The Holiday Wrap Up Business Blog

Happy returns

Mark Skoneki — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:53:36 -0500

Anika Palm just filed this report Even the return process, usually a hassle on the day after Christmas, was going smoothly today. At the Super Target in the new Sodo power center south of downtown Orlando, Mary Eldridge was returning...

Post-Christmas sales "really calm this year"

Mark Skoneki — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:52:17 -0500

Sandra Pedicini just filed this report: Shoppers across the region and state were hitting the stores Friday to return unwanted Christmas presents and to take advantage of post-holiday discounts of up to 75 percent. At the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Apopka,...

Finally, some good news!

Mark Skoneki — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:37:23 -0500

SEATTLE (AP) -- Amazon.com Inc. said Friday that the 2008 holiday season was the online retailer's "best ever," with more than 6.3 million items ordered and 5.6 million units shipped during its peak day on Dec. 15. Amazon's upbeat take...

Winners and losers

SandraPedicini — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:05:58 -0500

Winners: Wal-Mart, Books A Million, Target and JCPenney. Losers: Belk, Walgreens, Dillard’s and Sports Authority. So says retail analyst Britt Beemer in his 2008 “Winners and Losers” list issued today. The winners and losers are determined by how well they...

Not EVERY store offering deals

LisaCianci — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:30:53 -0500

Not every store has big sales.

Open on Christmas

SandraPedicini — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:48:38 -0500

For all the procrastinators out there: Walgreens sent a reminder that most of its stores will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and more than 1,600 24-hour stores will be open around the clock.

Deals lure last-minute holiday shoppers to Fashion Square

Sara Clarke — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:14:05 -0500

Sentinel Reporter Jeff Kunerth writes: On the last weekend shopping day before Christmas, it was beginning to look a lot like what Christmas is supposed to look like at Orlando Fashion Square mall. In a holiday season that has been...

Some grocery stores open Christmas Day

SandraPedicini — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:58:39 -0500

If you’re making Christmas dinner and realize that you’ve run out of that essential ingredient, not to worry. Winn-Dixie has announced that all of its 521 stores will be open until 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and 493 stores will...

Tips for last minute online shoppers

SandraPedicini — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:16:40 -0500

Etan Horowitz had a story in today giving last minute tips. But we've got a few others from Dan de Grandpre, editor in chief of www.dealnews.com DeGrandpre says that you can expect free and reduced shipping deals to continue up...

Fewer lines, bigger deals

SandraPedicini — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:24:28 -0500

There's an upside to this down economy: If you go to a store this holiday season, you likely won't have to stand in line or try desperately to flag down a salesperson to help you. So says our trusted retail...