How to Celebrate Halloween in Three Easy Steps

What is your favorite Halloween memory? Whether it was a character, animal, dream career, or favorite food, I loved choosing my costume every year. I loved dressing up, marching in school parades, and going trick-or-treating every year. Because I have such fun memories, Halloween is still one of my favorite holidays. I always add a new décor piece or two to my collection, I never miss the chance to go on a haunted hayride, and I love throwing Halloween parties for friends.

The idea of prepping for a holiday is especially enjoyable, so I thought I would share how you can prep and save for Halloween with Shopkick in three simple steps.

Add Décor:

Carving, or at least purchasing, pumpkins in honor of Halloween is always a given! Rather than creating a freehand design, I keep a kit on hand filled with templates to make carving fun and easy. I originally purchased my kit from Walmart, and I know they still stock them. Even if this is the only festive piece of décor you have, you and your home will certainly be in the Halloween spirit.

If you want to take your décor up a notch, consider purchasing dish towels and a new candy bowl for your neighborhood’s trick-or-treaters from Kohls.com. Then swing by your local T.J.Maxx and Marshall’s to pick up a few new decorative items, like pieces for your mantle, doorstep, kitchen, or even your kids’ rooms. Another great tip is to purchase a new fall scented candle from Yankee Candle. Not only will the scents feel festive for Halloween, but you can continue to light your candle throughout the season.

Make sure your Shopkick app is open while you shop for your décor with all of the retailers I mentioned because you will earn kicks with every purchase!

Purchase a Costume:

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for your kids, costume shopping is always one of the most fun aspects of Halloween! Now, shopping has become much easier because so many retailers offer costumes online, plus you can earn kicks on your costume purchases when you shop with Shopkick.

Walmart.com has quite a selection every year, and you can easily purchase a few costumes in different sizes so you, your partner, and your kids can try every piece on at home. If your kids love playing dress up, think about ordering their costume one size larger, so they can continue enjoying it for months to come!

If you’re looking for other options for yourself or simply hoping to find accessories, Kohls.com, Marshall’s, and T.J.Maxx always offer budget friendly finds to add to your outfit. Jet.com also has great fashion finds, and Ulta is the perfect place for Halloween ready makeup and hair supplies.

Entertain with Ease:

When you’re throwing a party, the best thing to do is purchase everything in bulk. I love ordering from Boxed.com with Shopkick because I’m able to earn kicks while ordering everything from beverages and snacks to household essentials and candy (of course!). Rather than pulling out any of your dinnerware, use paper and plastic. Your guests are attending your party because they want to spend time with you and each other, and I guarantee they will agree with the ease of your party.

For an added dose of fun, book a visit to a haunted house or a ride on a haunted hayride on Groupon through Shopkick! Tickets are typically less expensive when you purchase them through Groupon, and you will earn kicks towards free gift cards. Regardless of the price, haunted houses and hayrides are always worth it. There’s just something about a fun spook that enriches relationships and makes everyone laugh!

Whether your Halloween plans are simple or elaborate, I know you will have even more fun this season because you’re earning kicks and saving thanks to Shopkick. Enjoy making your memories!

Back to School Savings

Although we all may want the long days of summer to last all year, there is one major perk to going back to school: shopping! When I was a student, back to school shopping was such a highlight that I always chose a day during the week, wrote it down in my planner and circled it, and then started my very own countdown.

Before my back to school shopping day, I would review all of the supplies I needed (and every last thing I was convinced I should add), tally up my budget, and plan my day based on which store I wanted to visit first and which store I wanted to save until last. Whether I was prepping to go back to high school or mentally preparing for another year of college, back to school shopping always felt like its very own end of summer holiday.

Though I may not be heading back to class, I still look forward to the season every year because it’s a chance to offer my tried and true back to school shopping tips and tricks! And, they’re even better now thanks to Shopkick! Let’s review a few of my favorite retailers for back to school shopping and what I recommend purchasing below.

eBags

I cannot be the only one who opts to analyze every last feature a backpack has to offer. In high school, that meant determining if the backpack offered enough support for my back and shoulders as I carried books and binders for four classes everyday across two campuses (we didn’t have lockers). In college, I was still concerned about support, but I needed the added feature of a safe, padded spot for my laptop. eBags.com has so many fantastic options for backpacks perfect for high school (JanSport was my go-to!) and those suited for college (North Face was a favorite, but I’ve heard fantastic reviews about Tumi!).

Also, make sure to take a peek at all of the suitcases and duffels available through eBags. They’re wonderful to use when moving onto campus, and a great suitcase will serve you well as you travel home, go on vacation, and even study abroad throughout college.

HSN

If you have yet to peruse HSN for back to school shopping, be warned: you’re going to add so many great pieces to your list! Outside of scheduling classes and making sure I had the correct edition of all of my required books, my computer was always my top concern in college. You can purchase a new laptop or desktop computer through HSN because they carry all of the top brands, like Apple, HP, and Dell. Plus, if you’re in charge of bringing the TV, you can add a new flat screen to your cart too. Outside of electronics, you can also stock up on kitchen supplies for your dorm or apartment (HSN has small appliances, kitchen tools, and even plates, silverware, and glasses at the ready). And, they carry such fun lines of clothing, and they have makeup. It’s like one stop shopping for back to school!

Jet

Can we all agree there is nothing quite like new school supplies? Jet has an amazing selection of every last thing you will need for class – binders, pencils, pens, notebooks, highlighters, and even backpacks. Plus, their team has curated a special section for high school! Even though wandering through the aisles is fun, shopping online with Jet is so much more efficient! Plus, when you use Shopkick, you’re saving money on your supplies. Shopkick and school supplies – it’s a dream combination!

Amazon

I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t shop on Amazon! The deals are incredible (and even better when you shop with Shopkick to earn kicks!), and you cannot beat the variety. Rather than simply adding all of your usual purchases to your cart, I highly suggest pausing to shop their collections from Ella Moon and Mae. The pieces are quality basics, trendy while still feeling classic, and many can be dressed up for a presentation or dressed down for a typical day in class. Anything that can serve double duty is a must in my book!

Also, let’s talk about study breaks. You will 100% need them, and breaks will help increase your productivity and prevent you from burning out. Reading for fun is one of the most underrated hobbies, and I cannot recommend reading a few pages every day from a great author you enjoy on your Kindle. Another option? Audible! Whether you’re riding the bus, train, or subway, driving your car, or walking in between classes, listening to an audio book is a great way to disconnect from schoolwork even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time. Stay refreshed so you can be your best!

Boxed

Let’s talk about food! The best thing I ever did when I was in high school and college was purchase in bulk. My parents and I would review what I planned to bring for lunch and what I wanted to enjoy as a snack once I got home, and then we would shop together to purchase things in bulk (my choices rarely wavered!). That ritual carried over into college, and I would have definitely shopped through Boxed! Rather than visiting stores in person, you can simply shop online and have all of your favorite foods shipped directly to you. Pro tip: get your roommates in on the game so you can all shop together and save by earning kicks through Shopkick!

Where are you shopping for back to school? What’s at the top of your list?

Get fit and earn kicks with Shopkick

Every year, many of us take time to reflect on the past year and resolve to make the new year better than the last. One popular resolution is to be healthier — losing weight, eating better, or achieving fitness goals. These “get fit” resolutions are entirely attainable, but require planning ahead.

Keep your resolutions this year

We polled loyal Shopkickers to find out about their New Year’s resolutions. Despite having the best intentions, we learned only 34% of people actually stick to their resolutions throughout the whole year. Most people, 64% of respondents, abandon their goals by Spring.

Experts say that the best way to keep your resolutions is to set smaller, more realistic goals and planning out the steps you will take to achieve them. For example, rather than promising to lose weight, pledge to lose one pound a week until you reach your goal. Instead of resolving to eat healthier, commit to planning meals three times a week and perhaps eating red meat once a week.

Get healthy and earn kicks with Shopkick

Do you need an extra reason to stick to your resolution this year? Shopkickers like Shaurice D. from Atlanta use Shopkick to help them achieve their fitness goals while they earn kicks. Some Shopkickers get their kicks while they get in their daily steps, while others browse the app to find kicks on fitness or health-related products.

get fit with shopkick

Check out our top finds to help you crush this year’s fitness resolutions and get kicks while you’re at it!

Eat Healthy

Try planning your meals in advance to set yourself up for success. You can eat wholesome AND delicious meals that are good for both your waistline and your wallet. See our menu of health-friendly treats from Boxed and Jet. Better yet, have them all delivered right to your door!

eat healthy to get fit with shopkick

Work Out in Style

Find an exercise you like and stick to it! Try a new fitness class or set a goal of to run a 5k in 2018. It helps to dress the part — these sporty-chic styles from Amazon will have you looking forward to your workout. As a bonus, you’ll earn kicks for every $1 spent on your purchases.

dress for work outs and get fit with shopkick

Get Fit at Home

If you can’t make it to the gym, bring the gym to you. Start feeling the burn today with these home gym steals at Walmart.com. Your purchases will give you a head start on your 2018 kicks!

get fit with shopkick at home

Get started

Open the app to get kicks and see how Shopkick can help you achieve your New Years resolutions. Don’t have the app? Download it here to join the fun and start earning your free gift cards!

 

 

 

Holy wholesale: Boxed brings smart shopping to Shopkick

Holy wholesale! Boxed, the awesome online wholesaler, has launched with Shopkick. Stock up on just about everything you need and get free gift cards in return. When you visit Boxed or make purchases from them through the Shopkick app, you’ll be able to earn Shopkick points (called “kicks”). Redeem those kicks for free gift cards to stores like Best Buy, Sephora, and much more.

 

Bulk shopping means big savings

Wholesale sizes mean you get more for your money and shop less. Boxed delivers bigger savings without membership fees everywhere in the lower 48 states. What’s not to love about a 2 day shipping time? You even get free samples with your delivery!   Boxed has the A+ lineup you need to stock up for back to school shopping in minutes. Buy in bulk, get free gift cards: Shop with Boxed.com through the Shopkick app. Don’t have Shopkick? Download it today and join the millions of Shopkickers who have redeemed over $63.8 million in free gift cards.

Mobile shopping rewards users anytime, anywhere

Bill Demas, Chief Executive Officer

When I joined Shopkick as CEO a little over a year ago, one of my first goals was to craft a clear vision and set of values for the company.  Our vision became “to create rewarding shopping experiences anytime, anywhere.” Today, I’m pleased to share with you our progress delivering two key elements of this: “rewarding” and “anytime, anywhere.”

The dictionary definition of rewarding is ‘giving satisfaction, pleasure or profit.’ I am proud we have done this for our users in a few ways:

  1. Helping users earn gift cards and prizes for what they already do in store:  In our history we have given our users more than $58 million of gift cards and prizes for things they already do: visiting their favorite stores, interacting with new and popular products (via scanning), and watching videos and exploring content within our app.  Of course, we also offer a high number of kicks for buying those products as well.  Personally, I have 20,000 kicks and can’t wait to earn free Beats headphones with 30,000 more!
  2. Getting users on the move and socializing with friends:  To my surprise, we have heard from many users the social aspects of what makes Shopkick special for them. This can be re-connecting with a significant other or friends on the weekend by Shopkicking through cities or malls in the suburbs. I love the story of Surbhi from San Francisco who was Shopkicking with a friend and ran into other people doing the same. According to her, they “laughed about it and it created a bond between [them],” and new friendships were born.
  3. Helping our users’ favorite charity win a $50,000 donation from Shopkick: By doing exactly what they do every day – walking into stores, scanning product barcodes and buying product – users can help your favorite charity win the big prize.  The charities are Adopt A Classroom, American Red Cross, Feeding America, National Breast Cancer Foundation and Room to Read.

To deliver on our ‘anytime, anywhere’ promise, we are excited to share several new features for our users:

Rewards “anytime, anywhere”: Today we launched a new mobile commerce offering that works with the following online merchants with more to come: Apple, Boxed, eBay, Groupon, Jet and Spring.  Now Shopkickers can take the kick-earning actions they do in physical stores and translate them to online rewards from the comfort of their own homes! By visiting a mobile retail partner while at home – the digital version of walking into a store – users will earn kicks.  By browsing mobile offers and products – just like scanning a product in-store – users will earn kicks.  And by purchasing online, like they would do in a store, our users will earn kicks, all redeemable for those gift cards and prizes!

More gift cards and prizes, including Amazon: Our users have told us that their number one gift card addition is Amazon.  You can now redeem your kicks to earn Amazon gift cards in denominations of $5, $10 and $25.  We will also be adding Crocs and several other reward partners in the coming months.

As you can see, we are relentlessly focused on “creating rewarding shopping experiences anytime, anywhere.”  If you have more ideas or any feedback for me – and I will read it all – please don’t hesitate to reach me at ceo@shopkick.com.

In my next post, I’ll discuss our primary company value: putting our users first and obsessing about their experience.  Until next time, enjoy your summer and happy Shopkicking!

Introducing online shopping with Shopkick

Online shoppers, rejoice! In addition to the Shopkick points (called “kicks”) you can earn at the mall or grocery store with Shopkick, starting today there are now 3 new ways to get kicks for online shopping. That means it’s even easier to rack up kicks and redeem for a free gift card!

How to earn kicks for online shopping:

    • Visit online stores through the Shopkick app
    • View select product offers
    • Make online purchases

You can visit, view product offers, and make online purchases from the Apple Store, eBay, Groupon, Walmart, Best Buy, and more for kicks.

 

“These new features will definitely help with back to school shopping! I normally use my kicks for my Starbucks addiction, but now I will use them to get school supplies for the teens.” — Cassondra T., Shopkick user from Newport News, VA

Shopkickers are really excited for online stores and offers. 79% of Shopkickers surveyed thought it made online shopping more fun (not to mention, rewarding)! Start making online purchases today with the Shopkick app to earn kicks and free gift cards.

Watch this video to learn how to get started earning kicks for online shopping. Don’t have Shopkick? Download now.

For the week of 8/1/17-8/6/17, Shopkick is hosting “Online Shopping Madness” where you can get supercharged kicks just for checking out these features.

Happy Shopkicking!