Walmart: Now With Holiday Layaway

Just in time for the Holidays, Walmart has launched their Christmas Layaway for toys and electronics!  If you were looking for a way to get a jump on your Christmas shopping, but just couldn’t afford to go all the way – this is it!

I’ve been working in partnership with Walmart for almost 3 years now, and I have to say that their commitment to their customers is truly amazing.  They are always looking for ways to assure that Walmart shoppers will get the best products for the best value.

According to Laura Phillips, senior vice president of toys and seasonal merchandising “Value is a huge priority for our customers and they rely on Walmart for the right toys at great prices everyday and especially during the holiday season. We know this economic climate is difficult for our customers and we are committed to helping them have the Christmas they want and deserve.”

Beginning today, October 17th through December 16th, customers can place the eligible items mentioned above on Layaway.  Your minimum layaway order must reach or exceed $50, and individual items in your order may not be priced below $15.  A 10% overall payment is due at the time of placing the items on layaway, plus a one-time non-refundable $5 service fee.  A $10 fee will apply to any cancelled orders.

Find out more about Walmart’s Holiday Layaway program and get a sneak peek at the 20 hottest toys of the holiday season!

Have you used layaway before?  I’m going to be heading into my store here to show you how easy it is, but until then, let me know – what would you layaway?

Disclosure:  I am a member of the Walmart Moms and this is a sponsored post on behalf of that program. Still, my words and opinions are 100% mine – I’ve got ya back. 

How To Prepare For Black Friday

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Family, friends, delicious food, holiday music, parties, and…

…oh yeah. Shopping.  How could I forget?   Ok, busted.  Of course I didn’t forget. I am “the Chic Shopper Chick” after all.

See, the thing is that we’re not just talking any kind of shopping – we’re talking Black Friday shopping – and that’s an entirely different animal.  So how do you prepare for the single biggest shopping day of the entire year?  Here are my tips:

Do Your Homework

Don’t head into the stores blindly thinking that you’ll just browse for whatever catches your eye.  This is not the time for inspiration, it’s the time for determination.  If you know that you are looking for the Xbox 360 with Kinect, then scour the web for the best prices and decide if what you see in that Black Friday Ad is a good deal or not.  Also, realize that stores like Walmart will price-match any competitors printed ad, so if you find a deal somewhere else, be prepared to bring that ad with you when you go to do your shopping so that you can be sure you get the best price.  Make a list, check it twice. (See what I did there, with the Christmas joke? Nice.)

Have A Plan Of Attack

Ok, “plan of attack might” be aggressive wording, but Black Friday shoppers are a breed unto themselves and you simply have to be prepared.  You’ve done your homework and have a list of what you want – so now it’s time to decide what store will be your main focus.  Prioritize your list and see what “deals” are most important, and also at what store you can scoop up the majority of your items (Christmas pajamas, electronics, appliances) and make that store your primary.  I hate to disappoint you, but unless you are a literal superhero, there is no way you can really take advantage of the deals at more than one store on the morning of Black Friday. Once you know what store you are going to, either visit the store ahead of time to get a feel for what items are placed in what areas, or if you are shopping at Walmart, you can grab one of their store maps that will tell you exactly what deals can be found where.

Wake Up Early

Please, don’t roll your eyes at me.  I know that this seems very obvious, but don’t think that you can roll out of bed at 5 am and stroll into a store around 5:45 or 6 and still get the deals that you want.  As En Vogue would say “you’re never gonna get it” — the deal, that is.  If waiting in line OUTSIDE isn’t your thing, Walmart will be starting their Open House at midnight, so you’ll be able to go inside and grab deals from 12-5 on pajamas, apparel, appliances, and toys before the big deals start at 5 am.  They will also be handing out snacks in select stores – but the important part is that you can stalk that HDTV from inside of the store where it’s nice and warm.  Otherwise, you’ll have to show up a few hours before they even open the doors, and probably wait in line outside instead of in the warmth of your car, which brings me to my next point…

Dress the Part

If you will have to be outside in the night air you’ll likely be at least a bit chilly, even if you live in Louisiana like me (or freezing if you live on the East Coast or up North!) so you might want to consider a jacket. You might even want to consider a jacket a bit heavier than you originally anticipated, because there is not much moving going on when you are sitting or standing in a line, and you don’t want to be the one weirdo jumping up and down like a jumping bean to stay warm.  Consider layering your clothing because once you’re in the store and your adrenaline is pumping, you’re gonna warm up a bit and you’ll be cursing that heavy jacket if all you have underneath is your pajama top.  Lastly, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes – you’ll be doing a lot of walking, standing, and maneuvering, you’ll need some support below!

Pack Some Snacks

Maybe this is the mom in me, but I promise at some point you’ll need some nourishment to help you feeling balanced and healthy during your mega-shopping trip.  Consider bringing some hot chocolate in a thermos for your time standing in line outside (bonus points if you bring extra cups to share) which will warm you up and help to put you in the Holiday spirit (remember, the Holidays?  Yeah, that’s why we’re doing all of this!).  Some whole grain breakfast or granola bars and a few bottles of water wouldn’t be a bad idea either, and a few pieces of Holiday candy stashed away in your pocket can give you an instant sugar boost and leave you feeling 10 times better.

Bring a Friend

While I’m sure the die-hard Black Friday Strategists have a recommendation on why this is smart, I simply think shopping is only fun (ok, MOSTLY only fun) if you do it with a friend.  Plus, you’ll have years of laughter when you reminisce about that 70 year old woman who draped herself over the very last 50″ HDTV and refused to move.

Have Fun!

My biggest and most important tip is to have FUN!  Yes, the deals on Black Friday are pretty good, but if you HATE to shop, well, you’re not going to love Black Friday, so maybe you should consider staying home and waiting for the deals on Cyber Monday.  If you are going to venture out, relax, smile, and be friendly – and remember that last Zhu Zhu Pet is not worth the fight! Good luck!

Disclosure:  I am a part of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation to share their current Black Friday Deals. My participation is voluntary and opinions are my own.

Black Is In: Beauty and Fashion Deals for Black Friday

Black Friday is so often about the hottest toy or the newest Flat Screen TV…but what about all of the fashionista’s out there? Apart from the fact that most of us probably love our beauty sleep…we also can’t pass up a good deal on a great look! Here are some deals – available both online and in stores – starting tomorrow, Black Friday (don’t you feel like you should say “dun dun dun!” right after that?).  Read on to discover amazing discounts and deals, including free overnight shipping for the rest of your life!

BLACK FRIDAY – NOVEMBER 27, 2009

H&M: On Friday, November 27th, receive 25% off items of your choice from 5AM until 10AM* and enjoy Fashion Finds all day from $5.

Store hours vary; call your nearest H&M for opening hours. Store locator.

*Offer valid Friday, November 27th from store opening until 10AM. Not valid on previous purchases, for H&M gift cards, or in conjunction with any other discounts. These three stores open at 5 am on Black Friday; 5th Ave and 52nd street, Penn Station, Herald Square stores.

Zappos: Zappos is opening the doors to their VIP Club!  From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, your readers can visit Zappos.com and join the VIP Club.  By becoming a member of the  VIP Club, members will receive free, overnight shipping – for the rest of their lives!  This invitation will only last from midnight on November 27th until midnight November 30th.

The link to sign up for the VIP Club will be live starting at 12:01 am on Black Friday morning and will be taken down on midnight November 30th.  From that point on, anything you purchase through vip.zappos.com will arrive at your door the next day fo’ free.  You read that right.  Sign me up.

Crabtree & Evelyn:  Crabtree & Evelyn is having a Black Friday preview sale with 20% off sitewide!   Free shipping on orders of $25 or more, Hand Therapy lotion is 50% off, and you can snatch up Body Lotion for $7.  Great stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, or girlfriend gifts!

Apothica:  Apothica is offering 20%-70% off selected items in their clearance sale. This amazing store offers beauty brands like Herve Leger, The Art of Shaving, and beingTRUE – upscale beauty products marked as low as 70% off. You’ll find anything and everything: cleanser, wrinkle cream, mascara, perfume – you name it!

e.l.f.:  This Black Friday, you can take advantage of special shipping rates at e.l.f – have your order shipped for just $1.98 with no minimum order value.  Shipping is usually $7 and their prices start at $1.  Great stuff for a great deal!!  I love their studio collection brushes and am addicted to the lip liner.  Yes, it is possible to be a lip liner addict.

Sephora:  With any $50 online purchase at Sephora, you’ll get a free metallic flower clutch stocked with eight samples. Just enter CLUTCH4U at checkout.  Valid while supplies last. (PS – need an idea of what to buy?  Try my ultimate favorite T3 hairdryer, or a gift set from one of my favorite skincare lines, Philosophy.)

Macy’s:  Macy’s is having a Thanksgiving Sale with 20%-50% off of thousands of amazing items.  The sale is online Thursday 11/26 through Saturday 11/28, and in-store 5 am – 1 pm on Black Friday, and 8 am – 1 pm on Saturday.

Payless:  Payless is having a sale through December 1st that offers buy one, get another half off, on any item in the store.  Shoes?  Now you’re speaking my language!  Squee! See those shoes to the right, there?  Those are CHRISTIAN SIRIANO.  At Payless.  I’m just sayin’.

DJ Premium:  At DJ Premium you’ll find brands like L.A.M.B, Vivienne Westwood, True Religion, Custo Barcelona, and tons of others.  You can take 20% off of full priced items with the code:  IE20J6, and 25% off of your Black Friday order with 1FUN1U.

Arden B:  Until Noon on Friday, buy one item get another for $5 at Arden B – storewide, but in-store only!  Free shipping on purchases of $15 or more, and mix and match basics are 2 for $14.  You can also get 25% off of selected sweaters online.  Check out the Holiday Lookbook for ways to create an inspired Holiday wardrobe!

Shopbop:  Up to 70% off of items at one of my all-time faves, Shopbop.  This awesome sale includes Tory Burch Flats, William Rast denim, and Pour La Victoire boots, among other huge names.  We’re talking major wow factor over here.