Square Deal Blog

Shopping online can be a tricky business. Often, there are more options than there is time to review them and you can literally find any product under the sun, for a price. For that reason, it is important to time what you buy. In other words, there are distinct times of the year when certain items go on sale.

While we are all familiar with popular selling holidays like Black Friday and Memorial Day, actually gauging the deals that you see can be tough. That’s why retail experts have put together lists of the best times to buy certain items. This spring, if you’re in the market for any of the following items, it’s a good time to buy.

Kitchenware and Utensils

There are two groups who pop up in the springtime who will need these items: new grads (whether high school or college) and newlyweds (or engaged). Retailers know this and are more likely to put these household items on sale during the spring (specifically April and May) for this reason. So, whether you fall into this category or not, that new kitchen you’ve always dreamed of could benefit from a bit of an internal lift of sorts.

Skis

This should really come as no shock, but off-season deals are often the best ones around. If you are a skier, waiting all summer to use your new equipment might be too much to handle. However, if you jump on off-season sales in March and April you could literally save hundreds of dollars on skis or other winter sports equipment. You don’t want to wait too long though. In the summer, newer models and the old “anticipation of next season” buzz will drive up prices again.

Mattresses

The good ol’ Memorial Day Sales for many items are really comparable to many other sale holidays like Columbus Day, Labor Day, and President’s Day. If you need an item, waiting for these sales is advisable, but they come around quite frequently. That is different in one area, however: mattresses. New mattress models come out in May, which means that retailers, especially those online who tend to have a larger stock than physical locations, will want to unload their previous year’s wares. You can find mattress discounts of up to 50% from some online outlets in the month of May.

Vacation Packages

Outside of the Spring Break period, which runs from mid-March to mid-April, the spring is an excellent time buy a vacation package. Plan to leave before Memorial Day, however, when the “unofficial” start of summer drives up prices on everything from hotels to gas.

Making the Most of the Spring

Like any time of year, the Spring has many unique qualities. The warming temperatures take us out of our winter funk and the promise of the “lazy days” of summer get us ready for relaxation. Take this time of year to make some upgrades to your kitchen, bedroom, or recreational equipment or simply take some time to get away.

What do teen girls want? That question is on the minds of advertising execs across the globe each day. In a world filled with too much information (TMI) and social media invading every niche of our lives the new Holy Grail of many companies is tapping into the desires of some of the biggest “luxury” spenders in America and the world, 13-17 year-old girls and their young adult counterparts, the elusive 18-34 set.

Cracking the “Man’s World”

Traditionally, networks like the CW and MTV dominated these niches, but as entertainment has increasingly gone digital, drawing teens into web series have become a new goal. However, traditionally, it is young men, not women, who have been most interested in web-based entertainment. Take, for example, the website College Humor, which draws 15 million users a month to its popular web series Hardly Working.

Yet, there is a clear large scale movement towards new media entertainment over the same old hour-long television teen dramas. As media veteran from the likes of Nickelodeon and Oxygen, Geraldine Laybourne explains to Bloomberg Businessweek, “I’m excited about what the iPad means for this generation.” Basically, as tablets and smartphones take over the lives of teens, the television in the bedroom will be all but superfluous in reaching them from an advertising perspective.

Enter: Alloy Entertainment

Alloy Entertainment is at the forefront of capturing the teenage female audience. Last fall, its wildly popular web series, Hollywood Is Like High School with Money, continued a franchise of female-geared programing though its larger website, alloy.com, and parent company Alloy Media, which began with its first series, Private. At last count, there were over 21 million teens registered in the Alloy community and as its web series multiply, that number is expected to continue to rise.

The web community at Alloy represents a unique take on the teen girl’s online experience. It is designed to provide anything and everything that she could want online. This includes everything from gossip and horoscopes to relationship advice, quizzes, a fashion center and online store. Its media arm merely extends its hold on everything teen girl and solidifies it as a one-stop shop for the web surfing female adolescent.

Advertising Dollars Well Spent

The concept behind web series is simple: provide short (5-10 minute) “episodes” on a topic of interest and have each sponsored by one or more companies, thus eliminating commercials. L’Oreal, who bankrolled Hollywood Is Like High School, was given freedom to choose its product placement and even added viewer incentives within episodes. In Episode 4, for example, viewers are invited to “pay close attention…and score some serious swag from L’Oreal Paris.” The company was able to exude unprecedented control over the series because of this sponsorship, though Alloy claims that the integrity of the writing was not affected. In the future, Alloy plans to only offer advertising placement rather than full sponsorship as a means to retain all artistic control over the episodes.

What this all means, of course, is that the ultimate goal of advertisement geared to the 13-17 year-old girl market is being met. The episodes, though a bit sophomoric in content, had a seven-figure production budget, which clearly shows in their video quality. They are cute and entertaining even to someone *slightly* out of the target age range. It seems that Alloy Media and alloy.com are onto something with Alloy TV and only the future will tell how successful that venture will be.

November is upon us which means that the countdown to the holidays has officially begun. A few years ago online shopping took over as the most popular form of retail acquisition during the holiday season (I mean, sitting at home in my p.j.’s beats crowds at the mall any day of the week!). This also means the rules of the game have changed in terms of bargain hunting during the holidays.

Today, I want to offer you five tips for online holiday bargain hunting. Though most of these will extend the whole year through, remember that super sales and other cost-saving deals abound during the weeks leading up to December 25^th.

1. Never Buy without a Coupon
   There are literally dozens of websites out there whose sole purpose is divulging coupon codes to customers. Find a website you like or simply Google “Company Name” + “coupon” and try every code you see (starting with the best ones first, of course).
2. Look for Multiple Deals
   Some sites, like Victoria Secret, will accept more than one coupon code at a time. It is always worth it to see if the site you visit is among them.
3. “Like” Your Favorite Companies
   Social media marketing is the wave of the future. Many companies offer exclusive deals to their “fans” on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. If you haven’t already, get a user name on each of these sites, even if you use a fake name for the sole purpose of “liking” your favorite companies and becoming privy to their deals.
4. Be on the Lookout Everywhere for Free Shipping
   During the holidays the biggest downside to online and catalog shopping has always been shipping costs. However, most, if not all, online retailers will offer free shipping at some point during the holiday season. However, finding out about that free shipping can be a bit more difficult. Though online coupon sites (see tip #1) may have free ship codes, I have found that the catalogs that I receive in the snail mail are the best places to look. Generally, companies will provide a code on the back of the magazine unique to your address that offers you, their loyal, repeat customer, free shipping.
5. Comparison Shop
   You know to do this, but it bears repeating and there are many unconventional places to look when comparing online prices. The first place I stop is in the Sunday paper. Like free shipping and physical catalogs, I like going to the print ads. The process feels more “real” this way and the ads give me a good basis from which to start the online comparison process. Since I know what major retailers are charging for any given item, and since I have the physical ad on my desk, when I see the prices from online boutiques and deals sites I am better able to judge their service, shipping and other details.

The Key to Online Holiday Shopping

Though these tips seem simple, they are the basis for getting the deals you want online this holiday season. Remember, sales increase exponentially during this time and it is only by diligently tracking shipping, base price and other coupons that you can hope to get the best deal possible.

For many casual campers the coming of the winter months spells the end of their outdoor adventures, however more and more people are discovering the joys and distinct benefits of winter camping, snow and all!

Planning a Winter Outdoor Adventure

As any good Boy Scout or Inuit can tell you, snow is an excellent insulator. Therefore, combining the right products and techniques can actually make your winter outdoor excursions just as toasty as those long summer nights. As an added benefit, there will be no bugs!

Cabela’s, the foremost name is outdoor gear for camping, hunting and recreation is the perfect stop for all of your winter camping needs. They offer several different options for gear that is fit for outdoor adventures below freezing. Here are a few important essentials:

• A Strong Tent
  Winter winds can be nasty, so if you are planning on a camping trip you will need to upgrade your tent to something more durable and weather-resistant. Four-season tents also generally come with super reinforced flooring that is an important element of creating the insulation that you will need to stay warm. Cabela’s Alaskan Guide line offers a Geodesic tent built for just such an excursion.
• Insulated Sleeping Quarters
  Your summer sleeping bag is simply not enough for snoozing below the frost level. One important part of staying comfortable outdoors in cold weather is building insulation from the bottom up. In addition to the tent mentioned above, you should make sure to have a quality ground cloth and sleeping pad in addition to a sleeping bag rated for 0°F. Cabela’s offers several options for insulated bags from the Alaskan Guide line, The North Face, and Kelty among others. There are many different features, such as cinch hoods and packets for heat packs that you should explore as well.
• Appropriate Clothing
  Never is your packing more important than in winter camping. If you are hiking to a site, extra socks (and lots of them) are a requirement. A quality wool hiking sock, such as the SmartWool Expedition sock sold at Cabela’s, is a good choice for longer trips.

  You also need to make sure that you layer your clothing and bring along extra pairs of long underwear. Remember, even in winter the sun during the day can cause you to sweat. This will cool your body significantly if a cold wind comes in and could spell disaster.

• A Hat
  Though many sleeping bags offer hoods, you lose the most heat through your head. A good, insulated hood, such as Cabela’s Microstretch Balaclava, can help you manage heat lost through your head as well as keep your neck and face protected when you are out during the day.

A Whole New Winter Wonderland

If you have never considered winter camping, this may be your year. The pristine views of new-fallen snow after a cozy sleep inside a tent can be some of the most breathtaking you will ever see in the great outdoors. With a little preparation and the help of Cabela’s amazing selection of outdoor gear, you can be on your way to a whole new Winter Wonderland.

Many of us know that the Columbus Day sales at the beginning of October represent the “unofficial” beginning of holiday shopping season. Scores of retailers begin to roll out important pre-holiday campaigns just as the weather turns crisp in an effort to keep the retail spirit of the season going for as long as possible.

Though the purpose of these sales is to draw more money out of the average consumer, the savvy shopper can really capitalize on some important deals if they time them right. With the holidays fast approaching, the fall season is the best choice for buying certain items that you will pay a big ticket for any other time of the year. Today, we want to review four of the best fall purchases:

1. Grills
   With the weather getting colder and most of the country expecting snow at any moment, the time to buy a new grill just as the summer season winds to an end. Though there are many enticing sales around Memorial Day, they are usually beat out this time of year. You can easily store a grill in your garage through the cold months or, like my family, make cooking outside a yearly event – you haven’t tasted a better Thanksgiving turkey than one smoked outdoors!
2. Appliances
   September and October mark the new model year for most household appliances. This means that many retailers (both brick-and-mortar and online) will have excess stock that they need to unload. Look for closeout deals and be willing to consider floor models as an alternative to the pricier warehouse units. You can literally save hundreds of dollars by overlooking a dent or a scratch.
3. Computers
   With the exception of the Back to School season in August, there is no better time to buy computers or their accessories than the weekend following Thanksgiving Day (that is, either in person on Black Friday or online on Cyber Monday). Though Thanksgiving weekend has always been an important sales period, electronic purchases especially seem to be hugely discounted during this time. Look for deals like free monitors and printers as well as prices that can be clashed up to 50%.
4. Travel
   With the summer haze clearing and the holidays still months away, the fall season is referred to in the travel industry as a shoulder season. However, with the proliferation of year-round school schedules in many areas and their associated fall recess, there is new opportunity to enjoy the richness of travel for a fraction of the price with half of the crowds. Find some of your best incentives for fall travel, hotel deals and cruises. Many advertise online at discounts that will allow you two weeks for the price of one in the summer.

With the holiday season only weeks away, saving money is even more important. Whether you are looking for a major appliance purchase or simply to get away from it all, many fall-specific shopping discounts allow you to spend wisely while still socking away some extra cash for Santa’s wallet.

Have you looked at your business card lately? What does it say? If you are like many business people of the 21^st century, you likely mention your name, company, title, phone number(s) and email address. However, as one of the online leaders in small business printing, Vistaprint has found an important new trend emerging: social media mentions.

Getting People to “Like” Your Business

In October of last year, Vistaprint did an informal survey of the millions of business cards they printed that year. They found that web addresses for social media sites’ business pages (specifically Facebook and Twitter) appeared on 4% of all cards. While those numbers may seem inconsequential at first, consider that the same informal study of 2009 printing revealed just 2.5% of business cards had similar social media mentions.

What this says is that the popularity of social media has really taken over in the small business world (or micro businesses, as Vistaprint calls them). With more and more people all over the world turning to social media on a daily basis, this strategy makes sense. Starting a company page is easy, cheap, and reaches out to customers in a realm where they are comfortable. It also means you need to print new business cards.

Vistaprint’s Business Solutions

Vistaprint is a Dutch company whose dealings span over 130 countries worldwide in dozens of languages. They specialize in providing personalized print and electronic products to small businesses. Despite the small volumes that they produce, the technology they have developed keeps their price point in line with most other high volume printers that service larger businesses.

Vistaprint’s product offerings include business cards, stationary, websites, logo design, checks, email marketing and much more. In addition to their home base in the Netherlands, they are regionally based in Boston, MA; Sydney, Australia; and Barcelona, Spain.