Shopping
Still don't know what to do for Labor Day? Well how about treating yourself to a day of shopping. This year, shoppers are taking advantage of Labor Day discounts, Discount after discount, bargain hunters across the metro are in search of nabbing the best end-of-summer deals and retail experts say Labor Day weekend is the time to do so. "Everybody is discounting," said Allison Kaplan, Senior Editor of shopping and style at Mpls. St. Paul Magazine. "Discounts on top of discounts when it comes to clearance merchandise, you're going to see that at the high end, moderate... every level." A recent study by RetailMeNot found one in three people plan to hit the mall this weekend and 67 percent of consumers say they're going to spend some money. "We kind of figured like $500 or so to make it a good shopping weekend," said Diana Thomas of Center Point, Iowa. A weekend where retailers are looking to clear their shelves of all summer merchandise. "This is when you get that 50 percent off on already reduced prices, so if there is anything you still need, if you're having barbecue, you need garden supplies, summer clothes, this is the time to stock up and get really good deals," said Kaplan. Even deals on the new Fall merchandise, making it easier on the wallet for back-to-school shoppers. "This weekend is that one little chance to slip in and get some really good deals before things go back to full price next week," said Kaplan. RetailMeNot has a list of retailers offering discounts for Labor Day weekend. Continue reading for advice on how to make the most out of Labor Day discounts.
Do's and Don'ts
A Labor Day shopping strategy might not be your highest priority, but if you want to emerge from the weekend with a cart overflowing with new stuff and a wallet that’s still full, maybe it should be.
Follow these do’s and don’ts to maximize your money-saving potential this holiday weekend.
Do: Buy luxury items.
Big sale events, like Labor Day, are a good opportunity to splurge on expensive purchases without having to pay full price. Use the weekend’s percent-off promotions to snag that fancy tote or glitzy necklace you’ve had your heart set on.
Last year, Labor Day sales translated into big discounts on designer labels and luxury products. Neiman Marcus took 40 percent off regular prices both online and in-store on seasonal clearance items, while Bloomingdale’s discounted select items by 60 percent. Look for similar offerings again this year.
Don’t: Buy everything that’s on sale.
Not every product that’s advertised this Labor Day is a smart buy.
Back-to-school supplies and summer clothes will see deep discounts worth your while, but some sale merchandise – such as toys and fall clothing – are best bought later in the year when their prices will drop even lower. Shop in December for toys and October for fall clothes. Plus, Black Friday, anyone?
The electronics aisle is another area we’d recommend avoiding if you want the lowest prices on major tech purchases. For example, last year Target offered a Samsung 40-inch LED Smart TV for $399.99 over Labor Day. Fast-forward to November, and the retailer’s 2014 Black Friday ad featured a Samsung 40-inch Smart LED HDTV for $327.99.
Similarly, last Labor Day, Best Buy offered savings of up to 25 percent on select HDTVs. On Black Friday, though, the store advertised select HDTVs for over 30 percent off their original prices.
Do: Use your smartphone.
It’s always good to have a friend on your side, especially one who can help you spot the best opportunities to save. This year, that friend is digital, specifically your smartphone. Here are a few ways your phone can aid your shopping ventures this Labor Day:
Labor Day sales don’t just happen on the holiday. They take place over the course of several days, sometimes even a week.
Plan your shopping over this extended discount time frame so some of your purchases are made at the end. As sale periods come to a close, retailers will be extra eager to move their remaining stock. This could translate into even bigger price cuts. Last Labor Day, stores like Nordstrom extended their sales several days past the holiday.
Of course, you’ll want to balance this strategy with the risk of stores running out of inventory. Amazon, for example, is marking Labor Day with a selection of deals on movies, TV, books and music. These offerings are available only while supplies last.
Buy any must-have items early (before they sell out), and hold out for the rest.
Do: Stock up on summer steals.
Use the holiday weekend to score some serious deals on all things summer. We’re talking about swimsuits, short sleeve shirts, outdoor accessories, grills and the like. You can expect the end of the season to translate into big price cuts.
You may not be able to get much use out of these items this year, but you’ll be thanking yourself when next summer rolls around. For apparel, we recommend looking at retailers such as Old Navy, Macy’s, JCPenney and Sears, all of which hosted impressive clothing promotions last year – in some cases up to 50 percent off.
Don’t: Limit yourself to retail stores.
Finally, department stores and big-box locations, such as Wal-Mart and Target, aren’t the only places to grab Labor Day savings. Seasonal discounts can be found on such varied items as amusement park tickets and restaurant meals, and in the past, there’s been Labor Day deals at Discount Tire.
So, before you make any purchase over the long holiday weekend, inquire about Labor Day deals or freebies, and always conduct a quick search for any relevant coupon
Follow these do’s and don’ts to maximize your money-saving potential this holiday weekend.
Do: Buy luxury items.
Big sale events, like Labor Day, are a good opportunity to splurge on expensive purchases without having to pay full price. Use the weekend’s percent-off promotions to snag that fancy tote or glitzy necklace you’ve had your heart set on.
Last year, Labor Day sales translated into big discounts on designer labels and luxury products. Neiman Marcus took 40 percent off regular prices both online and in-store on seasonal clearance items, while Bloomingdale’s discounted select items by 60 percent. Look for similar offerings again this year.
Don’t: Buy everything that’s on sale.
Not every product that’s advertised this Labor Day is a smart buy.
Back-to-school supplies and summer clothes will see deep discounts worth your while, but some sale merchandise – such as toys and fall clothing – are best bought later in the year when their prices will drop even lower. Shop in December for toys and October for fall clothes. Plus, Black Friday, anyone?
The electronics aisle is another area we’d recommend avoiding if you want the lowest prices on major tech purchases. For example, last year Target offered a Samsung 40-inch LED Smart TV for $399.99 over Labor Day. Fast-forward to November, and the retailer’s 2014 Black Friday ad featured a Samsung 40-inch Smart LED HDTV for $327.99.
Similarly, last Labor Day, Best Buy offered savings of up to 25 percent on select HDTVs. On Black Friday, though, the store advertised select HDTVs for over 30 percent off their original prices.
Do: Use your smartphone.
It’s always good to have a friend on your side, especially one who can help you spot the best opportunities to save. This year, that friend is digital, specifically your smartphone. Here are a few ways your phone can aid your shopping ventures this Labor Day:
- Price comparisons. Before you shop, load up your smartphone with price comparison apps like RedLaser. Comparing prices before you make a purchase can save you from spending more than you need to.
- Sale news. Long before you stand in line to buy that new patio set or backpack, sign up for the mailing lists of your favorite retailers. Doing so will alert you to special offers.
- Coupons. In case you forget your physical coupon at home, your smartphone can save you. Pull up a digital version of the coupon, and ask the cashier to scan the barcode at checkout.
Labor Day sales don’t just happen on the holiday. They take place over the course of several days, sometimes even a week.
Plan your shopping over this extended discount time frame so some of your purchases are made at the end. As sale periods come to a close, retailers will be extra eager to move their remaining stock. This could translate into even bigger price cuts. Last Labor Day, stores like Nordstrom extended their sales several days past the holiday.
Of course, you’ll want to balance this strategy with the risk of stores running out of inventory. Amazon, for example, is marking Labor Day with a selection of deals on movies, TV, books and music. These offerings are available only while supplies last.
Buy any must-have items early (before they sell out), and hold out for the rest.
Do: Stock up on summer steals.
Use the holiday weekend to score some serious deals on all things summer. We’re talking about swimsuits, short sleeve shirts, outdoor accessories, grills and the like. You can expect the end of the season to translate into big price cuts.
You may not be able to get much use out of these items this year, but you’ll be thanking yourself when next summer rolls around. For apparel, we recommend looking at retailers such as Old Navy, Macy’s, JCPenney and Sears, all of which hosted impressive clothing promotions last year – in some cases up to 50 percent off.
Don’t: Limit yourself to retail stores.
Finally, department stores and big-box locations, such as Wal-Mart and Target, aren’t the only places to grab Labor Day savings. Seasonal discounts can be found on such varied items as amusement park tickets and restaurant meals, and in the past, there’s been Labor Day deals at Discount Tire.
So, before you make any purchase over the long holiday weekend, inquire about Labor Day deals or freebies, and always conduct a quick search for any relevant coupon
Where to Get the Best Deals
Mandi Woodruff from Yahoo Finance gave us her picks for Labor Day shopping deals.
Electronics, household appliances, home goods
Back to school laptops: If you missed out on back to school computer deals, there are a few solid deals out there on tablets and laptops.
Best Buy has a great sale on Lenovo 2-in-1s (hybrid laptop/tablet) which start as low as $299, discounted by 50 bucks.
If you’re an HP fan they are having a massive sale on their laptops — as much as $600 off some models.
But if you’re looking for Apple products, you won’t find earth-shattering deals unless you’re looking for refurbished models. The company is expected to roll out the newest iPhone model this October so now is not the time to buy. Once the new model comes out, all the old models will see steep discounts.
Furniture/Appliances: Summer’s not quite over but you’ll find great deals on summer patio furniture through Labor Day. Retailers desperately wanna get rid of this stuff to make way for Fall inventory.
Ashley Furniture is offering 25% sitewide.
Sears is having an amazing 40% sale on appliances for Labor Day, plus free shipping on a lot of orders.
H.H. Gregg is also having a sale, up to 35% of furniture and appliances. You can also find 25% off home goods at Target.
At Lowe’s you’ll find 10-30% off sales on appliances. And the good news is these deals don’t just end today (Labor Day) they’re running for almost another two weeks.
Clothes, makeup, accessories.
Target: 25% discount on select clothes, shoes and accessories. Plus, select home items are up to 25 percent off.
Kmart has some very generous deals on apparel and appliances, with discounts up to 30% off.
If you’re looking for some new jewelry, check out Kohl’s. They’re offering 20% off fine jewelry through the holiday. They’ve also got deals for 25-40% off lingerie. For every $10 you spend you get $10 Kohl’s Cash.
Gap has been struggling in sales throughout the year and that’s been good news for customers. Gap and Banana Republic are slashing prices by 40% on EVERYTHING (literally everything) in stores and online. Not to be outdone, sister company Old Navy has a sale going on with savings of up to 60% off.
The Children’s Place is also have a huge sale up to 60% off the entire store online.
Abercrombie: 40% off the entire site
Luxe brands: if you’re into higher end brands, now’s the time to find great deals on clearance. Neiman Marcus, Club Monaco, Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren all offering 40-60% off sale items.
Electronics, household appliances, home goods
Back to school laptops: If you missed out on back to school computer deals, there are a few solid deals out there on tablets and laptops.
Best Buy has a great sale on Lenovo 2-in-1s (hybrid laptop/tablet) which start as low as $299, discounted by 50 bucks.
If you’re an HP fan they are having a massive sale on their laptops — as much as $600 off some models.
But if you’re looking for Apple products, you won’t find earth-shattering deals unless you’re looking for refurbished models. The company is expected to roll out the newest iPhone model this October so now is not the time to buy. Once the new model comes out, all the old models will see steep discounts.
Furniture/Appliances: Summer’s not quite over but you’ll find great deals on summer patio furniture through Labor Day. Retailers desperately wanna get rid of this stuff to make way for Fall inventory.
Ashley Furniture is offering 25% sitewide.
Sears is having an amazing 40% sale on appliances for Labor Day, plus free shipping on a lot of orders.
H.H. Gregg is also having a sale, up to 35% of furniture and appliances. You can also find 25% off home goods at Target.
At Lowe’s you’ll find 10-30% off sales on appliances. And the good news is these deals don’t just end today (Labor Day) they’re running for almost another two weeks.
Clothes, makeup, accessories.
Target: 25% discount on select clothes, shoes and accessories. Plus, select home items are up to 25 percent off.
Kmart has some very generous deals on apparel and appliances, with discounts up to 30% off.
If you’re looking for some new jewelry, check out Kohl’s. They’re offering 20% off fine jewelry through the holiday. They’ve also got deals for 25-40% off lingerie. For every $10 you spend you get $10 Kohl’s Cash.
Gap has been struggling in sales throughout the year and that’s been good news for customers. Gap and Banana Republic are slashing prices by 40% on EVERYTHING (literally everything) in stores and online. Not to be outdone, sister company Old Navy has a sale going on with savings of up to 60% off.
The Children’s Place is also have a huge sale up to 60% off the entire store online.
Abercrombie: 40% off the entire site
Luxe brands: if you’re into higher end brands, now’s the time to find great deals on clearance. Neiman Marcus, Club Monaco, Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren all offering 40-60% off sale items.