According to a new report from Google and OTX, 35% of  internet users in the United States have already begun their holiday shopping and research as of this month.

While you’ll never experience the crowds in an online store like you do in a traditional brick-and-mortar store, there is a chance that a store may sell out of an item you really want to pick up for someone. As we mentioned recently, shipping dates for the iPad have already been slipping somewhat, so there is definite evidence that you should not wait until the last minute to order your key items.

Online shopping is growing each year, and according to comScore, online shopping has grown by nine percent year-over-year for the second quarter of this year, and that means things could escalate even more as the year comes to an end.

You also need to keep in mind that things ordered online need to be shipped to you, and if more people are ordering online, shipping volume will go up causing delays through the carriers.

In short … you may want to consider starting your shopping now.

[via eMarketer]

Post from: RememberingChristmas.com

Holiday Shopping Already Picking Up Online

Every year there is some item that it seems everyone puts on their Wishlist, and that item becomes impossible to find as the holiday draws near.  Some the most famous examples include Tyco’s “Tickle Me Elmo” back in the 1990′s, the Cabbage Patch Kids in the 80′s and even the Zhu Zhu Pets just this past Christmas.

While we are still several months out from Christmas this year, it looks like Apple’s iPad tablet may be this year’s “must have” item. The online Apple Store is already showing that the item doesn’t ship for 7 to 10 business days, which is unusually long for an Apple product. There are also many reports that the parts suppliers in Asia are unable to keep up with growing demand for the gadget.  Evidence is surely mounting that this product is going to be next to impossible to find come the holiday shopping season.

We certainly advocate the concepts that Christmas is about more than store bought gifts, but we also feel it is our duty to warn you when something like this appears to be shaping up.  If you think there is any possibility that you want to give one of these to a loved one this holiday season, now would be the time to be purchasing it and putting it away in your gift closet for the next few months.

Also, there is one large caveat to this: Don’t be surprised if a new version is released very early next year.  Apple introduced the iPad last January and shipped it in April, and seeing as the company likes to keep products such as this on a once-a-year refresh cycle, don’t be surprised if iPad 2 hits in April 2011.  This, of course, won’t matter to people who want it “NOW!”, but we still felt we should warn you.

Will you be purchasing any iPads this holiday season?

Post from: RememberingChristmas.com

If You Want An iPad For Christmas, Order Now

Welcome to Bronner’s.

Bronner’s opened in 1945 and has become a year-round physical and online store carrying over 50,000 Christmas related items.  The physical store is open 361 days a year, and is the size of 5.5 football fields.  If you can’t get to the store in Frankenmuth, Mich, you can also shop their online store, but wouldn’t it be more fun to visit the store in person to see all of the dioramas they’ve set up?

I can’t say I’ve ever been near Frankenmuth, but after learning of this store, and seeing videos of it, I sure would like to go, preferably in the summer so I could at least be half way between Christmases!

Post from: RememberingChristmas.com

Bronner’s Year-Round Christmas Shopping

In a repeat of a strategy the major retailer followed during the 2009 holiday shopping season, Walmart is holding Black Friday-like sales several weeks early to hopefully lure some customers in now.  The official details from Walmart are in the image below, but in short:

• Xbox 360 Arcade Console w/ $100 Walmart Gift-Card
• HP G60-W519WM Laptop for $298
• Panasonic TC-P46U1 46″ 1080p Plasma HDTV – $788
• 42″ Sharp LC42SB45UT HDTV – $498

It actually sounds like it may be worth getting up for!

Post from: RememberingChristmas.com

Walmart Begins Sales On Nov. 7th