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Tag: Holiday Shopping

5 Ways to Save Money Before the Holidays

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Believe it or not, we’ve officially made it to mid-December — and if it feels like the month is flying by, you’re not alone. Hanukkah is well underway, and Christmas is just around the corner. With holiday to-do lists growing by the minute, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — especially when it comes to staying on budget.

If you’re still checking off gifts or prepping for celebrations, don’t worry — it’s not too late to save! Here are five simple ways to keep your spending in check while still embracing the season.

1. Watch for Last-Minute Sales

Retailers (big and small!) are still rolling out daily deals as they aim to hit their end-of-year goals. Flash sales — especially on clothing and accessories — can change quickly, so it pays to stay alert. Keep an eye on your inbox if you’re signed up for brand emails, or check your favorite store’s website regularly. The sale you’ve been waiting for could drop any day!

2. Redeem Your Kicks

When’s the last time you checked your Shopkick balance? If it’s been a while, now’s the time. Redeem your kicks for gift cards to help cover the cost of those final items on your list. Whether it’s a toy, tech, or last-minute stocking stuffer, using kicks to shave down your total feels like a holiday win.

3. Stick to Your List

Extra store runs are par for the course in December — but they’re also where unplanned spending sneaks in. Before you head out, make a list of what you truly need and commit to sticking with it. If something unexpected catches your eye, pause and decide: is it worth editing your list, or will it blow your budget?

4. Shop Online + Pick Up In-Store

This hybrid method has become a holiday hero. You still earn kicks, you avoid shipping costs, and you dramatically reduce impulse buys by only shopping from your pre-planned list. Plus, many retailers offer same-day pickup — and it’s a great way to avoid crowds and stay socially distant. It’s efficient, cost-effective, and safer.

5. Go Homemade

When it comes to heartfelt gifts, DIY almost always wins. Whether it’s a batch of cookies, a framed photo, a handmade ornament, or a home-cooked meal, these gifts are thoughtful, personal, and budget-friendly. Best of all, they show your loved ones how much you care — without maxing out your wallet.

What are your go-to ways to save this season?
Share your best tips and ideas with our community on Facebook — we’d love to hear how you’re making the most of the holidays, your way.

Shop and Save for the Holidays: Blue Weekend is Here!

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One of our favorite weekends is back once again, and it’s back just in time for the holidays! It’s Blue Weekend! This celebratory shopping event will unite Shopkickers from around the country together to check off even more of the gifts on your list. Whether you’re shopping for parents, partners, kids, or friends, December 14-16 is the time to shop, save, and earn kicks!

To help you earn the most kicks possible and to make sure you’re well on your way to redeeming your kicks for gift cards before Christmas, we thought we would highlight a few of the best places to shop during Blue Weekend for décor, style, athletic, tech, and kids’ finds. Let’s dive in!

Décor Finds:

Gifting décor is one of the easiest ways to bring joy to parents, friends, and hostesses this holiday season! Consider popping HomeGoods in order to discover some of the most unique pieces at some of the lowest prices. Items like pillows, throws, and mugs always add to the festive cheer, and they definitely have a holiday theme. Just make sure to note, the kicks for HomeGoods are only available in select states!

Yankee Candle also offers plenty of wonderfully scented candles, and you can also personalize them. It’s the ultimate holiday gift!

Both stores are wonderful places to shop for White Elephant or Secret Santa gifts – give something they will love rather than a gag! Just by walking in to select HomeGoods or Yankee Candle, you will earn kicks, and there are more available when you submit your receipt at Yankee Candle!

Style Finds:

We’re certain you have plenty of fashion fans on your holiday gifting list, and TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ulta Beauty are three of our go-to spots!

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are both filled with name brand pieces at incredible prices, and it’s never a surprise to find a host of designer items in either store (or both!). Is there a better feeling than gifting your family and friends the designers they love? It feels like the ultimate surprise! Expect to earn kicks simply by walking inside either or both stores!

If you have a haircare, skincare, or makeup fan amongst your family and friends, Ulta is the store to visit! Their team of experts will be able to effortlessly guide you toward products to pamper your loved ones, and many of them may be from brands you haven’t thought of yet. Be prepared to find name brand and designer finds, fragrances, and more that will look amazing wrapped under your tree or tucked inside of a stocking. Make sure to link your credit card before you make your purchase in order to earn kicks!

Athletic Finds:

Many of us are starting to experience winter’s coldest temperatures, but that doesn’t mean we all still don’t want to work toward our fitness goals! If your friends or family thrive when they’re able to work-out or if they’re setting new fitness goals for 2019, help to hold them accountable by gifting them everything they will need from some of the top brands.

Shop at Reebok for traditional and on-trend sneakers, socks, and workout gear. Plus, they have specific finds for sports! Shoe Carnival has a plethora of top shoe brands, particularly if you’re shopping for sneakers. Modell’s Sporting Goods has plenty of workout gear and gifts for sports fans (you need to be ready to cheer for your teams post-workout!). Just note, the kicks for Modell’s are only available in select states! The ladies on your list will love Fabletics budget friendly finds because all of their workout gear is on-trend, plus the company was started by Kate Hudson. Does it get any better? In order to maximize your cool down, stop into Jockey for the best loungewear your recipients will love to wear (and, don’t be surprised if you walk away with a few new finds for yourself too!).

All of these brands are offering kicks by walking inside the stores, which totally counts as exercise!

Tech Finds:

The holidays are the time for new tech, and Best Buy is the place to go! Step inside one of their many stores, and think about upgrading your phone. You can also prep for awards season and the Super Bowl by purchasing a new TV, and you should stock up on movies and seasons of favorite shows too. Don’t forget to peruse their selection of cameras, computers, and printers. Make this the best tech year yet! Don’t forget to link your credit card before you make your purchase.

Kids’ Finds:

We don’t know about you, but we always become the most excited to shop for all of the kids on our lists! Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh are two of the first places we visit every time. They have adorable clothes for babies and toddlers, plus they also have clothing for older kids too. Find pajamas, tops, pants, and shoes in palettes they will love! Both brands are offering kicks to Shopkickers who walk inside, plus you can earn even more when you shop with a linked card.

If you’re searching for a new toy set for a boy or girl, LEGO® should be on your list! Walmart and Target sell many of their building sets, and we speak from experience when we say they provide hours of imaginative, building fun. Kids are able to explore other worlds while they piece together their sets, whether that means escaping to soar with a favorite character or pretending to be an entrepreneur. The options are nearly endless, and the kids on your list will have plenty of indoor fun ahead of them during the holiday season and well beyond!

Where will you be shopping during Blue Weekend? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Make sure to join our social media fun too because you will discover a whole community of passionate Shopkickers just like you.

Earn Head to Toe Kicks at The Body Shop, Forever 21, and Footlocker

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Does anyone else feel as though the holidays are arriving early this year? It may only be the beginning of November, but I’ve felt as though I’ve been prepping since just before Halloween. My first gifts have already been purchased, I’m constantly adding new gift ideas for friends and family to my list, and I’m searching for holiday outfits for December (and beyond!).

Today’s retailers are the perfect place to go for holiday gifts, outfits, and January’s fitness prep! Get ready to love finds from The Body Shop, Forever 21, and Footlocker. All three stores have pieces for everyone on your list, including you, and you can earn kicks when you shop with Shopkick.

The Body Shop:

If there’s one thing that feels like a necessary luxury to me, it’s bath products. Between mornings spent running and days spent working (plus, every activity in between!), purchasing wonderful lotions, body washes, skincare products, and makeup always feels like a necessary indulgence. Using any combination of these products from The Body Shop always feels like such a treat!

The Body Shop’s body butters are some of my favorites, especially during the cold, long, and very dry winter months when my skin can’t seem to soak up enough moisture, because they provide the best kind of relief. Did I mention they have amazing scents? Anything that smells like citrus wins in my book! Their body washes are cleansing and hydrating. Facemasks are fun to do on the weekends, especially if you invite your girlfriends over for a spa night paired with movies or Netflix. And, The Body Shop’s makeup line is wonderful if you’re looking to pick up any new shades for the holidays (hello, red lipstick!).

Bath products make some of the best gifts whether you’re stuffing a stocking, treating your mom, aunt, or sister, or introducing your best friend to a new must-have. Make sure to shop all of the products at The Body Shop with Shopkick so you can earn kicks!

Forever 21:

No matter the season, I always enjoy shopping at Forever 21. I have found some of my most unique pieces thanks to them! Plus, Forever 21 has an excellent selection of dresses, skirts, and blouses for every party from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Because their finds are always budget friendly, I never question picking up a selection of new pieces so I can easily mix and match for events and every day.

Not only do they have a great selection of clothing, but they also have a fantastic selection of accessories. Expect to find flats, heels, boots, and even sandals at the same incredible prices you’re used to paying for clothing. Plus, you can also stock up on statement jewelry. Forever 21 also launched their Holiday Guide, which has recommendations for all of the ladies on your list.

Forever 21 makes shopping so easy, and their great prices and fun finds make trying new trends even more enjoyable. Shopping at Forever 21 is now even better and more budget friendly because you can shop through Shopkick and earn kicks!  

Foot Locker:

My favorite way to start any morning is by running. Excellent shoes are key for running, which is why one of my go-to brands is Asics. Their sneakers provide an excellent level of support, and they’re designed with runners in mind. Foot Locker is a great place to purchase Asics! Not to mention, they also carry a host of other brands, like Adidas, New Balance, Nike, Ugg, and Vans, for virtually any other shoe need you have.

Not only are sneakers key, but I find I feel more prepared for any workout when I’m wearing clothing that makes me feel confident. Foot Locker carries athleisure too! They have everything from leggings and shorts to tees and dresses for any type of workout. The best part about wearing great athleisure outfits is you can transition from your workout into running errands without ever having to change. Anything that saves time is helpful!  

The best goals don’t begin on January 1. Instead, the best way to reach your goals is by starting as soon as possible. So, stock up on sneakers and athleisure from Footlocker now to start (or continue!) your fitness journey. You’ve got this, Shopkicker!

Whether you’re stocking up on the best bath and body products from The Body Shop, filling your holiday wardrobe at Forever 21, or getting a head start on your new fitness attire at Footlocker, now is the time to shop with these great brands with Shopkick.  

[Infographic]: Seasonal Shopping Trends 2017

Posted on by shopkick

They say the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, which is why we have taken a look back at key behaviors our users exhibited during seasonal peaks throughout 2017.

In our latest infographic, we review what Shopkickers were most engaged with during important retail moments throughout the year. As 2018 trends already start to take shape, we look forward to seeing how these holiday trends will continue to grow and shift over time.

 

Shopkick Infographic 2017 trends

To learn more about how Shopkick can help you boost engagement during seasonal peaks, get in touch at [email protected].

5 Trends from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday

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Throughout the beginning of the year, the media was consumed with stories of a retail apocalypse; exemplified by mounting bankruptcies and store closures as well as consumer spending shifting away from retail and towards experiences, dining and travel.  So all eyes were on the biggest shopping weekend of the year, Thanksgiving-Cyber Monday, to evaluate both the current health and the long-term viability of the beleaguered retail industry.

The results? Blockbuster sales all weekend long for both physical and online retailers, propelled forward by aggressive promotions and a surge in mobile shopping. Adobe Analytics reported that American consumers spent $19.62 billion online over the five-day period from Nov. 23, 2017 (Thanksgiving) through Nov. 27 (Cyber Monday). This was $2.6 billion and 15% more than they spent during the same timeframe last year. At Shopkick, our users actively shopped throughout the long weekend both in-stores and on their phones at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, TJX, Walmart, Kohls and eBay.

Below, we explore 5 key Thanksgiving-Cyber Monday trends and what they mean for the rest of the holiday shopping season.

1. Shopping is spread out throughout the whole weekend

Given that discounts are readily available to consumers year-round, and holiday discounts started in early November, Black Friday has mostly lost its significance as THE make-or-break shopping day. Also the nature of the event has changed, as better online and mobile experiences has meant that the days of millions of consumers waiting outside for doorbuster deals and enduring jostling crowds are largely over as consumers can shop from the comfort of their own homes or phones.

While Shoppertrak found that foot traffic did decline on Thanksgiving and Black Friday by 1.6% from last year, sales were up, especially online sales.  Thanksgiving Day saw a surge in online spending in the U.S., with purchases growing 18.3% to $2.87 billion compared to last year’s $1.3 billion, according to Adobe Analytics. On Black Friday, a record $5.03 billion was spent online, an increase of 16.9% over last year and a new record for the day. A good deal of the shopping took place on the websites of physical retailers – not just online only retailers. Finally, on Cyber Monday, a record $6.59 billion was spent online, an increase of 16.8 % over 2016, making it the largest mostly U.S.-based online shopping day in history and nearly a billion dollars more than last year at $5.6 billion.

2. A surge in mobile shopping

Consumers are now much more comfortable shopping and transacting on mobile devices. On Black Friday, Adobe reported smartphones accounted for 45% of visits and 26% of revenue for online retailers, working out to just under $2 billion in sales. On Cyber Monday, purchases made on smartphones broke records with $2 billion in sales. Adobe said early data for Cyber Monday activity showed mobile driving nearly 40% of online sales.

Another positive sign is that conversion rates on mobile are improving, due to improved apps, wallet integrations, and mobile transactions closing at a 12 percent higher rate year on year. Conversion rates on smartphones were at 3.5%, a 10% increase over last year according to Adobe.

3. Amazon vs. everyone else

Amazon continued to assert its dominance, and not just on Cyber Monday. Amazon accounted for half of Black Friday online sales. Based on web traffic, Amazon and Walmart increased their combined market share by 1.5%, while Target, JCPenney, and Sears all lost ground. Cyber Monday was Amazon’s biggest shopping day in company history, beating out the previous record holder, Prime Day. Amazon isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon as their Amazon Prime subscriber growth — in terms of both numbers and how much they spend — sets them up nicely for the rest of the season.

4. Differences between online and in-store shopping

NRF and Prosper Insights found that more Americans shopped both in-stores and online, rather than sticking with just one channel. 38% of shoppers shopped both online and in-stores whereas 33% shopped online only and 29% shopped in-store only. These multichannel shoppers are more valuable to retailers, spending $82 more on average than the online-only shopper, and $49 more on average than those shoppers who only shopped in stores.

Aside from shoppers, successful omnichannel retailers are tailoring their marketing and merchandising strategies to each shopping environment. Walmart, for example, had more discounts online for heavy or bulky items like electronics that are more suitable for shipping, whereas in-store was stocked with deals for smaller, impulse buys.

5. Driving the sale: differentiated experience or discounts

Retailers essentially had 2 options to drive sales during this time: either rely on discounts or create a differentiated experience. Those that can drive sales through differentiated experiences, such as product assortment or a stellar in-store and mobile experience will protect their margins and equity against those that solely rely on heavy discounting.

Smart, not blanket, promotional strategies will win out as retailers are under tremendous pressure to feed today’s discount-driven consumer, with research showing that more than 60% of holiday shoppers are motivated by discounts. In fact, retailers have already discounted goods 10% more this year than last. These major discounts early in the holiday season lead consumers to believe that deeper discounts will be coming.

A positive outlook for the rest of the season!

While the immediate week following Black Friday was slower, as consumers recuperate and remember the doorbuster deals, December is poised to be strong for retailers. Healthy economic conditions for consumers and strong confidence should result in robust sales for physical and online retailers alike. Retailers must focus on strategies that engage shoppers across channels with relevant content, merchandise, experiences and promotions.