Portland, US.A. — The holiday shopping season is nearly in full swing and survey results announced by CashStar, the digital gifting and incentives company, show that online Americans are shopping from their mobile devices in mass numbers, sometimes from unexpected places.

The survey found that more than 38 million online adult Americans admit to having shopped online while on the toilet. It also found that convergence is happening in unexpected ways with almost 17 million shopping via a mobile device while standing in the retailer’s physical store. The survey, which was conducted online nationwide by Harris Interactive on behalf of CashStar from November 6-8, 2012 among 2,104 U.S. online adults aged 18 and older, examined the strange or odd places U.S. adults have used computers or mobile devices to shop online.

“Smartphones and tablets have enabled consumers to shop and gift on-the-go in more ways and places than ever before,” said David Stone, co-founder and CEO of CashStar. “The retailers who have been paying attention and catering to where and how consumers want to shop by mobile-optimizing their e-commerce sites and offering mobile eGift Cards will reap the rewards this holiday season and have a jump on the competition going into 2013.

Retailers on the CashStar platform whose eGift Card website is optimized for mobile have seen 3,700 percent more sales from mobile devices this year than retailers whose sites are not mobile-optimized. Why? Because the experience is so much better, faster, and easier for consumers.”

The CashStar Mobile Online Shopping Survey also found some other surprising shopping trends:

• The strangest places consumers have shopped? Bringing physical and online retail together – More west coasters indicated that they were inclined to do this than people in other regions of the country.
  • Do not disturb -Men were more inclined to shop while on the toilet than women.
  • Shopping and driving – Despite the danger, more than four million Americans have still shopped online while driving a car.
  • Just checking email at the conference table? – More than nine million Americans admitted they have secretly shopped while in a business meeting.
• Milk, bread, and that new flat screen –More than seven million Americans have filled their grocery and online shopping carts at the same time; they have shopped from their mobile device while at the grocery store.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of CashStar from November 6-8, 2012 among 2,104 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Calculation based on U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011 Census, which estimates there are 237,744,632 million adults ages 18+ residing in the United States: 237.7M  x  0.16 = 38M have shopped online while on the toilet

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The holiday season tests minds and bodies. Placed under family, work or just financial stress, this is a time that is meant to be happily enjoyed and remembered. Life though, usually has other plans and that’s where some advanced planning might be helpful.

1. Smart Saving

The holiday sale season and in particular, Black Friday and Christmas have some of the best sales of the year. Whether shopping for a new car, new TV or that hot new video game, saving money in October or November means having the cash to get those items meant for enjoying November through February. Keep an eye out for price drops and other discounts as the season progresses. Money saved now is money well spent later.

2. Smart Spending and Price Watching

Hate the rush of the holiday season to buy gifts? Back-to-school sales as well as other very quiet price drops leading up to Thanksgiving are an easy way avoid the hassle and stress of the holiday shopping season around Christmas and New Year’s. Decide what’s best while saving as much money as possible and reducing stress. Many websites such as Amazon or eBay have methods to price watch and compare so being savvy about these options pays off in the end.

3. Brush Up on Your Culinary Skills

Not everyone is a social butterfly, but even the most reclusive hermit is required to attend a party or two. Both men and women should at least scan a few cookbooks or learn something new for the season to contribute. Don’t be the sad sack that has nothing to do while everyone else is cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Practice safety first while learning anything new. A good skill to pick up is to learn how to make dessert or at least carve the turkey.

4. Check that Car

Winter hazards aren’t just related to the human body but to our transportation vehicles as well. Checking all vehicles in the fall as the temperature dips will save a lot of costly fees and emotional turmoil should the car not start in the dead of winter. Check the engine, batteries and tires and fix any existing problems. Optional purchases may include an air pump and car battery starter.

5. Stocking up the home

Make sure there’s enough food, water and emergency supplies are there. Additionally, make sure that the house can handle the stress of a brutal winter. Cleaning the gutters or the air ducts may be a good idea. Last-minute suggestions for supplies include duct tape, snow salt and heat packs. A few days worth of food and water would also be among the list of items to get.

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Toronto, Canada — On November 5, hmv Canada, Canada’s premiere retail destination for music and entertainment, officially announced its holiday season campaign. Titled “It’s What They Want”, hmv Canada will look to build on the success of 2011′s record breaking holiday sales by delivering to consumers the season’s most sought after music, movie and entertainment products.

The campaign will be anchored by an outstanding release schedule featuring new music from acclaimed artists such as One Direction, Bruno Mars, and Rihanna, along with blockbuster hits such as ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, ‘Ted’, and ‘The Bourne Legacy’. In addition, with over 100 retail locations across Canada, consumers will be able to enjoy the industry’s most extensive catalog, filled with exclusive ready to order merchandise.

“We are incredibly excited the holiday season is upon us,” said Nick Williams, President and CEO of hmv Canada. “2012 has been a tremendous year for us as we saw a significant uptick in our business and so the holiday season is an opportunity to build on that momentum. We are adapting our in-store, online and digital experiences to meet evolving consumer trends, while maintaining our commitment to providing the best service possible. In doing so, we will continue to remind Canadians that we are their premier gift-giving destination this year.”

In addition to in-store and catalog merchandise, hmv Canada has the perfect solution for the indecisive holiday shopper. Redeemable at any hmv Canada location, a hmv Canada gift card is an easy and convenient way to give the gift of music and entertainment this season.

Finally, through Purehmv, the company’s loyalty rewards program, hmv Canada will offer its 1.2 million plus activated members the opportunity to earn even more rewards this season. These include added value coupons accessible via social media, priority access to exclusive gifts with purchase, weekly pure point offers and access to member only contests, making this a truly memorable season for members.

For more information on great holiday gifts, visit hmv.ca.

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With the ability to shop on the go, customers will be able to browse and buy straight from their mobiles on morning commutes, from the pub at the weekend, or at half time during the footie. For prospective mobile customers, the opportunity to purchase items from Burton, a leading men’s clothing outfitter, will be more instantaneous than ever, and achievable within just a few touches.

Limited edition items, and exclusive offers are more quickly and easily redeemable to those who embrace mobile. Put simply, there’s not a more convenient way to shop. The mobile site will be accessible on all handsets, including the market leaders, iPhone and Blackberry.

This move from Burton comes as more and more fashion retailers are focusing their energies, and budgets, on mobile solutions for their increasingly tech savvy and time-poor customers, something which male brands in particular are viewing as essential development in order to retain their loyal customers.

A new way to reach out and speak to this demographic, Burton anticipates that the convenience of mobile shopping will be a key driver in transitioning male customers away from the high street and develop them into online, mobile, customers.

Arguably, male interaction with brands via social media not only indicates that men are more likely to become online shoppers, but, when interacting with the brand on the move, mobile customers too. With mobile shopping on the up, and Christmas just around the corner, it seems there’s no better time than now to buy via mobile.

Following in the footsteps of other major players in the fashion industry, it’s only a matter of time before Burton also develops apps of its own. With the promise of specific content and games for information hungry app users, the demand for an app is certainly already there and Burton aims to satisfy that demand in 2012.

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In a new survey conducted by independent market research firm Toluna on behalf of leading online retailer Buy.com, a better economy topped Americans’ shopping list as the one gift they would pick for the world, with more than half of respondents (52 percent) listing an improved economic climate as their gift of choice, mirroring the optimistic outlook already starting to occur with improved holiday spending.

The survey also examined shopping behavior during the holiday season, which resulted in a few surprising discoveries. When respondents were asked why they shop online, nearly half (43 percent) of respondents liked the fact that they can shop while not fully dressed. Women outpaced men in preferring to shop in a state of undress (45 percent versus 42 percent).

Other survey highlights include:

• Wishes for the World – Other issues that were on American’s wish list for the world include ending military involvement overseas, so troops could return home (19 percent) and feeding starving people (10 percent).  The Occupy movement ranked low on consumers’ wish lists, with only eight percent of respondents citing success of the movement in ending corporate greed as their top gift for the world this season.

• Good Cheer to All (including Me!) – Holiday shopping does not just mean gift-giving to others, according to half of young women, ages 18-29 years old.  They plan to buy items for themselves, as well as for others on the gift list.

• Online + Offline, not Versus – Consumers continue to prefer the convenience of e-commerce, with the majority (61 percent) stating that they shop either completely online or at least half of their shopping is done online.

• I Got an App for That! – Nearly half of all respondents and the majority of young men ages 18-29 (80 percent) plan to use their mobile device for shopping.  Of those planning to mobile shop, researching product information was the top use by nearly half (47 percent) of respondents, followed by comparison shopping (45 percent), and consulting a family or friend about a product (43 percent).

“Consumers clearly want to see a change in our economic climate, and that is being demonstrated this holiday season in the increase in sales we are seeing,” said Neel Grover, CEO and president of Buy.com.

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To get shoppers ready for the Holiday season, Beezid has just announced the Ultimate Shopping Weekend. Beezid kicks off three days of monumental savings on Black Friday, November 25th, with risk-free bidding and a 10% price freeze on all items. Sunday, November 27th will feature a 1% price freeze, and on Cyber Monday, November 28th, Beezid will place an unprecedented 500 items up for bid, all of which will feature free shipping.

Beezid is looking to redefine the overly stressful shopping weekend known as Black Friday/Cyber Monday by eliminating some of the less appealing aspects associated to the holiday weekend such as long lineups and hectic shopping schedules due to restrictive store hours.

Where most stores advertise several deals to get shoppers into the store and provide little else in savings, Beezid’s Ultimate Shopping Weekend offers incredibly low prices on every item, along with the convenience of being able to enjoy guaranteed savings from the comfort of their own home.

“This is going to be a monumental weekend with extraordinary savings on fantastic products,” said Max Bohbot, CEO of Beezid. “This is an important shopping weekend, and our members will experience savings far beyond anything that anyone could find anywhere else. This really is the Ultimate Shopping Weekend, and we are looking forward to holding a series of events that will give everyone the opportunity to walk away with excellent products at astounding prices.”

On Friday, November 25th, beginning at 12AM EST, Beezid will offer guaranteed savings of 90-99%. In addition, every bid placed on every auction will be returned to bidders at the end of each auction. The price freeze and risk-free bidding will run until 11:59PM EST of the same day.

After a one-day break, the excitement begins again at 12AM EST on Sunday, November 27th when Beezid’s Zuper Zunday kicks off 24 hours of 1% price freezes on all items. Savings of 99% are guaranteed on every single auction until 11:59PM EST on that same day.

On Cyber Monday, November 28th, Beezid will offer 500 items up for bid to run throughout the day. Free shipping will be included with each auction win. Throughout the weekend, Beezid will be featuring special locks, ensuring that all who participate will be able to enjoy the event, despite their previous lock limits.

BEEZID.com is a top rated penny auction website which offers a thrilling spin on online auction shopping and one of the most frequently visited and most-trusted sites of its kind world-wide. Since its launch in 2009, Beezid.com has become the leading online auction site for consumers to get top products for up to 99% off the retail price daily in a fun, safe and secure online environment.

Users take advantage of huge discounts on brand new, brand name products by forming bidding strategies and by using bonuses and incentives offered by Beezid.

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Next to the Saturday before Christmas, Black Friday ranks as the seminal shopping day of the season. Yet a recent analysis by Consumer Reports’ and Decide.com, a website that tracks electronics products and pricing, reveals that the day after Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily the optimal time to get the best deals on many products.

A recent analysis of prices from the mid-November to mid-December period in 2010, conducted with Decide.com, showed that in a significant proportion of cases, the lowest prices of the season on the included items were not on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, the day following the Thanksgiving weekend.

For example, more than a quarter of the recommended TVs and cameras were at least 5 per cent cheaper between Cyber Monday and December 13 than they were earlier, including during the Black Friday weekend. With laptops, the resulting data indicated that consumers would have been at least as likely as with TVs and cameras to save on recommended models by waiting.

“There’s no doubt you can score some incredible bargains by getting up extra early or staying up past your bedtime to take in the midnight madness sales,” says Consumer Reports’ senior editor and shopping expert Tod Marks. “But retailing trends suggest that the opportunity to score a great deal won’t end this weekend. So there’s no need to panic.”

But if you plan to shop at a store or from the comfort of home, here are five Black Friday tips that can help save your money and sanity. The full list can be found at www.ConsumerReports.org.

• It’s not always worth breaking down the ‘door.’There is no doubt that manufacturers offer some deep discounts on Black Friday. Generally, the very best “doorbuster” deals are only available in limited quantities, and perhaps only for a short duration. Since early October, there has been a flurry of doorbuster promotions promising items such as a $200 laptop or TV.Black Friday earned its reputation as a bargain-hunter’s paradise because retailers feature a few of these high-profile items as loss leaders, which are sold at- or below-cost to draw shoppers in. But consumers shouldn’t bother to show up unless they are willing to wait on line, sometimes for hours before the store opens, and should be prepared for possible disappointment. There are no guarantees, and usually no rain checks.

• Sniff out the most appealing specials in advance. Numerous websites, such as FatWallet, Gottadeal, and TheBlackFriday.com obtain and publish Black Friday deals, often weeks before they’re officially released. You can also find out which products come with rebates and which merchants offer free shipping. “Like” your favorite retailers on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for advance notice of special sales. You can also follow @DealCyberMonday on Twitter.

• Try to get it for less online. If a circular features an eye-popping deal, consumers should visit a price-comparison Web site to see if another reliable seller is offering it cheaper. Some sources worth checking: Bizrate, Nextag and Pricegrabber. Shoppers might want to try Amazon, too, as Consumer Reports’  reader surveys have cited Amazon as a good merchant for appliances, electronics, and books. And don’t shop without first checking for coupons at sites such as Coupons.com and RetailMeNot.com.

• Request a price guarantee. Ask if the retailer has a low-price guarantee – which entitles shoppers to a refund of the difference between the new price and the original price paid if the item goes on sale or if it’s offered cheaper elsewhere. Walmart recently announced that it’s beefing up its price-matching policy for the holidays. Note that most price-matching policies apply to the price charged by a “local” competitor, not websites like Amazon.com or even warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s.

• Eye return policies carefully.The blanket policy for most products at big-box stores is 90 days, but may be shorter for electronics.  Some merchants extend the return period for holiday purchases, but they reserve the right to refuse to take back anything without an original or gift receipt, especially if the item was bought with cash.Even if a store agrees to take an item back without a receipt, they may only issue you a gift card or store credit slip in exchange. And shoppers will get back the value of the lowest price the item actually sold for, not necessarily the value of the price paid for it. Receipts are needed to take advantage of warranty services. Make sure there are no restocking fees for returned goods

To help shoppers make the best purchasing choices this holiday season, check out www.ConsumerReports.org/holiday. The site will be updated frequently throughout this Hanukah and Christmas holiday season with new postings to ensure that people are prepared for the holidays with the latest information.

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Retailers have threatening to make Thanksgiving a shopping holiday with earlier start times for their Black Friday sales this year. Shoppers are resisting and more than ever will be going online to do their Black Friday shopping. GottaDeal.com, having covered Black Friday online since 2003, offers tips to their visitors for getting the most deals when shopping online this week.

“More Black Friday deals than ever will be available online this year, even the most popular doorbuster specials,” says Brad Olson, Owner of GottaDeal.com. “We’re telling our visitors that if they don’t want to shop in stores all night long, they can get the exact same deals from the comfort of their home.”

GottaDeal.com acquires leaked copies of Black Friday ads from major retailers. “The extra time allows our visitors to research products, compare prices, and come up with a plan of attack for the big day, whether they are shopping online or in stores,” says Mr. Olson.

The site offers a comprehensive “Online Black Friday Tracker” which provides a schedule of when the online Black Friday sales start for each retailer, as well as a listing of sale items that can be ordered online at any given moment. In addition to this tracker, the site features a dedicated online Black Friday message board where visitors can discuss the sales, ask questions of the experts on the site and post what deals they are finding.

In addition to using the tools available on the site, GottaDeal.com offers additional tips:

“Prepare your online retailer accounts – Go to each website for stores you plan to shop at this week and make sure your shipping and billing addresses are up to date. Also make sure your credit card information is saved to your account.”

“Be aware of free shipping offers – One of the best parts of online Black Friday shopping is getting your items shipped for free. Each retailer has a different shipping policy – some, such as Best Buy, offer free shipping on absolutely everything. For other stores, there is usually an order total threshold that you must reach to get free shipping.”

GottaDeal.com is a year-round online deals site dedicated to saving visitors money. It features hundreds of online deals posted each week, an updated listing of online coupons and a large community message board. Every autumn, the site opens their Black Friday website dedicated to covering Black Friday sales and holiday shopping trends.

K2 images / Shutterstock.com

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