Holiday ideas to help sled into the home stretch
By this point in December there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who look at the calendar today and think “Only one week to go!” and those who look at the calendar today and think “Only one week to go!” It’s the inflection – Rudolph or Ebenezer – that distinguishes the two groups.
But whether you’re a pro-Santa or a pro-Scrooge, if you’re a business writer you’ll probably welcome a few shortcuts to get you through the next week. With only eight shopping (and writing) days to go, here’s our traditional look-ahead planner spiced up as a holiday survival guide.
First: Today is Free Shipping Day!
As mentioned in a previous post, an online promo code aggregator coaxed some merchants last year into offering a free shipping blitz and this year has expanded the event to include 710 merchants, from household names to ones you’ve never heard of. Scan the alphabetized list of links and perhaps you’ll find a local or regional connection. If not, whip a consumer alert up on your Web site so readers can take advantage of deals.
Next, a quick rundown of the story angles we haven’t really talked about yet. If you’re on a workplace or personal finance beat, check the holiday bonus scene in a variety of workplaces. Are cash windfalls drying up? Are employers doling out gas cards and hams in lieu of $500 checks? Are workers just happy to get anything, even a $25 grocery voucher? Are client/sales rep gifts skimpier this year – and what’s that doing to the florists, fruit-basket assemblers and wine merchants who supply them?
What about retailers who count on their patrons blowing a holiday windfall on jewelry, electronics and other “me-too gifts” as the home shopping channels like to call them.
For those who cover retail, the economy and personal finance: Don’t overlook the traditional return-policy and clearance-sale stories. My personal investigation shows a lot of merchandise – including seasonal goods and decorations but also apparel, giftware and the like – already seems to be in clearance mode. And there’s not the bargain bounty of previous years. Talk with store owners and managers about how tight credit and a poor sales outlook affected their ordering and inventory control this year.
And while you’re at it, plan your after-Christmas show. With the 26th falling on a Saturday this year, meaning more people off work than usual, are we looking at Black Friday redux? What are shopping centers, strip malls and downtowns doing to lure Boxing Day crowds flush with gift cards and stocking money? Needless to say, this angle is a jolly prospect for multimedia packages and alternative story-telling.
Lots of business and industry resources for you in previous posts, along with story coaching, including:
Holiday survival guide
Here comes Santa Claus
Hark, the holiday shoppers ring
Pets stay on top of wish lists
