The Fabuless Life » Retail

Black Friday Deals

L.Jay — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:26:49 +0000

Black Friday deals are being “leaked” in advance of the popular shopping frenzy-day, and one has to wonder if these “leaks” are truly that, or if some savvy marketing manager is getting the word out early. In any event, we’re glad to have the info beforehand, in order to make an educated plan of attack on where to go, and what to buy.

OfficeMax had some of its deals leaked even before Halloween. And while an office supply store may not have been part of your go-to shopping plan, there are some interesting bargains that could make very nice presents.

The best deals reportedly include an Acer Aspire netbook with Intel Atom processor, 10-inch screen and Windows XP for $149, half off its regular price of $300. There is also an Olympus X905 10 MP digital camera for $49. The same camera normally retails for $149.

For those of you who like to wear blankets as robes, Snuggies will allegedly sell for $4.99, a big discount off the $14.99 price “As Seen on TV”. (Snuggies have recently been hilariously parodied as “Slankets” on Real Time With Bill Maher. Now the Snuggie has competition from the Nuddle! But I digress… )

Snuggie For Sale

Some of the go-to sites for leaked ads include www.gottadeal.com, www.slickdeals.com, and www.dealtaker.com.

Offers from Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are also getting a lot of attention, and retailers seem to be stealing a page from each other’s playbooks, matching prices.

According to sources, high-tech items will be deeply discounted, including a 50-inch Sanyo 720p plasma TV for $598, a Magnavox Blu-ray player for $78, and a GPS from TomTom for $59. HDTVs, laptops, and Blu-ray players are also going for fractions of the cost.

At Target, you can get a 32-inch LCD HDTV from Westinghouse for $246, and toasters and coffeemakers for just $3. Best Buy will reportedly offer shoppers a 50-inch Samsung plasma TV for $898, “huge discounts” on GPS units, and a PlayStation 3 Slim with two games for $300.

And Wal-Mart announced recently that it would be bringing back its $10 toys section expanding the assortment this year to more than 100 items.

Store officials aren’t confirming some of the deals you’ll find around the web, and there’ve been reports of photoshoped ads to make them appear real, so it’s best to take the information out there with a grain of salt. Still, most of the preview pricing floating around the net is legit, thanks to “leaks” by the retailers themselves.

Merchants’ losses are your gain, so shop wisely. Despite the early deal launches and rock-bottom rates, analysts are predicting flat sales for retailers this holiday season.

Pay Less for Christian Siriano

L.Jay — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:48:47 +0000

Ultra-fierce Project Runway winner Christian Siriano is taking his designs to the masses, bringing couture sensibilities to a ready-to-tread line of shoes for Payless.

Christian Siriano

Oprah fans probably caught Siriano’s fashion show on her program recently, and viewers also received a half-off coupon on his Payless shoe line good for 24 hours after the segment aired. Siriano’s shoe designs range from flats to high heeled booties, all are under $50.

The Slither Boot

You can find Siriano’s fabuless designs on the Payless website here:
http://www.payless.com/store/catalog/category.jsp?catId=cat10377

Booming Businesses

L.Jay — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:16:41 +0000

While it may not be a classic Darwinian case of survival of the fittest, it’s clear that in the dog-eat-dog business world, certain companies are thriving, while others are now buried bones.

It's a Dog Eat Dog Business World

The recession has bankrupted companies from Filene’s Basement to Circuit City. But as the herd thins, other businesses have turned the situation to their advantage, whether through better management, less debt-load, or just being in the right place at the right time.

U.S. News & World Report crunched the numbers to figure out which corporations have seen gains since the recession began, between the years 2007 and 2009, and came up with a top ten list.

Here are the top performers:

Aaron’s – Rent-to-own furniture may have been the dirty little secret in the living room for many, but with high unemployment and low wages, it’s become a necessity for a larger slice of the population. U.S. News reports that Aaron’s stock prices have risen 50% since the recession began and the company has been buying up competitors and aggressively expanding. This, coupled with the inability of many to get financing for furniture purchases, has made Aaron’s an attractive option for consumers and small businesses. This boost has meant a 21% revenue increase for the rental company.
Aeropostale – U.S. News reports that Aeropostale’s stock has risen 68% since 2007 and it’s had a 28% revenue increase. Competitors like Ambercrombie & Fitch have struggled for a foothold amidst controversy and lackluster sales. Part of Aeropostale’s charm – lower prices and a laid-back style that has caught on with the teens.
Amazon.com – No surprise here. Amazon has become the go-to clearinghouse for just about any product you can imagine, with a range of prices to fit every budget. With EBay waning in popularity, Amazon has emerged as a powerhouse of online purchasing (along with Overstock.com), allowing people to shop from the comfort of their couch, and save gas. U.S. News says Amazon is poised to be the Wal-Mart of the web, with a recession revenue increase of 38%.
Buckle – A youth clothing chain store doesn’t immediately come to mind when you think of revenue generation, but never underestimate the power of the teeny-bopper. Buckle’s strong performance is linked to its diverse brand of offerings, including Guess, Lucky, Billabong, Hurley and Converse, and the company has also had a 38% revenue uptick in the past two years.
Dollar Tree – How could a dollar store not be popular in this economic climate? But with competition among the $1 retailers fairly stiff, Dollar Tree has emerged as exceptionally strong, posting a 16% revenue increase since 2007. Not the largest, but with 3400 stores and aggressive expansion, DT has tried to distinguish it’s low-budget offerings through store ambience and diverse offerings. And with share prices rising 108% since the recession began, according to U.S. News, DT is poised to be the $1 sales leader.
GameStop – Fabuless Life readers may not be avid gamers, but apparently there are plenty of people who are. As the biggest video game retailer in the U.S., GameStop has continued to post market share and profit margin gains. Its revenue increase of 26% is expected to rise as the popularity of video games grows.
O’Reilly Automotive – I have to admit I’d never heard of O’Reilly Automotive, but since the recession began, the company has reportedly shown an 84% revenue increase. According to U.S. News & World Report, O’Reilly Automotive:

…sells fan belts, alternators, headlights and other components to two sets of customers: professional installers and at-home tinkerers who work on their own cars…

The gangbusters business has revved up as consumers hang onto their cars longer and need more repairs.
Priceline.com – Flights have stayed pretty pricey, despite all the propaganda about “sales” and discount fares that airlines churn out on a regular basis. Looking for cheap flights can be a real roll of the dice, and Priceline has apparently become the go-to gamble for those looking for good rates. Priceline stock has been skyrocketing, up 54% since the recession began, and it’s had a revenue increase of 46%. Plans to expand abroad could further elevate Priceline’s success.
Staples – With competition from Office Depot and Office Max, Staples has managed to stand out from the crowd and keep it’s bottom line strong. Adding copying and printing services to its office products business, along with smart acquisitions have been a boon. Staples’ revenue is up 26%.
Ulta Cosmetics & Fragrances – Ulta has turned into somewhat of a big box retailer for everything beauty. The full-service stores even offer hair styling and facials. Ulta stocks a fabuless selection of products at its 333 superstores, allowing it to compete with drugstores and department stores as a one-stop shop. Revenue has increased 25%. Ulta’s success is just proof positive that you can still be fabuless, despite the economic downturn!

Cheap Laptops

L.Jay — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:30:51 +0000

If you’re in the market for a new computer for yourself, or as a gift, here’s a budgetary option to check out. Hewlett-Packard is jump-starting the holiday shopping season with an ultra-affordable laptop with a price point to compete aggressively against netbooks and other computer manufacturers.

HP is reviving the Compaq brand, which has waned in popularity and has primarily been known for basic budget computers. The company is offering a new Compaq laptop for $399 after a $100 instant rebate. The Compaq Presario 4010f desktops start at $309 after a $100 rebate and come with a 250GB hard drive and similar specs, including integrated graphics.

HP is patting itself on the back:

“Everyone deserves access to a high-quality computer, and HP makes that possible with the Compaq brand,” says Steven Hoffman, director of worldwide marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP.

The Compaq Presario CQ61z is 15.6-inches with an AMD Sempron processor, 2 GB of RAM, 160 GB hard drive, a DVD burner and discrete graphics. It runs the new Windows 7 Home Premium.

Compare this to your average netbook, with a smaller screen, smaller hard drive and a low-power CPU. But people by netbooks because they’re small, unlike the new Compaqs. Netboooks are also affordable, starting at around $250, going up to about $500. And their main appeal is the lightweight size, so it remains to be seen if the new full-size Compaqs will snag business from this category.

Still, HP will be giving all other computer manufacturers a run for their money by setting a new low standard for budget laptop pricing. Right now, the only brand making laptops this cheap is Acer, and the specs aren’t quite as good. After Acer, the price point on laptops jumps up about $100 and keeps going into the thousands.

It remains to be seen whether buyers will embrace the Compaq brand, which has traditionally been considered a lower grade model, and fell out of favor in the U.S.

The new line will be available on Windows 7 launch day, October 22.

Frugalista Controversy

L.Jay — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:46:47 +0000

Target ads have a new theme – the “Frugalista”. From what I can gather from the commercials, the Frugalista is a woman with style, class and family who appreciates nice things, but is on a budget. Sounds Fabuless! The commercials are engaging and fast-paced, and definitely try and beat in the point that Target is your go-to store for available items in every category – from dishware to cosmetics to clothes.

We are a fan of the big box retailer that competes with Walmart by offering higher-end discount shopping. There are indeed good deals to be had at Target (particularly in the women’s clothes department!) and their Superstores offer a dynamic variety of produce and other goods, particularly compared to Walmart. Target’s Archer Farms grocery line is innovative, and definitely appeals to fabuless tastes.

Target’s coining of the term frugalista is pretty hot, although it’s a bit rough on the tongue. And really, we’re just glad they didn’t start calling the women in the ads “fabuless”!

But apparently there is one Miami news reporter/blogger who is unhappy with other’s use of “frugalista”. U.S. News reports that Natalie P. McNeal, a Miami Herald blogger, has hired a lawyer to send cease and desist letters to other bloggers who call themselves “frugalistas”. McNeal has filed for a trademark on the word “frugalista”, but similarly, so has Target, for the term “fashionista frugalista” (wow that’s a mouthful).

According to the U.S. News article, the term “frugalista” is so prevalent that it appears in the dictionary, and it is used by dozens of bloggers. But McNeal’s lawyer defended her legal move to the magazine reporter:

[attorney Alexis Hart]McDowell emphasizes that other writers can still use the word “frugalista” in their stories—which may seem obvious, given the fact that it is a commonly used word—but that they cannot identify themselves as a “frugalista.”

At least one blogger has changed her name after receiving a cease and desist letter from McNeal’s lawyer. But based on the parameters McNeal outlines for trespass on her trademark, Target may be in the clear.

Who wants to tackle Target anyway??

Blue Chip Bankruptcies

L.Jay — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:45:04 +0000

Just about every week there is a story about the economy getting better. And during the same week you usually find another story about the economic situation getting worse.

One of the biggest indicators of a stalled economy is the unemployment rate. But another sad sign of the times is the number of former “establishment” businesses going bankrupt.

A recent report in The Business Insider predicted which high-profile publicly traded corporations have the highest probability of declaring bankruptcy, primarily because of high debt loads. Here is the list, which includes some businesses that might surprise you:

Hertz – car rentals
Textron – business jet sales
Sprint Nextel – cell phone service
Macy’s – department store
Mylan - pharmaceuticals
Goodyear – tire sales
CBS – television and radio news and entertainment
Advance Micro Devices – computing and graphics
Las Vegas Sands – hotel and casino
Interpublic Group – advertising and marketing

These esteemed businesses are in good bankruptcy company. In the past few years, Washington Mutual, Tribune, Bennigans, Chrysler, General Motors, CompUSA, Circuit City, Sharper Image, Linens N Things, among others, have all gone bankrupt. And that doesn’t even include blue chip Wall Street firms like Lehman Brothers and smaller banks around the country.

If this seems like an interminable list, it pretty much is. Companies that seemed as solid as a rock have crumbled like sand castles. It’s a sign of the times, and seems like things will continue to get worse before they get better.

Fabuless Holiday Shopping

L.Jay — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:09:41 +0000

It’s no surprise that with the current state of the economy, merchants are rushing to roll out holiday shopping promotions.

First there were Christmas in July deals at stores like Sears and Kmart. Now some retailers are already putting up tinsel and tree ornaments in window displays, hoping to lure in consumers with the holiday spirit.

Unfortunately, consumer confidence is waaay down, and most folks are more concerned with finding a job or saving their house then purchasing the latest tech gadget three months early. And this is a smart move, experts say. That’s because stores aren’t likely to offer large discounts until after Black Friday.

As of October 1st, unemployment is nearing 10%, the highest levels in a quarter century. Most shoppers will wait until the holidays are much closer to see what’s in their wallets (as Capital One would say), and make purchasing decisions based on their situatoin in December. With personal finances fluctuating on a month-to-month basis for many, it doesn’t make sense to be the early bird buyer.

Stores are taking this into account. Based on buying patterns, they have already lowered inventory levels this year compared to last, and are using the minimal stock as leverage to keep prices higher until the end of the holiday shopping season. Retailers will wait to see how much they can offload before Black Friday, then discount the remaining merchandise accordingly after that. So the longer you wait to do your holiday shopping, the better bargains you’re likely to find. Last year, shoppers could expect up to an 80% discount on merchandise. This year, many predict the knockoff will be closer to 40-60%.

Personally, I’ve always found fabuless deals right around Christmas, and of course, immediately thereafter. But if you’re not a procrastinator, you may not realize how desperate stores are to rid themselves of merchandise at the end of the quarter, and a few days before Christmas can be prime time bargain shopping.

Bargain Baby Clothes

L.Jay — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:22:39 +0000

Infants grow so fast that it can be a struggle to keep up with their changing clothing needs. All of those cute outfits from your baby shower? – either outgrown or never worn.

But good news for the fabuless mama watching her bottom line. These days baby clothes can be bought for budget prices at almost any store from Macy’s to Baby Gap to Babies R Us. But there’s no need to seek out department stores or specialty boutiques to find cute duds for your dear baby. Especially since when they’re really young, they’re probably spending most of their time at home.

As a new mother, you may find yourself stuck close to the house for the first couple of months at least, unable to travel very far with a newborn. I made frequent trips to the grocery store and the Kmart within walking distance to my house to buy goods. It was during my leisurely strolls through Kmart that I discovered cute baby outfits (and clothes for mom too) at bargain basement prices. In fact, Kmart may be the best-kept secret in infant-wear. They have a larger selection than most of the retailers I patronize, and their prices are about half that of the others.

I never thought I’d find myself buying clothes at Kmart, but I have to say that they really have some cute stuff, and you don’t have to search that hard to find great items. Here is a random sampling of baby clothes I pulled from the closet that were purchased at Kmart:

Kmart Bargains

Being able to buy outfits for between $3 and $10 has satisfied my clotheshorse need to keep the baby girl’s closet stuffed, even if she outgrows the items lickety-split. And Kmart isn’t the only big box retailer you should check out. Target and Wal-Mart also stock tons of discount baby-wear. There’s no Wal-Mart near my house, but I have bought a few items at Target. But my anecdotal research shows Kmart offering the steepest discounted baby gear.

There’s really no need to spend a fortune on infant clothes when you’re only able to use them for a couple of months before they’re outgrown. Clearly for special events you can splurge on that designer outfit that will only be worn once by baby. But for daily wear, nothing beats discount shopping to keep your baby looking fabuless.

$7 Pink Pajamas From Kmart!

Recession Bargains

L.Jay — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:13:24 +0000

Time’s Top Ten

Time Magazine posted a recession shopping top ten list, and I was eager to see which items would be of interest to fabuless readers.

It turns out that a number of upscale, normally cost-prohibitive items could be within your reach (depending on your budget of course). The upshot is to buy these bargains now, before the economy gets better because you may not be able to afford any of this stuff again. As the article puts it:

If you’ve lost your job, or might, this is no time to go on a shopping spree. But if you feel secure at work and have a little spare cash, you can indeed be treated like royalty in these difficult times. Spend wisely now and you’ll save a bundle over what things will cost once the recession lifts…

Here is the list:

Fancy Threads
Computer Memory
Cameras
Stuff for Your House
Lobster
New Cars
Travel
Country Club Membership
Housing
Stocks

Seafood Sale

My fave from the list, for you gourmands out there – lobstah! What better time to gorge yourself on a normally high priced delicacy that’s now selling for bargain rates. Time Magazine says the price of lobster has dropped up to 50%. No longer an indulgence – indulge!

Cash in on Cashmere

My second fave would have to be Fancy Threads – specifically cashmere, which apparently has hit historically low prices. As winter approaches, now’s the time to buy this luxuriously soft comfort clothing at amazing discounts. I have purchased a number of cashmere sweaters in the past year at prices that made me wonder if they were knockoffs!

Wheels of Fortune

If you have kept your head out of the sand, you know there’s never been a better time to buy a new car, with the auto company bailouts, cash for clunkers, and the general malaise in the automotive industry. Still available: Zero percent financing. New cars have never been so cheap.

Deck Your Halls

Love the ambiguous-sounding “Stuff For Your House”. It turns out the writers are including flat screen TVs along with bedding, towels, etc. If you’ve ever wanted to stock up on 800 thread count sheets – now’s the time to buy. I’ve purchased these items from Overstock, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Macy’s for a fraction of their original prices. High thread counts and Egyptian cotton used to be out of reach for the masses, now they’re ubiquitous. Great bargain gifts in time for the holidays!

Around the World For a Bargain

Travel is a broad category, and there are discounts and deals across the map. From cruises to airlines to hotels, there are discounts galore, and it’s been going on for some time. I personally have noticed hotel rates at four- and five-star locales for rock bottom prices. Lower airfares are catch as catch can – as the article points out, airlines are reducing routes so they don’t have to reduce fares quite as much.

Stock Up

If you have more than five years to hold, and some cash on hand, now is the time to expand your stock portfolio. The article recommends two top index funds, Fidelity’s Spartan Total Market and Vanguard’s Total Stock Market. For these particular vehicles, Time says “the prices of these funds relative to the earnings of the companies in the index have dropped more than 40%” and predicts the price could drop even lower.