Check out BBB’s Holiday Helper: A Guide to Gifting and Giving
Arlington, VA (PRWEB) November 20, 2015 -- What’s your post-Thanksgiving dinner tradition? Touch football in the back yard? A tryptophan-induced nap? For millions of Americans, it’s holiday shopping! Retailers are gearing up for 140 million shoppers to hit the stores, and the National Retail Federation says this year’s holiday shoppers plan to spend an average of $463 on family members (up from $458 last year).
The day after Thanksgiving has grown to be the biggest shopping day of the year, with “door buster sales” often starting as soon as the leftovers are put away Thursday night. Not to be outdone by the big box stores, independent and smaller retailers now have “Small Business Saturday” and online sellers have staked out the Monday after Thanksgiving. And after all that shopping, it’s time to be generous on “Giving Tuesday.”
Overwhelmed yet? Don’t be! Better Business Bureau has tips for consumers to make the best of all these opportunities to get the best selection, save money, be safe, and give wisely. Check out the “BBB Holiday Helper: A Guide to Gifting and Giving” at http://www.bbb.org/holidayhelper. There you will find information on:
“Shop Surely” on Black Friday: Before you wait in line for hours or brave the boisterous crowds, be sure you know what’s really being offered. Learn how to read ads and understand “badvertising” at bbb.org/adtruth. Spot a bad ad? Use #AdTruth on social media to warn others.
“Shop Small” on Small Business Saturday: The best prices and best selection are not always at the big box stores. On November 28, look for “Shop Small” signs at thousands of small and independent businesses. Share your experience with us! Take a selfie at your favorite small business, share it on social media with #BBBHolidayHelper and #ShopSmall, and tell the world why you love small businesses.
“Shop Savvy” on Cyber Monday: Online sales are expected to top $105 billion this holiday season. Shop safe online: look for the lock icon and https for secure URLs, watch out for look-alike websites, and use a credit (not debit) card. More tips on being a savvy shopper are available from the Digital IQ initiative at bbb.org/digitaliq.
“Give Wisely” on Giving Tuesday. When the shopping frenzy is over, December 1 is all about being generous. Make sure the charity you select will be a good steward of your money. Check out give.org for charity reviews from BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
No matter where or when you shop, find businesses you can trust at bbb.org.
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ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2014, people turned to BBB more than 165 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.7 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for 113 local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation.
MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, journalists should contact Katherine Hutt at 703-247-9345 or [email protected] or Jasmine Turner at 703-247-9376 or [email protected].
Katherine Hutt, CBBB, +1 (703) 247-9345, [email protected]
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