Retailers are taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to promote sales and specials, especially around sporting goods, BBQ supplies, consumer electronics and outdoor gear. Of shoppers surveyed by ChargeItSpot, 43% of shoppers are planning to shop this weekend looking for deals and 22% said they would be shopping for sporting goods. Of those shoppers, a large majority are using social media (37%), online deal sites (17%) and mobile coupons (17%), rather than shopping in stores. The survey highlights the need for retailers to invest in social media. Magazines and news outlets are making news with lists of items for shoppers to take advantage of online this weekend, such as gym bags, wallets, grills, sun care, thermostats, swimwear and fire pits. Lots of items are of course focused around summertime activities, and span across retailers that are department stores, like Macy’s and Lord & Taylor, big box stores like WalMart, and DIY stores Lowe’s and Home Depot. Retailers are clearing out their summer inventories to prep for back-to-school.
Sources: Chain Store Age, Good Housekeeping, USA Today, CBS News