Archive for November, 2009
Retailers: Nordstrom, Costco, Bloomingdale’s, Best Buy, Macy’s, Menard’s, Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Circuit City, American Express, Bed Bath & Beyond
TRENDS
- Restocking Fees
- Gift Card Time Limit: and Retail Store Gift Card vs. Bank Card
- Return Time Limit shortened (electronics/appliances)
- Online vs. In-Store Gift Cards/Returns
- Restocking fees: Subjective: What stores charge the customer to return goods…a booming trend in the retail industry. Between 5-25%. Charged on electronics, appliances and other popularly returned items during the holiday season. * No opened boxes, everything intact, not used. Target, Circuit City, Best Buy: 15% Crate & Barrel and Furniture Retailers: Depends Costco: Best ~ for electronics. Most of the electronics stores are extending returns for the holidays until mid-January.
- Gift card time limits ($18 b): Until a few months ago large retailers were trying to shorten the time limit of the gift card. Cards lose value over time…it was a balance sheet decision. Beginning in the Spring of ’06 several states began to incorporate a policy which has made it impossible for retailers to shorten the limit of gift cards less than 2 years. (Bloomingdale’s-2 years) Most retailers have no time limits. Transferring gift cards to cash…a thing of the past (Exception: Menards)
- Retail cards: No fee charged to process the card and no fee charged monthly for unused balances Continue reading »
Being able to actually fit gadgets into your kitchen drawers is the big trend this season. Things that fold up or fold flat are the ticket. Light weight objects that are fairly inexpensive and solve everyday problems in the kitchen are also key this season.
Here are my favorites:
1. Splat Cookie Sheet ($19.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
Great for using as a cookie sheet. Rolls up into a compact size and you can put into the dishwasher.
2. Nonstick Toaster Oven Liner ($7.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
Can be trimmed to fit any-sized toaster oven. Functions like the Splat Cookie Sheet. I love this one, especially, because the bottom of the toaster oven at my house always looks like a mess, with cheese sticking to it, and lots of crumbs, grease, etc. You can toss directly into the dishwasher after use. Long lasting.
3. Butter Boy Butter Spreader ($5.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
This makes buttering corn so easy and not messy! Perfect for kids who want to do it themselves. You can remove the plunger insert and fill it with butter. The lid keeps the butter fresh so you can just put it back in the refrigerator.
Continue reading »
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.
Continue reading »
JENNIFER LITWIN’S LIST OF MUST-HAVES FOR ACCOMMODATING HOLIDAY GUESTS
The cou
ntdown 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.”
Continue reading »
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.”
Continue reading »
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”
Continue reading »
Dollars and Sense: Saving on your Grocery Bill on abc7chicago.com
Holiday Return Policies on abc7chicago.com
Jennifer shares holiday return policies