cybermonday

Get Ready For Cyber Monday Deals And Steals
Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007 3:00 am

Credit: Jin Lee/Associated Press
A shopper holds a new IMac Apple computer Friday in New York.
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'Twas CyberMonday when all through the land

People parked before laptops, mouses in hand

Scanning the Web for bargains to buy

On tech gifts and toys for that special girl or guy

Black Friday had conquered; No more malls, if you believe!

Yet presents were needed for our friends to receive.

People are reclaiming a bit of their sanity from the crushing holiday crowds by shopping from the La-Z-Boy.

Retailers know it too, and they're offering incentives to get your online dollars.

My e-mail inbox has been brimming with free shipping offers for weeks, one of the more popular discounts as the holiday season gets into full swing.

Need specifics? nd Saks Fifth Avenue. Other stores offer the discount with a catch, such as a purchase of a specified item or a certain dollar amount.

If you're looking for a flat-out deal, those may be available too. The eHoliday Survey found the majority of businesses were planning to offer special online promotions, from special e-mail offers to one-day sales, according to the retail federation.

Businesses know it's a good time to get shoppers' attention. Although CyberMonday isn't the biggest online shopping day of the year, about two-thirds of retailers saw "substantial" growth on the day last year, with a third reporting their sales were up more than 30 percent over the previous year, according to the Cyber Monday Web site.


Your best bet is to surf to your favorite sites and see what's being offered. A few minutes online could net you a nice discount.

Alamance coup anew

Harry & David, the high-end merchant of fruit and fine food, has announced it will make its first Triad appearance.

It will not be in Greensboro or Winston-Salem, but Burlington.

The store will open at the new Alamance Crossing shopping center off Interstate 40/85 and University Drive in Burlington this Thursday.

Shoppers at the Burlington store will find the company's signature items, including Royal Riviera pears, Tower of Treats gifts, Moose Munch Popcorn Confection and chocolate truffles.

The store will also offer a variety of snack assortments, appetizers, specialty condiments, relishes, fruit preserves and gift baskets ― plus serveware and items for holiday celebrating.

Wrapped and ready

Don't feel like braving the crowds or chancing a paper cut on that pretty roll of paper?

Downtown merchants are willing to do the shopping ― and wrapping ― for you.

Fifteen businesses are participating in the first Downtown Holiday Pre-Wrap promotion organized by Downtown Greensboro Inc. The gifts are already selected and wrapped. You just pay and carry.

Presents range from a $4.95 zippered pouch from the Franciscan Center to a $70 pearl necklace from Schiffman's. Several retailers are also offering gift certificates in a range of dollar amounts.

You can look at the full selection online at www.

downtowngreensboro.net/HolidayPreWrap-07.html.

Safe shopping

It can be harder to keep track of children out in holiday crowds ― especially with all the distracting Christmas eye candy around.

Here are some tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children on keeping children safe:

* Talk to your children about safety before going out to shop

* Require your children to stay with you at all times

* Pick a place where you'll meet if you get separated

* Accompany and supervise children in public places, including restrooms

* Teach children to look for someone who can help if you get separated, such as a security officer, salesperson or a mother with children.

Additional safety tips, including suggestions for



Charleston, SC -

Tomorrow is Cyber Monday, a name coined by researchers when they noticed a spike in online shopping the Monday after Thanksgiving.




Online retailers are hoping Cyber Monday will become an annual event.
But has the general public doesn� seem to have caught on.



So maybe you haven't heard of it, but do you plan on doing a lot of your shopping online?

"I'm afraid of identity theft and all that stuff,?says one wary shopper.



"I shop all the time online.

I get all kinds of fishing gear,?adds another.



Others would rather face the crowds, than face their computer screens.



"I like to get out and see the people and my wife drags me around even though there's football games going on,?shopper Ben Mayer says.



Those of you who aren� shopping this Cyber Monday may be missing out.

A national retail survey shows seventy five percent of online retailers will offer promotions Monday.



"I think in Sunday's busy hectic lifestyles.

Being able to offer the online experience as well as the walk into the store and feel it experience is great,?Jay Harper, Town Center� General Manager says.



Many retailers consider Monday to be the kickoff of the online shopping season.

Last Friday, called Black Friday, kicked off the in store holiday shopping season.

To find out which retailers are offering deals, go to www.cybermonday.com.