ShopSmart Magazine survey shows what shoppers will do to save money

America’s bargain-hunting habits: What shoppers will and won’t do to save a buck

Yonkers, NY – You might already be a pretty shopping-savvy saver, and we’re not encouraging you to become a crazy-coupon lady, but there’s no reason you can’t save even more by checking out the lengths to which other bargain-hungry shoppers will (or won’t) go for a great deal. [Read more]

ShopSmart reveals Smart Handbag Shopping Secrets

New poll finds half of American women have a hard time shopping for bags

Yonkers, NY – Finding the perfect purse can be tricky. According to a new national poll from ShopSmart, roughly half of women said they had a hard time shopping for a handbag. But that doesn’t stop them from stocking up—women said they owned 10 bags on average, and one in 10 fessed up to having more than 20.

On “splurge” bags, women spend an average of $148.00. And names matter?about a quarter of respondents said they bought a bag because it was a certain brand. [Read more]

Halloween pop-up stores are back: 5 tips for shoppers

Yonkers, NY – Like Dracula risen from the grave, pop-up stores are back for Halloween. The temporary shops, which typically open a month or two before the big day and close shortly thereafter, have become a holiday tradition in recent years.

One major chain, Spirit Halloween, a Spencer Gifts subsidiary, has close to 1,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada this time around. [Read more]

Consumer Reports unveils its first-ever Naughty & Nice Holiday List

New Public-Education Campaign Highlights the Good and the Not-So-Good Among Company Shopping Policies

Yonkers, NY – Consumer Reports today unveiled its latest public-education campaign: the first Consumer Reports’ Naughty & Nice Holiday List. The list identifies some good and some not-so-good shopping policies and the companies behind them.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a full-page ad running in the November 22nd, 2010 edition of USA Today. The ad highlights three “naughty” and three “nice” policies and names the companies behind them. The full list, comprised of 10 naughty and 10 nice policies, is available at www.ConsumerReports.org. [Read more]

Consumer Reports: Five Holiday Shopping Traps to Avoid

Plus a Tip Sheet on Holiday Tipping

Yonkers, NY – Finding the right gift at the right price can be challenging, especially during the holiday season when deep discounts and door-buster sales abound. The latest issue of Consumer Reports highlights five traps holiday shoppers can avoid.

“Knowing how to navigate sales, comparison shop, and cut through salespeople jargon is half the battle to stress-free holiday shopping,” said Tod Marks, senior editor at Consumer Reports. “Shoppers need to take precautionary measures before purchasing gifts to make sure they are getting the right product, for the right price, with no strings attached.” [Read more]

Insider Secrets of Having a Yard Sale

“Having a yard sale is a reminder of every mistake you’ve made when you were shopping,” a friend recently told me.

At the time I was in the throes of aching back, mental exhaustion and wondering if my sanity had at last left me. Yes, I was definitely recovering from having a yard sale. [Read more]