What's in Store

Procrastinating gift givers have still time to get it there in time for the big day. According to our survey, one-third of Shopping.com merchants are offering Next Day shipping for purchases made by today, December 21, so your gifts will still arrive in time for Christmas.

Need some ideas? How about a gift card? Our recent consumer survey showed that they are the must-have gift this year, with 77 percent of consumers saying they’d prefer to receive a gift card to their favorite store over a tangible gift. Most of them may get their wish, as 59 percent of gift-givers said they’d prefer to GIVE a gift card than a tangible gift. The Home Depot gift card is the most popular on Shopping.com this season, with many other great cards available from everyone’s favorite stores.

Other last-minute ideas include a small bottle of perfume or cologne - still very personal, yet won’t weigh too much to rack up high shipping charges. Or, order your friend or loved one a subscription to their favorite magazine. Even though the first issue won’t arrive in time for Christmas, you can buy a copy off the newsstand and enclose a note telling the recipient to expect more issues to start arriving in the New Year.

Happy Holidays!!!

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I’d like to start by wishing our blog contributors’ moms a very Happy Mother’s Day:

• Rose Sept
• Ana Lau
• Molly Gonzales
• Penny Lovell
• Audrey Okubo
• Kathi Conroy

For everyone who just realized Mother’s Day is this weekend, I’d like to help you out. At Shopping.com we just did a consumer survey finding that on Mother’s Day, most moms would prefer to receive a spa day or go on family outing over a vacation away from the kids. So, time together and pampering will be key. Also, in case you don’t want to be one-upped by a sibling, people are planning to spend up to $50 on their Mother’s Day gifts.

In a similar survey conducted by the National Retail Federation with BIGResearch, nearly 20 percent of shoppers plan to pamper their moms by giving them a certificate to a spa or beauty salon this year, up more than five percent from last year.

Here are some sure fire ways to pamper moms this Mother’s Day:

• Spa Gift Certificate: Purchase Spa Finder gift certificates that can be used at more than 3,600 spas worldwide. Great for pedicures to princess-level pampering, they work for many price ranges, from $50-$1,000, in increments of $25. Consider making it a mother/child outing by signing up for matching treatments.
• Versatile Gift Card: Most retailers (large or small) offer gift cards which are no longer thought of as a “non-thoughtful” gift. They come in any denomination and moms can pick out what she wants when she wants.
• Dear Mom Message In A Bottle: A creative alternative to flowers, this 7 1/2″ glass bottle is full of fun and surprises direct from the tropics with sand and real seashells, beach umbrella, even the quintessential palm tree…and of course, your very own “message in a bottle.” Express shipping is available,
• Digital Picture Frame: Showcase family photos throughout the years. You can load the pictures for mom to make it even more special. Some merchants are offering free shipping.
• Spend Time Together: Make her breakfast in bed, help her run errands, take her to shopping or to a chick-flick movie…basically do whatever she wants.

Remember, it’s all about showing your appreciation. So tell her what she means to you. Happy Mother’s Day!

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