More folks are taking shopping lists online

Published 10:30 am Friday, November 23, 2007

Forget Friday, shop online Monday. If you’re reading this this morning, you’re probably not among the thousands of shoppers who hit the stores at 12:01 a.m.

Perhaps instead, you’re one of a growing number of Americans who will take advantage of online promotions that begin Monday. Roughly 47 percent of consumers shopped online last holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. And retailers are giving consumers more reasons to make purchases online this year with nearly 72 percent offering promotions Monday — that’s up from about 43 percent two years ago.

“As more people rely on the Internet for holiday shopping, retailers have stepped up their game to compete,” said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org.

More than half of online consumers will shop not from their home computers but from computers at work. About 68.5 million people will use their work computers for holiday shopping. Men are slightly more likely than women to shop online at work while nearly 73 percent of consumers in the 18 to 24 age range say they’ll shop from the office.

Oh, Venus: Steve &Barry’s offers low-price apparel with pizzazz.

First, they pushed sex appeal. Next came fun, flirty fashion.

And just in time for the holidays, Steve and Barry’s introduces a sporty line of ladies clothing that won’t break the holiday budget, thanks in part to tennis star Venus Williams.

“They were looking for a female athlete. I beat out the competition,” Williams told the Associated Press.

The low-price retailer, which opened its Everett Mall location in June, already features clothing inspired by actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Amanda Bynes. Williams’ EleVen Sportswear line, which includes sneakers as low as $15. All 120 different EleVen Sportswear items are available for under $20.

Need to find low-cost clothing or shoes for the men on your shopping list? Steve and Barry’s carries menswear created by NBA player Stephon Marbury, as well as shoes by Ben Wallace. Golf enthusiasts will discover a wealth of inexpensive apparel by professional golfer Bubba Watson.

No shopping allowed: Zippy’s Java Lounge in downtown Everett will be open today but won’t sell anything — not even espresso. The shop invites people to stop in and to make gifts from items usually destined to be thrown away. Participants also are encouraged to bring leftovers from Thanksgiving as part of a daylong potluck.

Take a break: Many retailers offer ways — from discounts to free food — to get you into their stores early this holiday weekend. But what will keep people in the stores as the day drags on? Everett Mall’s latest tenant, Massage Envy, hopes tired shoppers will take time out of their day for an hour massage. The store opens its doors for the first time at 8 a.m. today. The franchise has 11 private rooms and will offer an hour-long massage at an introductory price of $39.

Shop around the clock: Expanded holiday hours go into effect at the major shopping centers beginning today. Both the Alderwood shopping center and the Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip opened at midnight and close at 10 p.m. Everett Mall welcomes shoppers at 7 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m.

The Everett Mall will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Seattle Premium Outlets also launches its holiday schedule, opening from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For the first week of holiday hours at Alderwood, the center will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. next Friday.

Holiday notebook is a special feature to help you survive your holiday shopping. It will appear each Friday through the holiday season. It’s assembled by Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.