The Shop Cop - Jennifer Litwin

LITWIN’S LIST OF MUST-HAVE  KITCHEN ITEMS

High tech, value and “fun” are what’s right for the kitchen this holiday season. That’s according to home furnishings expert and author (Furniture Hot Spots and Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!) Jennifer Litwin, who says that if you’re looking for that perfect holiday gift, you should consider technologically-advanced appliances that are sleek, easy to use, cost-conscious, colorful and make a statement in the kitchen.

“Functionality is important this season, but the best appliances we are seeing are also colorful, lightweight, easy-to-use, and have state of the art technology,” she says. “Since the majority of women spend more time in the kitchen than anywhere else in the house, it should be a fun and colorful place to be.”

Litwin says the five most popular kitchen appliances this holiday season include: coffee makers, microwave ovens, toaster ovens, blenders and under counter TV/DVDs.

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JENNIFER LITWIN’S LIST OF MUST-HAVES FOR ACCOMMODATING HOLIDAY GUESTS

The countdown begins for holiday entertaining! With only three months to go, home furnishings expert and author, (Furniture Hot Spots and Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!) Jennifer Litwin, advises homeowners to avoid the last minute crises and jump into action and start getting houses into shape for the onslaught of holiday guests.

“Advanced planning for your holiday company is a must,” says the Sotheby’s-trained Litwin, who is a contributing columnist for Consumers Digest magazine and appears frequently on TV, sharing her advice on anything for the home.

“By starting early, you can save time and money. As soon as you know how many are coming, you can plan sleeping and eating arrangements, especially if your house is small and you are not used to hosting guests. What’s hot now is dual-purpose furniture that can be used for daily living as well as entertaining. I also recommend having easily portable items that can be stored in the closet, and taken out just before company comes.”

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As featured on Fox Chicago

JENNIFER LITWIN’S SENSIBLE TIPS FOR FURNISHING SMALL SPACES

While buying a first home or condo can be a major accomplishment, furnishing it can be especially challenging for buyers of small homes who want to make their living space functional and comfortable, yet practical for entertaining and accommodating overnight guests.

Home furnishings expert and author, Jennifer Litwin, says there are many “tricks” to making a small home more functional and appearing more spacious.

“I recommend using oversize mirrors in small rooms to make them look roomier and give them dimension,” she says.“I also suggest using furniture that is tall, with lots of storage, rather than wide. For example, a buffet with cabinets above it can be used for storing dishes and china.”

Litwin has been dubbed the “Sensible Shopper for the Home,” and is known for her trademark “chair rating system” used to rank furniture stores nationally, according to price, service, ambiance and quality. She says what’s hot now is dual-purpose furniture used for daily living as well as entertaining.

“Homeowners today want to buy practical furniture,” she admits. “That’s why all the major furniture chains like Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel are showcasing furniture that is multifunctional. A perfect example of this is the captain’s bed.”

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BUYERS, BEWARE!

Furniture shoppers can get duped by untrained sales clerks and retailers who use hidden practices to sell furniture. That, according to Sotheby’s-trained, home furnishings consumer expert and author, Jennifer Litwin, who spent a year “undercover” visiting more than 500 furniture stores. She found that most furniture salespeople know very little about the products they sell, which creates confusion for shoppers.

The results of her undercover work can be found in her new book, Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!, recently published by Random House. Litwin concentrated her research on some of the best-known furniture retailers in the country, including: Thomasville, Ethan Allen, Bloomingdale’s, Marshall Field’s, Crate & Barrel and Furnitureland South.

The confusion is a result of retailers who really don’t know or understand their products. Litwin asked retailers questions such as: What makes a sofa expensive? Why is an expensive dresser more valuable than a cheaper model? Why should I pay more? Some sales clerk responses included these misconceptions:

• “Name brands are better than little-known brands”
• “Expensive sofas are always larger”
• “Expensive sofas have lots of arm padding and are heavy”
• “The deeper the drawer, the more expensive the dresser”
• “If it’s expensive, it will last longer”

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By: Shaila Wunderlich
for: Chicago Tribune

Such a simple and utilitarian item, a bookcase. Why, then, is it so challenging to find the perfect one? House- &Homes Assistant Editor Cindy Dampier has been searching for months-on-end for a bookcase to put in her 2-year-old son Thomas room. Shed like a vintage version but is finding that age often equals unsafe. Sometimes other types of furniture, such as stacked benches or bureau drawers, can make tempting bookcases, but its hard to know whether theyll work. With this challenge in mind, we approached two local furniture experts for a good read on what makes the best bookcase.

1. Make it strong. Whether you’re buying a traditional bookcase or employing a repurposed piece of furniture, “the No. 1 most important thing when it comes to a bookcase is strength,” says Jennifer Litwin, author of two books on buying furniture. Generally, dark woods are stronger than lighter woods, and medium-density fiberboard is good. Plywood and particleboard, not so much. To avoid that awful bowing that happens when shelves sag under books’ weight, stick to bookcases with shelves of no less than 1 inch thickness.
   When Chicago carpenter Josh Hines is making bookcases, he prefers metal versus plastic hardware for the sturdiest construction possible. He gauges much of a bookcase’s strength by simply feeling it with his hands. “You can feel quality,” he says. “Sturdy hinges that don’t wobble, sturdy slides for drawers, weighty shelves.”
2. Make it safe. The sometimes tall nature and always heavy contents of a bookcase make it a potentially dangerous piece of furniture, especially around kids. Litwin advises not going taller than 4 feet for bookcases placed in the middle of the room, and making sure taller bookcases have some mechanism for securing the top and bottom to a wall. Hines warns that the bookcase itself is not always the cause of tip-overs. “If thefloor you put it on is uneven— especially if it’s grading downward—the bookcase will not be secure.” Hines counteracts uneven flooring by adding levelers to a bookcase’s base or sanding down portions of the feet. Another sure-fire way to avoid this problem, of course, is to place bookcases only on level floors.
3. Make it durable. Parents and frequent movers should put stain- and chip-resistance toward the top of their bookcase wish lists. For these concerns, it’s all about finishes. Regular latex paint will be vulnerable to stains and nicks but will also be fairly easy to repair with a quick washing or touch-up. Clear and lacquered finishes will stand up to stains and bumps but will likewise resist touch-ups in the unlikely event of a problem. “It’s a trade-off,” Hines says. “You have to ask yourself how you’ll be using the piece and what your lifestyle is.”
4. Let it grow. Unless you’re planning to stop buying books, consider a shelf system that offers add-on capability. “Let’s say you start out in the city and need a case that’s 3 feet wide, but then move to the suburbs and have room to expand,” Litwin says. “You can add on another 3 feet.” Many retailers, including Pottery Barn, IKEA and BoConcept Chicago offer add-on or modular options.
5. Think ahead. Both Hines and Litwin recommend buying extra hardware and embellishments at the point of purchase. Litwin learned this the hard way, when her dog ate the leather handle on her new living-room bookcase. She called the manufacturer to order a replacement handle, only to find out it had been discontinued. “It was the most unique feature of the piece,” Litwin says. “It drove me so crazy I had to move the bookcase to the basement.”

By: Ellen James Martin
For: Arizona Local News

Nowadays, few home sellers – and especially those trying to avert foreclosure – have spare funds to hire a “stager,” a professional trained in the art of making a property look as beguiling as possible to prospective buyers.

Good stagers are skilled at making an ordinary property look extraordinary, often by removing excess furnishings, augmenting the remaining items and then rearranging the entire mix.

“A house that’s beautifully staged usually sells faster and for more money than a similar home in the same neighborhood that hasn’t been staged,” said Michelle Minch, a veteran in the field and an official of the Real Estate Staging Association (www.realestatestagingasso ciation.com).

But sellers in a financial pinch can gain many of the benefits of staging without the expense of hiring a professional, she said, by asking family and friends for help and bartering for their services.

For example, someone who is skilled at car mechanics could offer a free tuneup or oil change in exchange for staging help. Or you could barter baby-sitting services or gourmet dinners in exchange for assistance in upgrading your decor.

As Minch notes, it’s better to find low-cost ways to improve the appearance of your property before it’s shown than to put it up for sale in “as is” condition, which could cost you dearly at the bottom line.

“These days, buyers expect perfection in a home,” she said. “They don’t want an ‘allowance’ to make your house look better after they move in. They want a place that looks ready to move in right now.”

Buyers’ standards have gotten higher, Minch said, because in recent years, retailers who sell home furnishings have done market research to find out what they really like, and they have been exposed to good interior design in magazines and on television shows.

Here are pointers for home sellers with scarce resources:

• Stretch your dollars when acquiring furniture.

Realtors know that de-cluttering a property of excess furnishings is an important element in home-sale preparation. But once you’ve removed the clutter, most sellers still need additional pieces to freshen and complete the look.

Many professional stagers keep furniture and decor items in storage for temporary use by their clients. But those staging their homes without the help of a pro must find furnishings on their own – an especially important step if their home has already gone vacant.

Fortunately, careful shoppers can now purchase good quality furniture for unusually low prices, according to Jennifer Litwin, a Chicago-based furniture expert and author of “Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!”

Litwin, who calls herself the “Shop Cop” and offers free shopping pointers on her Web site (www.jenniferlitwin.com), said furniture is obtainable at lower prices than at any point during the 15 years she’s been providing tips for consumers.

“The post-holiday period is normally a great time to buy furniture,” Litwin said. “That’s particularly true this season because many retailers – including ‘ma and pa’ furniture stores – are struggling to stay in business and will negotiate low prices. Also, they’ll probably offer free delivery and setup.”

For those seeking to acquire older, sturdier furniture than what is now being mass-produced, Litwin recommends local consignment stores or auction houses.

You might even find ways to acquire free furniture. Perhaps your friends or neighbors have surplus pieces they’ll give you, like that brown leather sofa in their garage, which could enhance the look of your family room.

Another way to acquire furniture at no charge is through the Freecycle Network (www.free cycle.org), a novel system for keeping serviceable items in circulation rather than dumped in landfills.

• Educate yourself on staging principles through books and catalogs.

Perhaps your funds are short and you don’t have a friend or relative to help you stage. If that’s the case, you may want to try your own hand at staging by relying on information written by professionals.

Two such books that are commonly recommended are: Dress Your House for Success, co-authored by Martha Webb and Sarah Parsons Zackheim, and Home Staging for Dummies, by Christine Rae and Janice Saunders Maresh.

• Look to catalogs or showrooms for free decorating ideas.

One truism in real estate is that a home is far more marketable if its decor is done in neutral tones.

That doesn’t mean you have to paint your walls in stark white or off-white. But you should stay away from bold, controversial colors that could offend your visitors’ tastes.

To identify colors (as well as furniture styles) that are now popular, Litwin recommends you cruise the showrooms or Web sites of large home furnishing retailers. These include: Ikea (www.ikea.com), Pottery Barn (www.potterybarn.com), Crate & Barrel (www.crateand barrel.com) and Restoration Hardware (www.restoration hardware.com).

• Adhere to basic staging practices.

You won’t need a college degree in interior design to follow a few simple staging strategies that could make a major difference in how your place looks.

For instance, Minch encourages you to “float” your furniture, rather than shoving it up against your walls. As she said, doing so will make your rooms seem larger.

Minch also recommends that you create a focal point in your living room, such as a fireplace, and face your furniture toward that focal point.

In your dining room, be sure to center your dining room table under the chandelier.

Also remember to flood your home with interior lighting to make it seem more vibrant and exciting to visitors.

BY: Jaclyn Trop
For: The Detroit News

To attract last-minute shoppers, more than 200 online retailers will offer free shipping today along with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve.

Luke Knowles, founder of FreeShipping.org, has dubbed today Free Shipping Day; his new Web site, FreeShippingDay.com., aggregates lists of online merchants to benefit companies trying to drive traffic to their sites and shoppers looking for a good deal.

“It’s a bad experience when you buy something for $15 and have to spend $20 to ship it,” Knowles said.

Free shipping is the most powerful incentive for shoppers, experts say. More than 40 percent of shoppers abandon their online shopping carts at checkout because of unexpectedly high shipping charges, according to marketing research firm comScore Inc.

“There’s something psychological about paying for shipping that really bothers people,” said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation.

‘Free shipping not free’
Knowles’ site isn’t the only one to celebrate free shipping. Web sites such as FreeShippingOn.com, Shopzilla.com and CyberMonday.com help shoppers find the cheapest way to transport their purchases.

A recent shop.org survey found that 78 percent of online retailers planned to offer free shipping in some capacity this holiday season. But retailers often impose a minimum order or exclude certain merchandise to protect their profit margins.

“For the retailer, free shipping is not free,” Silverman said.

Participating retailers on FreeShippingDay.com include Disney, Ralph Lauren and Zappos.com. However, many require minimum purchases ranging from $49 (Toys R Us) to $150 (Ralph Lauren Rugby) to obtain free shipping.

Madison-Heights based Moosejaw Inc., which sells outdoor gear and apparel, is offering free shipping with a $49 minimum purchase. The brand tested several dollar amounts before finding a balance between profits and sales, said founder Robert Wolfe.

“People definitely care about free shipping,” Wolfe said, “but it hits the bottom line.”

Staying competitive
Knowles hopes the Free Shipping Day moniker will catch on with shoppers already familiar with Black Friday, the post-Thanksgiving glut of early bird promotions and deep discounts, and Cyber Monday, the ceremonial kick-off of the online shopping season the Monday following Thanksgiving.

Shoppers save between $10 and $12 on average with free shipping, he said.

“Most retailers almost have to offer it to compete because shoppers have come to expect it,” Knowles said. “Some day we might get to the point where it’s just standard and everyone offers it.”

As online sales slow, retailers who do not offer free shipping will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage, Silverman said. Online sales are projected to grow 10 percent this year over last year, compared with 18 percent year-over-year growth in 2007 and 25 percent in 2006.

UPS expects shipping to peak today because many shoppers know it could be their last opportunity for guaranteed Christmas Eve delivery, said UPS spokesman Dan McMakin. Last year’s traffic peaked on Dec. 19, with 22 million packages delivered.

Comparison shopping key
Even though retailers may be up front about free shipping terms and exclusions, there is plenty of opportunity for hidden charges, said Chicago-based retail consultant Jennifer Litwin. Some may raise prices; others charge handling fees.

Litwin recommended comparison shopping before making a purchase.

Indeed, consumers are getting savvier. One shopper who posted a note to a retail message board promised to be on guard against retailers who raise their prices to recoup their shipping losses.

“We have to look for specials, and cheaper ways of getting through this holiday without going bust. If merchants want to help us do that, then they will stop charging these crazy prices for shipping.”

By: By Jamie Sotonoff and Kim Mikus, Daily Herald Staff
For: Daily Herald

Your money supply is short.

Demand for your business is high.

And that combination means you should be able to save on most products this holiday shopping season.

Businesses are using every trick in the book to lure customers, including online offers, store coupons and an array of creative discounts.

The key is planning, says Chicago’s Brad Wilson, owner of BradsDeals.com.

“You have to plan where you’re going and what you want to get,” he said. “There’s probably a coupon for 90 percent of the stores, and I don’t think people realize how many there are and how easy they are to get.”

And sometimes, good planning will allow you to do better than just a discount – like free shipping.

Here are a few strategies for bagging bargains during the holiday season.

Price matching

A sale at one place is sometimes the same as a sale at another, thanks to price-matching guarantees. Many competing businesses do this, but to reap the benefits, you must do your homework. Know the competitor’s price and be armed with a current sales flier or Web printout to argue your case. If you’re organized, you can enjoy sale prices from multiple stores in a single stop.

Beware of: The hassle vs. the savings. It’s not worth your time if you have to wait 15 minutes to save $1. “It’s important if you’re buying a $1,000 TV, and less important if you’re buying a book,” Wilson says. Also be aware that some stores might not match deeply discounted Black Friday prices, so check in advance.

Promotional codes

If you enjoying shopping online, don’t buy anything until you first Google the store’s name and the words “promotional code.” Chances are, you’ll find an offer for free shipping or a percentage off a certain purchase amount. Try RetailMeNot.com and CouponCabin.com.

At ebates.com, you get a cash rebate on every online purchase – sometimes as high as 50 percent – from more than 1,000 retailers. Just shop like you normally do; no forms, no points. Then get your check in the mail (or a deposit in your PayPal account).

If you’re going out to shop, print out coupons from hundreds of national chain stores at FabulousSavings.com and BradsDeals.com.

Beware of: Shipping charges. They’re the downside of online shopping, but be careful that you aren’t stuck with ridiculously high fees or aren’t required to pay for shipping on returns.

Clip those coupons

Cost-cutting in-store coupons arrive all the time – 20 percent off any two items at Stein Mart or an extra 25 percent off your Kohl’s purchase. These are great, but how often do you get to the store and, while pulling out your credit card, remember you have a coupon at home?

Organization is key. You can invest in a coupon file or simply stash current ones in a large envelope. Just remember to keep the file in your purse or car at all times.

And before you shop, it’s worth pulling up the store’s Web site to see if there are coupons available.

Beware of: Expiration dates and the fine print. Sometimes coupons can’t be used for sale items.

Bartering

Are you willing to do what it takes to strike the best deal? Haggling can’t hurt. After all, the worst thing is that they’ll say “no.”

About 90 percent of shoppers who haggle will get a discounted price, according to “The Shop Cop” Jennifer Litwin of Chicago. Appliances, electronics, big-ticket items and floor models are sure bets. But seasonal items, such as women’s coats, are worth a try.

Beware of: Possible embarrassment. Only push the concept for so long and don’t cause a scene.

Off-price retailers

Discount stores, such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, are feasting on an overstock of cool-weather clothing and home goods at prices far below what you’d see elsewhere. The supply-chain system is backed up and off-price retailers are offering more merchandise than ever.

Beware of: Merchandise is not always organized. Shopping might take a little longer. And return policies are usually not as generous as they would be at a department store.

Shopping at off hours

Stores like Kohl’s started extended holiday shopping hours in mid-November, allowing people to shop at midnight on a Wednesday if they want. The Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora will open at midnight on Thanksgiving and stay open until 10 p.m. Friday. Opening early and closing late is not unusual on “Black Friday,” and there will be incredible deals to be had, especially on “early bird” or “door buster” specials. On Friday, Nov. 28, the first 200 people to arrive at Woodfield mall in their pajamas (doors open at 6 a.m., next to Todai Seafood Buffet) will receive a $50 mall gift card and a complimentary Santa hat.

Beware of: Crowds! People who hit the stores early on Black Friday are hard-core shoppers. If they have to trample you to get to a sale item, they will. And frequently, supplies of the most tempting deals are limited.

By: BNET Business Network

CHICAGO, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Holiday season shopping is under way, and with all the deals and “steals” how can you be the smartest shopper in this down economy? This season is expected to be the worst in 20 years. Some of the biggest trends this season, good and bad include:

• Increase in Online Shopping: Online shopping is expected to rise 33% this season, due to time and shipping savings this season. Online retailers are making it easier to shop for and return items purchased online by offering free shipping, easy returns and customer reviews. Rise in matching prices online. Online sales will decrease because of returns expected to be high. Watch out for privacy policies and sharing your personal information online.
• Decrease in Credit Card Spending: Store and bank credit cards are lowering credit card limits. Department stores like Nordstrom and Target are expecting to do a bigger credit card business due to penalties, limits and interest rates being charged by banks, but overall, spending on cards will be less. $30 fees will be charged if you go over the limit, in many cases.
• Stricter Return Policies: Keep your receipts and gift receipt, but ask about quick sale adjustments in advance of the holidays to get the best overall prices. Without a gift receipt most stores giving refund only to gift giver.
• Increase in Sale Shopping: 60% of consumers will shop sales only, but there will only be a 2% sale increase this year. Return policies will be stricter for sale items, especially for electronics and popular, trendy items.
• Return to the Post-Depression Layaway Plan: Paying a little as the weeks get closer to the holidays is making a smart comeback. Caveat: According to the FTC there will be fees charged for “returning” an item that is either only partially paid for or fully paid for.
• More difficult to convert gift cards to cash: Department stores that gave cash conversions to gift cards are, at best, only offering refunds to the gift giver. Check your retailer’s policies on conversion. Increase in Shipping Costs: Shipping prices have gone up with the fuel costs increasing. Expect to pay 10-15% of the cost of goods (and that’s only 1 way!)
• 25% Expected Decrease in Bank Gift Cards: Spending less this holiday season means a decrease in spending for gift cards, in general, and especially for bank gift cards. Most gift cards will be purchased at discount stores, like Wal-Mart and Costco, and more gift cards will be used at pharmacies and everyday stores, not luxury retailers. Good news is that most expiration dates have been lifted. Bad news: service charges of $2-3 per month on any unused balances after 12 months the industry norm. Fees to buy bank gift cards are $4-5. Caveat: many bank gift cards can’t be used for online purchases.
• Check before shopping online. Jennifer Litwin, “The Shop Cop”, has written two popular books on the shopping world (published by Lyons Press and Random House), and appears on TV shows across the country, most recently as “The Shop Cop” on ABC 7 Chicago. Jennifer Litwin, an MBA graduate from The University of Chicago, has contributed to Consumers Digest, Money, Quick & Simple, Smart Money, Money and other publications. More can be seen on her website: http://www.jenniferlitwin.com/.

By: Ismat Sarah Mangla
For: Money Magazine

Sweden’s IKEA is already the world’s largest furniture retailer, with $31 billion in sales in zoo7. But it’s still in growth mode this side of Stockholm, with 35 U.S. Outposts and four more planned in the next two years. It doesn’t matter how lofty your tastes: If you live near an I KEA, the store’s low-price and high-style wares will draw you in eventually, for your kid’s dorm, a basement or a second home. Once there, expect to be the target of marketing more psychologically complex than the complete works of Ingmar Bergman. Here’s how to emerge without having spent a single krona more than planned.

1. ENTRANCE
   IKEA’S STRATEGY Get you to follow a winding pathway that goes through each and every department. “They want you to look at everything,” says Paco Underhitl, a retail marketing expert who has consulted for IKEA.
   YOUR STRATEGY Pick up a map here, and use shortcuts labeled on it to get where you want to go with a minimum of temptation. Want to bypass the showroom entirely? Study the catalogue, head straight to the self-serve area, and ask an employee for help getting the goods.
2. LIVING ROOM SECTION
   IKEA’S STRATEGY Entice you with sleek design – IKEA puts a premium on making things look good. But at such low prices, the company obviously can’t offer, say, eight-way hand-tied sofas.
   YOUR STRATEGY Bring room dimensions. Fred Albert, former furniture guide for About.com, says the furniture is often smaller than it appears. Skip upholstered stuff, he says, adding that other stores offer better durability.
3. KITCHEN AREA
   IKEA’S STRATEGY Offer quality cabinets with Blum hardware and frames (same as in brands like Poggenpohl and SieMatic). IKEA beats the competition with mass production and sourcing.
   YOUR STRATEGY Check out the cabinetry. Most experts agree you’ll get good value. Installation and planning aren’t included, though; to see if you’re up for a DIYjob, try the 3-D planning tool at ikea.com (PCs only).

   

4. RESTAURANT AND BISTRO
   IKEA’S STRATEGY Sell cheap, tasty food to rev you up for more shopping! (The restaurant opens 30 minutes before the store each day.) The $5 medium Swedish meatball meal is all part of the “experience.”
   YOUR STRATEGY Get nosh from the “bistro” near the exit (rather than the restaurant by the showroom) after you check out. That way you won’t be lured back into spending mode.
5. MARKETPLACE
   IKEA’S STRATEGY Take your paycheck, $1 at a time. This bounty of uber-cheap small housewares is “very much for impulse buys,” admits Pernille Spiers-Lopez, president of IKEA North America. Baskets of them block the path; suddenly you need six surge protectors. On the upside, there are good values here.
   YOUR STRATEGY Make a list and stick to it. Think browsing is half the fun? Set a price cap for unplanned items.
6. BABYSITTING
   IKEA’S STRATEGY Woo you with free child care. The “Smaland” playroom is parent-friendly (one adult per 12 tots) and kid-friendly (awesome ball room). But as a Harvard Business School study notes, it’s also “gentle coercion” designed to help you spend.
   YOUR STRATEGY Lucky for your wallet, there’s a cap – often an hour – on this service. Aim to check out before fetching Junior. That way you won’t get stuck in IKEA’s abyss.
7. SELF-SERVE FURNITURE AREA
   IKEA’S STRATEGY Save a bundle by having you do assembly. IKEA transports furniture flat-packed in pieces, which reduces its transportation and storage costs.
   YOUR STRATEGY Unless you’re handy with a hex wrench and eager to turn 20-odd pieces of fiberboard into a dresser, stick with the line of furniture called Lack, as its pieces are among the most simple to put together. Or make your kids “pay” for their new furnishings by having them do the assembly.

• TIP: Go on weekdays or on weekends before 11a.m., when stores are less crowded. You’ll retain your sanity, and the stock is less likely to be picked over.
• TIP: For the best selection, visit after the four yearly product changes (February, April, August and October). For the best deals, hit the semiannual sales (at midsummer and after Christmas).
• TIP: Missing a crucial screw or the wooden dowel that would make your Hensvik storage unit stand upright? Check out the free spare-parts area located in the returns department.
• TIP: Don’t miss the terrific array of glassware, rugs and lighting. “IKEA is best-in style, quality and price-on products that don’t have to be assembled,” says Jennifer Litwin, author of Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!