Tag Archives: product testing

Memorial Day Sales Tips

memorial-day-sales-20123For some, Memorial Day weekend is a time to kick back and do nothing (some like ME.) Others like to hit the shopping center and reap the savings at the big Memorial Day weekend sales (some NOT like me.)

If you’re into the shoppin’ and the savin’, what can you expect to find this weekend? Kiplinger.com shares some thoughts…

  • Apparel: Up to 50% off at places like Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, JCPenney, Nordstrom’s , Land’s End and Sears
  • Appliances: Up to 45% off at places like Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sears
  • Camping gear: Up to 50% off at places like Backcountry.com and REI
  • HDTVs: (And other home electronics) Up to 50% off at places like Best Buy and Amazon
  • Mattresses: Up to 50% at places like Macy’s and Sears
  • Tools: Up to 50% at places like Sears and Lowe’s

As usual, these are just the highlights. There is much more info at the original piece, as well as helpful links to deal sites and specific sales. So check it out!

So, how about you? What are your Memorial Day weekend plans? Staying in? Grilling out? Shopping to you drop? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Mobile Moms, Addicted Moms (?)

The cutest picture I could find. You're welcome.
The cutest picture I could find. You’re welcome.

A mobile addict is a consumer who launches applications more than 60 times per day, six times more than the average consumer. Today, there are 176 million mobile addicts, up from 79 million last year, a figure that represents a whopping 123 percent growth.             MobileMarketer.com

And a primary example of this behavior? MOMS. Check out these stats…

  • Moms are 10 times more likely to be a mobile addict than the average woman.
  • 87% of moms have a smartphone, up from 59% just 3 years ago.
  • 46% “admit” to being addicted, keeping their phone with them wherever they go.

Now, the survey had a definite tilt toward “young” moms – 20s and early 30s. These are women who have grown up with technology. How do they use their phones?

  • 81% say the #1 use for their smartphone is SHOPPING.

How about YOU? Are you a Mobile Mom? Are you “addicted” to your phone? And, BTW, have you tried the MindField Online Mobile App? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Target Data Breach Aftermath

Oh, Bullseye...who could stay mad at YOU?
Oh, Bullseye…who could stay mad at YOU?

Trolling around for blog topics this morning, I came upon this piece, “The Impact of Target’s Data Breach on Consumer Trust.” And I suddenly remembered that I shopped at Target this weekend, AND I paid with my debit card! I guess my consumer outrage over identity theft had a short shelf-life, eh?

As you will recall, Target had a terrible security breach involving their card-readers back on Black Friday….er, Black Friday weekend…um, make that November 22nd to December 15th! Bad security issue, even worse public relations nightmare. Heck, the Target CEO just stepped down!

So, have we changed our habits in the aftermath? Obviously, I haven’t – and I remember saying “I will NEVER shop there again!” But how about you? Let’s look at the stats, as compiled by Bizrate Insights:

  • 35% of Target’s customers have changed their shopping behavior.
  • 22% shop there less
  • 13% have stopped shopping there altogether (22+13=35!)

And it seems that the ones who shop there less are more cautious when they do:

  • 44% now pay only in cash

How about you? There seemed to be a rash of these things during the Holiday shopping season. I remember Michael’s Crafts got hit, too. Are you changing your habits? Being more cautious? Don’t care? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Mother’s Day by the Numbers! (2014)

mothers_spending_shareMother’s Day is here! Whether you enjoy a close, loving relationship with your mom or, you know, NOT, Mother’s Day is an important holiday. How will we be spending our time and money this Mother’s Day? Well, according to an article published by the National Retail Federation, entitled “Families Look to Shower Mom with Gift Cards, Brunch, Apparel Items This Mother’s Day,” it looks like we intend to shower mom with gift cards, brunch and apparel items this Mother’s Day! Here are the stats!

  • 81% will send a card to Mom
  • 67% will send flowers
  • 43% will buy a gift card
  • $3.8 billion spent on brunch or dinner
  • $3.6 billion on jewelry
  • $2.3 billion on flowers
  • $2.1 billion on gift cards

How about you? What are your plans for your mother, grandma, wife, etc? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page. Have a great weekend, and a terrific Mother’s Day!

And here are some more fun stats for Mother’s Day!

Garage Sale Season!

Bad Photoshopp presents: My Mom's Garage Sale!
Bad Photoshop presents: My Mom’s Garage Sale!

Garage sale, yard sale, rummage sale, tag sale… whatever you call it, ‘tis the season! Check out these statistics:

  • Number of US garage sales each week: 165,000
  • Number of people who attend: 690,000
  • Average weekly garage sale revenue: $4.2 million

And my favorite statistic…

  • Profit margin when somebody buys your crap and re-sells it on eBay: 462% !!

This is the time of year when those huge nationwide sales begin. You’ve got the Great US 50 Yard Sale, which stretches from Maryland to California – over 3,000 miles! There are plenty of others like it; we’ll give you some links below.

Just so happens I’m on a trip back home to Ohio, helping my mother organize a big garage sale – so come on by! Here’s a question: in Ohio, sales are held on Friday and Saturday. In South Carolina, they are almost always Saturday only. Why is that, do you think? What’s the tradition where you live? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great garage sale weekend!

Here are some links:

Savings for the Month of May!

may savingsThere are unique savings to be had each month of the year. Here are some highlights for May (with bonus dumb commentary!) followed by some links. Enjoy!

  • Thrift Stores: Not going to go into my love/hate relationship with Goodwill (you’re welcome) but now is the time at this and other second-hand stores. They’re stacked to the ceiling with the stuff you got rid of during Spring Cleaning. Have fun buying back your own junk!
  • Refrigerators: Just happens to be the time of year when the new models ship to store. So last year’s gleaming, untouched side-by-side gets kicked to the curb in favor of one that looks exactly like it but costs $100 more!
  • Mother’s Day: Last month was better, but if you have waited this long, skip jewelry. AFTER Mom’s Day, buy jewelry for next year. Then, put it in your hall closet, and never see it again.
  • Memorial Day: Truly, one of the more authentic holiday sales. Real savings, instead of “30% off our already inflated prices!” Best yet, immediately after Memorial Day (act fast!) all of that red, white and blue stuff is waiting to be snapped up, to use for your 4th of July cookout! If you really want to confuse your drunk guests, make sure the banners still say “Memorial Day”!

Those are your savings highlights for May. Check out some more useful links below:

Do you have any May savings secrets to share? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page! And have a great weekend!

Last Minute Tax Fun

tax-tips-last-mBy the time next Tuesday’s blog post rolls out on 4/15, it will be Tax Day. So, consider this post to be the Last Minute!

All the helpful writers on money matters are quick to point out that there are plenty of things you can do to grab some last minute tax savin’s. So, if you are one of those of those thrill seekers who puts things off, what we call back in Kansas “Thing Put-er Off-ers” then this is the post for you. We have gathered a bunch of helpful links from around the web for your procrastination pleasure! Please to enjoy, “Last Minute Tax Tips 2014”!!

US News Money: 9 Last-Minute Tax Tips for Procrastinators

TurboTax: Tax Tips After January 1, 2014

Huffington Post: Last-Minute Tax Tips to Maximize Your Savings

Business Week: Last-Minute Small Business Tax Tips for Procrastinators

PC Mag: Tax Tips for Last-Minute E-Filers

Daily Finance: Don’t Panic: 5 Tips for Stress-Free Last-Minute Tax Returns

These look like some bits of sound advice, which is good for you because the only advice I could come up with was either A) Pssh! Blow it off, man!” or B) “You should start panicking, like, NOW!” Anyway, you’re welcome. If you got your taxes done, have a great weekend. If you’re starting tomorrow, have something else!

To Cash or Not to Cash?

Yep. All singles. Sigh....
Yep. All singles. Sigh….

Quick question: who still carries cash? I don’t mean that you have a twenty for emergencies, but that cash is your primary way of getting around. My wife is the “20 for an emergency” type, while I am cash. I will whip out the debit card for $80 worth of groceries, or the AmEx for Sunday brunch, but that’s so I don’t use up my precious cash! (Though, at brunch, I almost always leave the tip in cash.)

Is it generational? I worked at a place where I was a good (!) 15 years older than the rest, and NONE of them carried cash. Is it gender? My wife would NEVER carry as much cash as I do. Is it convenience? Our bank has very few branches, and getting to the ATM is a drag, so I never come away with less than $100.

At any rate, money guru Dave Ramsey has compiled a list of the pros and cons of carrying cash.

Pros include:

  • If you’re on a strict budget, and you see your cash dwindling, it helps you spend less.
  • Cash can give you bargaining power on a purchase.
  • Convenience, of course. And others…

As for the Cons of cash:

  • If it gets stolen, it’s GONE.
  • It’s bulky and messy. (My wife marvels at the way a piece of paper with 4 corners and 2 sides can somehow be crammed 97 different ways in my wallet!)
  • It’s useless online, which is becoming a primary way we shop. And others…

So, cash or no cash? What do YOU do? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

April Foolishness

google-companies-prank-work-job-april-fools-day-ecards-someecards
That’s the spirit!!

As a writer FOR the web, I spend a lot of time ON the web. For me, April 1st is the most irritating day of the year, and it sneaks up on me every time!! I’m reading something (supposedly) serious like Newsweek.com and I see, “The President then said farewell, boarded the mothership and returned to his home planet.” And I’m like “Grrr! April Fools!” I might as well go play in the street for the rest of the day.

So I guess I can appreciate when businesses try to have a little fun with the concept. I mean, I might as well. They’re not going to stop just for me, and playing in the street is dangerous. So, here are some noble April Fools’ Day efforts from companies trying to get in on the fun and irritation.

See any that didn’t totally irritate you to death? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Today’s Connected Consumer

connected
That’s her!

I found a stack of mildly interesting graphics on the web, describing various aspects of today’s Connected Consumer.

Today, consumers of all ages and lifestyles are connected to the brands and businesses they love via multiple screens and devices. In fact, 90% of all media interactions today are screen-based. This has many implications, especially for online shopping, customer service, and the nature of communication in general. Survey Analytics

There are a few surprises buried under all the bars and pies and percentages, chiefly that the connected consumer ISN’T a “tweeting twenty-something” (not that this is a bad thing...) Instead, the “average” connected consumer is a 40-year-old woman with a household income of around $60K who owns several devices.

Take a look at some of the numbers…

What are we using?

  • In addition to a PC or laptop, 43% own a smartphone and 16% own a tablet.
  • 81% are on Facebook
  • 60% use digital catalogs
  • 87% interact with retailers via websites or mobile sites, but…
  • only 4% use a retailer’s mobile app.

What are we buying?

  • #1 item purchased on tablet or PC: Electronics (about 55% for both)
  • #1 item purchased on a smartphone: Music (42%)

What do we say about ourselves?

  • Connected Consumer’s top-3 answers: Savvy, Frugal and Spontaneous

Interesting note: the #5 way that CC’s describe themselves is “Addicted.” A little self-awareness is a good thing, I guess! There are a lot more graphics with more numbers, statistics and pretty pretty colors colors HERE, so take a look!

So, do any of these numbers sound like you? The trend running through the whole thing is that this connected consuming is on the rise. Have you caught the bug? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!