tag, Red Tag Clearance Method - When the Best Price Isn’t Always the Final Clearance Price
Stores that use the yellow tag to red tag clearance method also use a tiered system to incrementally mark down items on clearance. Generally, items are placed on clearance at the beginning of the month and will be gradually marked down as the month progresses. Any remaining yellow-ticketed items are then red ticketed for final clearance at the beginning of the following month. Because this system is percentage based, when the yellow-ticketed price drops to its lowest percentage off (usually 50% off the yellow-ticketed clearance price) makes this the best item to buy. This way you can save as much as 80% off the regular price of an item. However, if you wait until the same item is red-ticketed for final clearance, you will pay a higher price and only receive about 50-60% off the regular price. This is a clearance strategy used by many major retailers.
3.Too Early/Too Late For a Great Sale – Not Anymore
Most retail stores have an unpublished policy that allows customers to receive the sale price for an item either a day before or a day after the begin and end dates of an advertised sale. You just have to ask to receive the sale price.
4.Price Adjustment – Too Late, Not Necessarily
Most retailers have a published policy allowing customers a specific timeframe to receive price adjustments and an unpublished policy that actually extends this timeframe anywhere from 7 to 14 days. Even if you are outside the official timeframe for a price change, make the request, as most stores will honor the adjustment based on the unpublished policy and because they won’t risk losing a customer.
5.Buy One, Get One Free and Buy One, Get One ½ Off Sales (BOGO) – Great for the Retailer, Bad for the Customer
The national retail store I work at part-time as Ad-Set Supervisor usually has a Buy One, Get One Free, and Buy One, Get One ½ Off Sale, also know as BOGOs, twice every sale cycle (12 weeks). It always amazes me how many people flock to the store for these sales because in the retail industry, these are known to be one of the worst sales for customers. How? By breaking the numbers down one can quickly see just what I mean. Let’s say you need a pair of jeans and find that there is a BOGO sale at your favorite store offering you ½ off the second purchase. If you paid $20.00 for the first pair and $10 for the second pair (since it was ½ off) your total purchase amount on two pairs of jeans is $30.00, with an overall savings of $10.00 or 25%. But more than likely, these same jeans usually go on sale for 30 to 40% off during one of the store’s regular sale events. That means if you had purchased these same jeans during a regular 30% off sale you would have paid $14.00 per pair or $28 for two pairs a savings of $12.00, or 30% off saving you an additional $2.00 than the BOGO Sale. At 40% off you would have paid $12.00 per pair or $24.00 for two pairs, or 40% off saving you an additional $6.00 than the BOGO Sale.
Buy One, Get One Free Sales are only good if you plan on purchasing two of the same items anyway. Otherwise, they force customers to purchase more than they had planned causing them to bring home two items they only wanted one of in the first place. A way around this dilemma is to shop with a friend or relative who intends to purchase the same type of item that you are going to purchase. Stores love these sales because it is a way of getting customers to spend more money, reduce store inventory quicker, and increase sales figures.
6.Shopping Day Savings Passes, Just Ask
Several national retail stores offer Shopping Day Savings Passes, coupons offering the customer anywhere from 10-20% off every purchase made throughout that day. These “savings passes” are available at customer service desks. All you need to do is ask. One large retailer that offers these passes is Macys.
7.Those People with the Scanners – They Know More Than You Think
Ever go into a store and see some of the associates with a scanner scanning items? Well, more than likely those are “Ad Setters” responsible for placing sale signs for upcoming sale events. Almost every store has an Ad Set Crew. Some stores have the Ad Set Crew set ads for upcoming sales after store closing. Most, however, have the Crew start setting ads a few hours prior to closing. Shop during these hours and seek these people out. Why? They are the most knowledgeable about what store sales are the best for customers and when these sales are going to occur since they know about upcoming sales weeks in advance. If you are wondering if an item you are interested in purchasing is cheaper during the current sale or cheaper during an upcoming sale, they can usually scan it and tell you. I have helped countless customers save this way and then proceeded to tell them about the day prior, day later rule covered in tip number three. Most regular sales associates don’t have this inside information about upcoming sales, nor do they have the ability to find out what upcoming sales prices are going to be on items - that’s why you need to speak to an Ad Setter.
8.Imperfections = Discounts, Even Packaging
Everyone probably knows about getting an additional discount on imperfect merchandise, but many don’t know that imperfect packaging gets the same discounts. The store I work at, like most stores, has a policy that allows at least an additional 10-20% discount on damaged items. Even if the only damage is to an item’s packaging, we gladly give this discount when someone asks. As a result, I have learned to purposefully seek out items that have damaged packaging and to always ask for this extra discount. To date, I have always received it. Being willing to purchase items with damaged packaging creates a win-win situation for both customers and the store: the store gets rid of slightly blemished items and customers save money.
9.Forgot Your Extra Savings Coupon – No Problem, Just Tell the Cashier
Many stores send out extra savings coupons to holders of their credit cards or loyal customers on their mailing list. Sometimes, however, customers get to the register only to realize that they forgot to bring their “Extra Savings Coupon” with them. If this happens to you, no problem, since most stores have a policy granting the discount to the customer anyway just by telling the cashier that you forgot your savings coupon.
10.The Clearance Merry-Go-Round
Most stores have what is called “back stock.” This usually refers to clearance items that have not sold during the previous season’s clearance sales. These items are placed in a designated area in the stockroom and then brought back out onto the sales floor during a store’s next seasonal clearance event. For example, January and February are two good months to find last season’s bathing suits on clearance in many stores. May and June are good times to find heavy coats and leather jackets at rock-bottom prices. I know our store does this routinely, and have found this to be true for several other major retailers as well.
I hope you are able to save tons of money as I have by using these ten tips. Prior to working in retail I would have considered myself a frugal and smart shopper but have since become even better and saved more. By learning the ins-and-outs of the retail world and by using these tips, I now pay less for brand-new brand-name clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods than I had previously paid at thrift stores and I hope you do too. Happy Shopping and Saving!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
THRIVING BY SHOPPING ON-LINE
The Internet SHOULD be “the place to shop” for low-carb dieters, diabetics, celiacs, and anyone else on a special diet. The posted prices are well below those in retail stores, the variety is greater, you are dealing with firms whose specialty is dealing with your need, and the products for sale are described fully in type that is designed to be read (isn’t that a pleasant contrast to the packages you see in your local store.)
The bad news, of course, is the shipping charge that is attached to every order. Shortly after being diagnosed with celiac disease, I ordered a box of breakfast cereal ($4.00) on-line and paid a $7.00 shipping charge. I learned from the experience that $11.00 box of cereal.
My solution stems from the fact that the cost of shipping items drops dramatically with the size of the total order. For example, the Gluten-Free Pantry charges $6.85 to ship a single but will ship $499.00 worth of merchandise for less than twice that much. At Bob’s Red Mill, the shipping charge depends on the weight of the total shipment and depends on where you live, but in my particular ZIP code, a single item ships for $7.39. A 34 pound shipment would cost $13.43. You can probably find similar examples by browsing through the web sites you would like to patronize.
The strategy is to order as much as you can in a single shipment. Don’t throw money away, of course, but do everything that you can to increase the size of the order and thereby decrease the cost of shipping each individual items. Work with people who share your diet. The only requirement is that the entire order be sent to the same place and paid for with the same credit card.
Good luck. Eat well. Obviously, internet shopping is easier for persons who are ordering big-ticket items where the shipping cost is largely insignificant. But the system I have just described works.
The bad news, of course, is the shipping charge that is attached to every order. Shortly after being diagnosed with celiac disease, I ordered a box of breakfast cereal ($4.00) on-line and paid a $7.00 shipping charge. I learned from the experience that $11.00 box of cereal.
My solution stems from the fact that the cost of shipping items drops dramatically with the size of the total order. For example, the Gluten-Free Pantry charges $6.85 to ship a single but will ship $499.00 worth of merchandise for less than twice that much. At Bob’s Red Mill, the shipping charge depends on the weight of the total shipment and depends on where you live, but in my particular ZIP code, a single item ships for $7.39. A 34 pound shipment would cost $13.43. You can probably find similar examples by browsing through the web sites you would like to patronize.
The strategy is to order as much as you can in a single shipment. Don’t throw money away, of course, but do everything that you can to increase the size of the order and thereby decrease the cost of shipping each individual items. Work with people who share your diet. The only requirement is that the entire order be sent to the same place and paid for with the same credit card.
Good luck. Eat well. Obviously, internet shopping is easier for persons who are ordering big-ticket items where the shipping cost is largely insignificant. But the system I have just described works.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
How To Start a Home-Based Grocery Shopping Service?
Is anyone busy today? Dumb question right, we are all busy to some degree or another. They say time is money and for many people that is so true, for some saved time does equal an amount in money, but how about some sanity. Give me an hour of time to myself to relax and I give you a more refreshed and happy person.
So, there are some that are busy and need the help of added services in their lives, but on the other side of the coin there are those that just need some help to get through the day. Think about our seniors, many of them may not be able to get out to the store as often as they would like. It may be that they are just too old to get about, but more practically speaking it may be due to the harshness of the weather in their region of the country.
This is where you come in, ready to make money from opportunity. I am sure you are, and the home grocery delivery business can be a wonderful opportunity for you to start a home-based grocery shopping service.
This is how the grocery shopping service business works, customers will contact you by calling you, faxing you or emailing you their shopping lists. You shop for those items at a local grocery store and deliver them back to the customer's homes.
Before you start, you should consider drawing up a brief business plan to aid you in implementing this home business.
Advertising - This is the only setup costs you will incur. Start by advertising your service in local newspapers in the area. You can begin by placing a larger aid in the middle sections of the paper announcing your new home business. The following weeks you can downsize your advertising to the cheaper classifieds. Other places to consider advertising in are senior citizen newspapers and newsletters.
Payment - Try to obtain payment upfront from customers as to keeping open credit accounts. You can consider a credit account for your best customers but this should only happen after many months of service and then an extra service charge can be considered. Collecting cash can be accomplished in a number of ways, collect cash after your last delivery of the week or month, ask customers to mail in checks or even for the more savvy internet user, you can setup a PayPal account and effectively have money wired into your account. The cool thing about collecting money upfront from customers is that you can run the float on the cash by charging everything to your credit card, which will earn you points, or cash rebates.
Add on services - This is the next level to take your business. Once you have established a solid customer base you can begin to sell menu-planning services. You may need some food skills in this area and if not you should take some classes to obtain those skills. There are two broad types of menu-plans you can start out designing, the regular sit down breakfast, lunch and dinners and the express meals, those being meals that can be whipped up in less than 15-minutes.
Pricing - Pricing is a combination of what you believe your service is worth and the amount the market can bear. Before you price your service, ask yourself how much realistically you would like to make each year, and then divide that amount by your time. If you spend, 3-hours shopping for one customer and you charge $20 per hour and you do this three times per week. That would amount to 9-hours of work per week multiplied by 50 weeks, equaling $9,000 per year.
So, there are some that are busy and need the help of added services in their lives, but on the other side of the coin there are those that just need some help to get through the day. Think about our seniors, many of them may not be able to get out to the store as often as they would like. It may be that they are just too old to get about, but more practically speaking it may be due to the harshness of the weather in their region of the country.
This is where you come in, ready to make money from opportunity. I am sure you are, and the home grocery delivery business can be a wonderful opportunity for you to start a home-based grocery shopping service.
This is how the grocery shopping service business works, customers will contact you by calling you, faxing you or emailing you their shopping lists. You shop for those items at a local grocery store and deliver them back to the customer's homes.
Before you start, you should consider drawing up a brief business plan to aid you in implementing this home business.
Advertising - This is the only setup costs you will incur. Start by advertising your service in local newspapers in the area. You can begin by placing a larger aid in the middle sections of the paper announcing your new home business. The following weeks you can downsize your advertising to the cheaper classifieds. Other places to consider advertising in are senior citizen newspapers and newsletters.
Payment - Try to obtain payment upfront from customers as to keeping open credit accounts. You can consider a credit account for your best customers but this should only happen after many months of service and then an extra service charge can be considered. Collecting cash can be accomplished in a number of ways, collect cash after your last delivery of the week or month, ask customers to mail in checks or even for the more savvy internet user, you can setup a PayPal account and effectively have money wired into your account. The cool thing about collecting money upfront from customers is that you can run the float on the cash by charging everything to your credit card, which will earn you points, or cash rebates.
Add on services - This is the next level to take your business. Once you have established a solid customer base you can begin to sell menu-planning services. You may need some food skills in this area and if not you should take some classes to obtain those skills. There are two broad types of menu-plans you can start out designing, the regular sit down breakfast, lunch and dinners and the express meals, those being meals that can be whipped up in less than 15-minutes.
Pricing - Pricing is a combination of what you believe your service is worth and the amount the market can bear. Before you price your service, ask yourself how much realistically you would like to make each year, and then divide that amount by your time. If you spend, 3-hours shopping for one customer and you charge $20 per hour and you do this three times per week. That would amount to 9-hours of work per week multiplied by 50 weeks, equaling $9,000 per year.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Tips for Online Shopping
Shopping online has become more and more popular in America as we are all looking to save a little time and money. E-commerce sales are growing at astronomical numbers ranging from 20-25% per year. And according to Forrester Research, 40% of households are using coupons in their web shopping. The huge increases are obvious: the online savings and discounts are impossible to match by traditional stores constrained by the overhead costs of employees, rent, and insurance. By using some of the tips and tricks mentioned below, you’ll be able to take further advantage of a new American pastime: saving with online shopping!
Tip #1: Don’t buy Ebay. We all know online auctions seem like such a great deal, and it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of auction. Thing is, auction sites like Ebay and Ubid have become saturated with buyers AND sellers, so virtually any discount found is quickly sought by re-distributors who then add their own markups to your purchase. The online marketplace has enough people out there that you can end up spending hundreds of extra dollars for the same things found in your local mall! Don’t let your emotions get involved – these are not the right places for the aware shopper.
Tip #2: Never pay retail. Take this scenario: You find something you want to buy, maybe the latest craze or fad such as the Ipod. Should you really pay the price that Apple is offering? No! You can find many deals and coupons for the same purchase just by typing, for example, “ipod coupons” into Google. Spend a little time searching through the top ten to twenty results, you’re sure to find the same product for a significant discount. Sometimes, by filling out a survey or signing up for an email list, you’ll get additional savings and many times you can even get your product for free!
Tip #3: Get over your instant gratification desire. Just admit it, buying something always gives you a good feeling and you can’t wait to take pleasure in that new purchase. Anything you’re buying at the mall for that same good feeling can usually be found for a huge discount online. You just have to be willing to wait for the short 2-5 days that it takes for shipping. It’s definitely worth the savings to able to control your emotions and hold off until it arrives via UPS!
Tip #4: Watch out for excessive shipping charges. Many times retailers slash their costs to get the sale but then charge more for shipping. Make sure to check the final cost to ensure you didn’t receive any unwarranted charges. You should also find a free shipping deal at any of the online coupon sites. Sometimes the shipping can cost more than your purchase!
Tip #5: http://www.couponchief.com”>Online coupons : Were you aware of online coupon websites that have discount and promotion codes to nearly all internet stores? These types of websites always have up to date discount offers arranged by category or store, so you can always find something on sale. It’s not only a way to get a good deal but you can also find some of the free shipping offers listed in tip #4. Just be careful to check for a coupon code before making any internet purchase. It’s a simple way to find extra savings.
Tip #1: Don’t buy Ebay. We all know online auctions seem like such a great deal, and it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of auction. Thing is, auction sites like Ebay and Ubid have become saturated with buyers AND sellers, so virtually any discount found is quickly sought by re-distributors who then add their own markups to your purchase. The online marketplace has enough people out there that you can end up spending hundreds of extra dollars for the same things found in your local mall! Don’t let your emotions get involved – these are not the right places for the aware shopper.
Tip #2: Never pay retail. Take this scenario: You find something you want to buy, maybe the latest craze or fad such as the Ipod. Should you really pay the price that Apple is offering? No! You can find many deals and coupons for the same purchase just by typing, for example, “ipod coupons” into Google. Spend a little time searching through the top ten to twenty results, you’re sure to find the same product for a significant discount. Sometimes, by filling out a survey or signing up for an email list, you’ll get additional savings and many times you can even get your product for free!
Tip #3: Get over your instant gratification desire. Just admit it, buying something always gives you a good feeling and you can’t wait to take pleasure in that new purchase. Anything you’re buying at the mall for that same good feeling can usually be found for a huge discount online. You just have to be willing to wait for the short 2-5 days that it takes for shipping. It’s definitely worth the savings to able to control your emotions and hold off until it arrives via UPS!
Tip #4: Watch out for excessive shipping charges. Many times retailers slash their costs to get the sale but then charge more for shipping. Make sure to check the final cost to ensure you didn’t receive any unwarranted charges. You should also find a free shipping deal at any of the online coupon sites. Sometimes the shipping can cost more than your purchase!
Tip #5: http://www.couponchief.com”>Online coupons : Were you aware of online coupon websites that have discount and promotion codes to nearly all internet stores? These types of websites always have up to date discount offers arranged by category or store, so you can always find something on sale. It’s not only a way to get a good deal but you can also find some of the free shipping offers listed in tip #4. Just be careful to check for a coupon code before making any internet purchase. It’s a simple way to find extra savings.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Dollars Shopping
Having spent over 2 years in the Retail Industry I can tell you from experience that Mystery Shoppers really do exist. They play an important part in evaluating all aspects of a retail stores performance. They evaluate things such as store appearance, merchandising, customer service, how knowledgeable is the staff, whether transactions were handled properly and more.
The companies that I worked for put a lot of emphasis on the mystery shoppers reports. It was even included in the managers performance reviews.
What makes this so effective is that it is totally anonymous. No one knows who the mystery shopper is because they are ordinary customers like you and me.
And it is not just retail stores that have mystery shoppers. Restaurant chains, fast food restaurants and amusement parks also use mystery shoppers to evaluate their performance.
If you love to shop, or eat out, this is a great way to make some extra money. You won’t get rich doing this but why not get paid for doing something that you love to do and would be doing anyway.
This is how it usually works.
1.You sign up with a company that supplies mystery shoppers to these establishments. Here is a http://www.takeonlinesurveys.com/mysteryshoppers.html> list of companies that supply mystery shoppers.
2.You will then receive assignments based on where you live and how far you want to travel.
3.You shop the store you were assigned within a given time frame. This way you can do it at your convenience.
4.You submit a report (this is supplied by the company).
5.You get paid for your time and are reimbursed for the items that you purchased or for the meal that you ate.
It's that simple.
The companies that I worked for put a lot of emphasis on the mystery shoppers reports. It was even included in the managers performance reviews.
What makes this so effective is that it is totally anonymous. No one knows who the mystery shopper is because they are ordinary customers like you and me.
And it is not just retail stores that have mystery shoppers. Restaurant chains, fast food restaurants and amusement parks also use mystery shoppers to evaluate their performance.
If you love to shop, or eat out, this is a great way to make some extra money. You won’t get rich doing this but why not get paid for doing something that you love to do and would be doing anyway.
This is how it usually works.
1.You sign up with a company that supplies mystery shoppers to these establishments. Here is a http://www.takeonlinesurveys.com/mysteryshoppers.html> list of companies that supply mystery shoppers.
2.You will then receive assignments based on where you live and how far you want to travel.
3.You shop the store you were assigned within a given time frame. This way you can do it at your convenience.
4.You submit a report (this is supplied by the company).
5.You get paid for your time and are reimbursed for the items that you purchased or for the meal that you ate.
It's that simple.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tips For Shopping For Weight Loss
Everybody is different. What works for your friend might not work for you, or might work better for you. Therefore, these suggestions for shopping for weight loss are presented as helps, and I hope you will find something of use to you. With just a little thought and creativity, you should be able to come up with several more tips yourself.
1. Always use a list when you shop, and stick to it. Almost any other food item you put in the buggy will be something that does NOT fit in to your weight loss plan.
2. Plan ahead. Decide what your meals are going to be, and what ingredients you will need. Include portion sizes in this planning. If you just buy a pack of steaks, you will probably cook all those steaks at once and there is a chance they may be eaten all at once. Planning your meals will help you prepare your shopping list. Plan also for meals such as lunches you carry to work.
3. Take someone with you who you can trust to be on your side. By "on your side", I mean, of course, someone who understands and supports your weight loss goals. While this person should be aware of what you are trying to accomplish, YOU must understand that they ARE trying to help you, and YOU must give them permission to express their honest thoughts about purchases you are making...especially if you are deviating from your list.
4. Have this trusted friend or family member HELP you draw up your shopping list.
5. Always eat before shopping. It is a fact that shopping when hungry increases your tendency to put extra items in your shopping cart.
6. Learn to read the labels. Almost every food you buy has a label outlining nutritional content and levels. Knowledge of nutritional needs is important, but does not need to be daunting. Basic information is easy to obtain.
7. Avoid convenience foods. Most have additional calories, fats, or carbohydrates. Although they may taste great, this is often a direct result of those very attributes.
8. Plan PREPARED meals. Cook from scratch. Not only will you probably enjoy the meals more, but having to prepare a meal helps prevent you from indulging yourself with a quick and easy snack or meal.
9. Avoid buying "empty" foods. These are foods such as chips, cookies, or candy. An apple may have as many calories as a piece of candy, but it contains a much higher level of nutrition, and provides factors such as fiber, for example.
10. Buy foods you really like. Eating in a healthy manner does NOT have to be a boring or unrewarding experience. Types of meals enjoyed in Japan, for example, can be tasty and a different and inviting experience, but they can also be very good for you. Again, be aware of portion sizes. Just because it is "good for you" doesn't mean you ought to go back for seconds or thirds.
There you are, 10 hints for shopping for weight loss. Since portion sizes was mentioned twice, let me leave you with this thought. Most Americans eat portions much larger than recommended sizes. A discussion of portion size is more than can be incorporated into this small article. However, people in France tend to eat very rich foods yet do not have the obesity problems found in America. People in Japan who eat a traditional Japanese diet tend not to have an obesity problem such as is found in America. As diverse as these two cultures and their diet are, a common factor is portion size. They typically eat much smaller portions than Americans.
1. Always use a list when you shop, and stick to it. Almost any other food item you put in the buggy will be something that does NOT fit in to your weight loss plan.
2. Plan ahead. Decide what your meals are going to be, and what ingredients you will need. Include portion sizes in this planning. If you just buy a pack of steaks, you will probably cook all those steaks at once and there is a chance they may be eaten all at once. Planning your meals will help you prepare your shopping list. Plan also for meals such as lunches you carry to work.
3. Take someone with you who you can trust to be on your side. By "on your side", I mean, of course, someone who understands and supports your weight loss goals. While this person should be aware of what you are trying to accomplish, YOU must understand that they ARE trying to help you, and YOU must give them permission to express their honest thoughts about purchases you are making...especially if you are deviating from your list.
4. Have this trusted friend or family member HELP you draw up your shopping list.
5. Always eat before shopping. It is a fact that shopping when hungry increases your tendency to put extra items in your shopping cart.
6. Learn to read the labels. Almost every food you buy has a label outlining nutritional content and levels. Knowledge of nutritional needs is important, but does not need to be daunting. Basic information is easy to obtain.
7. Avoid convenience foods. Most have additional calories, fats, or carbohydrates. Although they may taste great, this is often a direct result of those very attributes.
8. Plan PREPARED meals. Cook from scratch. Not only will you probably enjoy the meals more, but having to prepare a meal helps prevent you from indulging yourself with a quick and easy snack or meal.
9. Avoid buying "empty" foods. These are foods such as chips, cookies, or candy. An apple may have as many calories as a piece of candy, but it contains a much higher level of nutrition, and provides factors such as fiber, for example.
10. Buy foods you really like. Eating in a healthy manner does NOT have to be a boring or unrewarding experience. Types of meals enjoyed in Japan, for example, can be tasty and a different and inviting experience, but they can also be very good for you. Again, be aware of portion sizes. Just because it is "good for you" doesn't mean you ought to go back for seconds or thirds.
There you are, 10 hints for shopping for weight loss. Since portion sizes was mentioned twice, let me leave you with this thought. Most Americans eat portions much larger than recommended sizes. A discussion of portion size is more than can be incorporated into this small article. However, people in France tend to eat very rich foods yet do not have the obesity problems found in America. People in Japan who eat a traditional Japanese diet tend not to have an obesity problem such as is found in America. As diverse as these two cultures and their diet are, a common factor is portion size. They typically eat much smaller portions than Americans.
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