Thursday, November 26, 2015
Drinking in the holidays The Old Mill helps pair the right bottle with the right meal
T
By Jenae Hackensmith
jenae.hackensmith@austindailyherald.com
he holidays come with parties, get-togethers and time with friends, yet parties always beg the question: What should we bring? Many people will bring a nice bottle of pinot noir or zinfandel. Yet certain wines taste best with certain foods, and while it’s all subjective to individuals’ likes and
Heath Kiplinger, floor manager for The Old Mill Restaurant, holds up a glass of wine as he describes how to pair a red wine.
dislikes, ask the host what is being served to figure out what wine will best pair with the meal. As the host, find wthe middle ground with these great wine pairings. Keith Kiplinger, the floor supervisor at The Old Mill Restaurant in Austin, who also works at the bar, has come to know many different wines.
Eric Johnson/Austin Living
This story previously appeared in the November/ December edition of Austin Living Magazine.
See DRINKS, Page 4
Off to the shopping races Retailers primed for Thanksgiving, Black Friday By Jason Schoonover
jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com
Soon after Austin savors its annual holiday delights, it will turn to another tradition: gobbling up its annual kickoff to the holiday shopping season. Whether it’s Black Friday or Brown Thursday, several Austin businesses are hosting an array of deals to get shoppers out and about to start buying Christmas presents or goodies for themselves. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening at some of Austin’s retailers:
Shopko, 1209 18th Ave. NW
Shopko is forgoing its Thanksgiving mor ning “Beat the Rush” sale from last year, but the retailer is still getting an early beat on the Christmas shopping season. Shopko will open at 4 p.m. Thursday — two hours earlier than last year — and will remain open overnight and not close until 11 p.m. Friday. “It kicks off the holiday season and it keeps on rolling until Christmas eve,” said Kelli Miller, the store’s customer service and apparel manager. More than 850 items will be featured at Shopko stores and on Shopko.com at door buster prices, and Shopko will offer customers maps to direct them to deals dispersed around the store. Manager Pam Oster expects the annual shopping extravaganza to be much like past years, and she says electronics and toys are typically the hot items
Customers wait to check out at Younkers after filling their Black Friday lists last year. Herald file photo for most shoppers. Shopko’s Austin team also expects the force to be strong with this holiday shopping season. With “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” due to hit theaters on Dec. 18 (with early showings on Dec. 17), many toys and clothing items with ties to the hotly anticipated film have been big sellers already, and Oster promised deals from Thursday through Saturday. “They can find most of their Star Wars merchandise here at Shopko,” Oster said. Crowds are typically good at Shopko on Thanks-
giving and Black Friday, and Oster said the store strives to give shoppers a good experience with efficient lines. But the deals don’t end with Thanksgiving weekend. “Our sales, they will continue all the way through Christmas Eve,” she said, noting they’ll have more deals coming Dec. 12. After almost 40 years in retail, Oster said it’s a day she and others at Shopko enjoy. “I love to work Black Friday,” Pam said. “I just love to be with the customers and to talk to them and to help them out with their
needs,” Pam said. Miller agreed. “It lives up to its hype,” Miller said. “It’s always a great experience and the customers are always great to work with. It’s always a great time and it’s a lot of fun.”
Younkers, Oak Park Mall
Austin’s Younkers will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving — an hour earlier than last year — with 600-plus door busters. The first 200 people in every store will receive a free gift card with values ranging from $5 up to $500 with a guaranteed $500 winner at
every store. “All of our door busters are going to be great offers,” manager Randy Forster said. Door busters are good through 3 p.m. Friday and are available as supplies last. Online door busters will be available at www.bonton.com/blackfriday starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday with free online shipping through Saturday with promo code FREESHIP. Some door buster items will include women’s Rampage boots and jackets for $19.97, which Forster said can typically sell for $69 or more. Others include
$29.97 Calvin Klein sweaters, 50 percent off Mattel and Fisher Price toys and much more. The festive mood won’t end there. With the closure of Oak Park Mall, Younkers is seeing the children still get a chance to tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas this year. Santa Claus will be at Younkers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Forster encouraged people to bring their cell phones or cameras for photos. “Were anticipating that will be a big event,” Forster said.
See SHOP, Page 6
Thanksgiving Extra
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Don’t fall victim to holiday hazards Turkey Day presents many fire hazards 6 dangerous Thanksgiving foods for pets Austin Daily Herald
newsroom@austindailyherald.com
When most of us think about Thanksgiving, images of turkey, stuffing and time spent with loved ones typically come to mind, not fire hazards. However, an increased risk of fire is, in fact, a reality of Thanksgiving. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving as on a typical day. NFPA’s latest cooking estimates shows that there were 1,550 cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2013, reflecting a 230 percent increase over the daily average. Home cooking fires also spike on other major U.S. holidays, including Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Memorial Day weekend. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires. “A combination of factors collectively increase the risk of home cooking fires on Thanksgiving,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy, in a press release. “People are often preparing multiple dishes with lots of guests and other distractions, which can make it all too easy to forget what’s on the stove. That’s when cooking mishaps are most likely to occur.” While the number of
cooking fires spikes on holidays, it’s also one of the leading causes of home fire year-round. Between 2009 and 2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 162,400 home cooking fires per year. These fires resulted in an annual average of 430 civilian fire deaths, 5,400 reported injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage. Fortunately, Carli notes, there are many simple steps people can take to ensure safe cooking on Thanksgiving. “A l i t t l e a d d e d awareness about potential fire hazards and taking a few basic precautions in the kitchen can go a long way toward keeping your Thanksgiving fire-free,” Carli said in the releae. Here are NFPA’s top five tips for cooking with fire safety in mind on Thanksgiving and beyond: •Remain in the kitchen while you’re cooking, and keep a close eye on what you fry! Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Regularly check on food that’s simmering, baking or roasting, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. •Keep things that can
catch fire such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels and curtains away from the cooking area. •Be alert when cooking. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop. •If you have a small (grease) cooking fire on the stovetop and decide to fight the fire: Smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the bur ner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. •If you’ re cooking a turkey using a disposable aluminum pan, consider doubling up and using two pans to avoid a puncture, as dripping turkey juices can cause an oven fire. NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers, a popular cooking method on Thanksgiving. The use of turkey fryers can lead to devastating burns and other injuries, and the destruction of property due to the large amount and high temperature of oil used. NFPA urges those who prefer fried turkey to look for grocery stores, specialty food retailers and restaurants that sell deep fried turkeys.
By Dr. Eva Evans
A veterinarian and writer for Pets Best, a dog insurance and cat insurance agency
It’s that time of year again! Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means an abundance of delicious food. However, many food items that people enjoy aren’t healthy for pets to consume. This is important to remember during holiday meals, when dogs and cats beg for table scraps and guests might fall for those cute faces. To ensure your pets remain healthy this Thanksgiving, below are six dishes to keep away from your pets. Be sure to inform your family and dinner guests about these potentially toxic or dangerous foods so they do not feed them to your pets. 1. Stuffing: Thanksgiving dressing is often made with onions, scallions or garlic. These ingredients are extremely toxic to dogs and cats and can cause a life-threatening anemia (destruction of the red blood cells). It’s best to avoid feeding any amount of stuffing to pets. 2. Ham: Ham and other pork products can cause pancreatitis, upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Ham tends to be high in fat as well, which can lead to obesity in pets. Even a small amount of ham
can contribute a very large amount of calories in a small dog or cat. 3. Turkey Bones: Bones can cause severe indigestion in dogs and cats, potentially causing vomiting and obstructing the bowel. Bones may also splinter and cause damage to the inside of the stomach and intestines. In some cases, turkey bones may even puncture through the stomach and cause a potentially fatal abdominal infection. 4. Mashed Potatoes: While potatoes are safe for pets to eat, mashed potatoes usually contain butter and milk, which can cause diarrhea in pets that experience lactose intolerance. Additionally, some recipes call for onion powder or garlic, which are very toxic to pets. 5. Salads with Grapes/Raisins: There
are many salads served at Thanksgiving that include grapes or raisins as ingredients, such as fruit salad, waldorf salad and ambrosia. However, g rapes and raisins are very toxic and potentially deadly. Grapes can cause severe, irreversible and sometimes fatal kidney failure in dogs. Be sure to keep all dishes that include grapes and raisins away from pets. 6. Chocolate Pie: While pumpkin pie is the most famous Thanksgiving dessert, many people offer a variety of pies at Thanksgiving, including chocolate pie. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, yet dogs love the smell and taste of it. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Keep chocolate pie and all chocolate desserts out of the reach of pets to prevent an emergency trip to the veterinarian. If your pets ingest any of these foods this Thanksgiving, be sure to call your veterinarian immediately. Early action may prevent more costly and serious complications from developing. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! For more information about Pets Best, visit www. petsbest.com.
Thanksgiving Extra
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Don’t Be a Griswold
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015
3
Minnesota’s Black Friday deal
Use these safety tips for stringing lights Free pass to state parks By Kathy Berdan
Associated Press
Though some people surely got an early start before Turkey Day on putting up holiday lights to take advantage of the nice weather, it’s the season for people to start putting up lights and getting in the mood for the holidays. Whether you’re going Griswold or just hanging a few strings on the shrubs, here are a few safety tips from consumerreports. org: — Most outdoor holiday lights are only designed for 90 days of use. The wiring and plastics break down over time and can pose fire and electrical shock hazards. Keep a record of when you purchased your lights and don’t use them beyond their 90-day life. — Don’t connect more than three strings of lights together; that can cause an electrical overload. — Look for authentic safety certification marks from either UL, CSA or
ST. PAUL — Black Friday fever is spreading to Minnesota state parks. The state will offer free entry to all 76 state parks and recreation areas on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving. A daily permit to a park generally costs $5. Lt. Gov. Tina Smith announced the state’s own Black Friday deal on
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Friday from Fort Snelling State Park. Smith says the state is trying to promote the outdoors and family time on a day dominated by trips to malls and shopping centers. Retailers are also making preparations for the biggest shopping day of the year. Outdoor retailer REI is also encouraging its employees to head outdoors, but by keeping its doors closed on Black Friday.
Safety precautions can help when putting up Christmas Lights this year. Metro Image
ETL that indicate that the product meets recognized safety standards. — Don’t overload exten-
sion cords. The Consumer standard-size light sets to Product Safety Commis- one extension cord. sion recommends not at—Distributed by the Astaching more than three sociated Press.
Minnesota officials are encouraging folks to spend time outdoors on Black Friday. Entrance fees to state parks and recreation areas will be waived Nov. 27. Here, a lone tree is seen through a telescope viewfinder at Blue Mounds State Park. Jackson Forderer/For MPR News 2014
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Thanksgiving Extra
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Drinks: Sipping, savoring the holiday season From Page 1 Although he said wine is very personalized with each person’s different likes and dislikes, he shared some of his favorite wine and food matches. “Some people don’t order according to what they’re drinking,” Kiplinger said. “They just order what they like to eat and order what they like to drink and don’t worry about it.” Kiplinger noted when people who don’t drink a lot of wine come into the restaurant, he likes to start them off with certain wines depending on what their meal is and go from there, changing to a sweeter or more tart wine on their request. These pairings should please your party guests and get them in the holiday spirit:
ABOVE: A bottle of The Seven Deadly Zins graces a table looking out over the Cedar River at the The Old Mill Restaurant. ABOVE RIGHT: The Strawberry Crush features a fruity and sparkly presentation and includes Rangpur by Tanqueray, Sierra Mist, limes and strawberries. BELOW: The Old Mill Restaurant has a large variety of wines both red and white for people to choose from. Photos by Eric Johnson/Austin Living Rock Winery is a little more tart yet a little lighter than wines such as cabernet, according to Kiplinger. He matched the wine with meats, mostly whiter meats. “I’ll say pork mostly, but it’ll go with a steak depending on the individual,” he said. He also paired the wine with chicken. With the lighter, more tart taste, it matches well with whiter meats, including meats with citrus flavors and certain fish.
Menage a TThis rois California red wine, made by Folie A Deux Winery, is a blend of three different types of wine. Kiplinger described this blend as a wine that goes with most anything. “This one being so well rounded you can go with beef, you can go with pork, you can go with chicken,” he said. He likes to start the customer off with this wine and find out if they would like a lighter, darker or heavier wine or maybe even another taste all together. Personally, Kiplinger enjoys a good steak, so he would pair this wine with steak for his own meal, but he said this wine can go with burgers, prime rib or anything.
MThis oscato white wine by Cavit Collection is one of the more popular wines at The Old Mill, according to Kiplinger. “This one has a little bubble to it, so it opens up flavors, opens up your tastebuds to accept the flavors,” he said. “It’s probably our
biggest seller of the white wines,” he added. Kiplinger paired this wine with light food such as appetizers, or a lighter meat like chicken. He said the citrus in the chicken and lighter foods goes well with the white blend.
PThis inot Noir red wine by Castle
ZKiplinger infandel said this
“I like contrast, so when I’m having a nice steak … it just goes, it makes it pop,” Kiplinger said.
he said. “You’re going to get a little oak, a little more dry.”
wine, which Kiplinger mostly paired with chicken or fish. He said because of the lightness of the white meats, pork is also a good choice for this wine. “This one you’re going to get a grassy, a little citrus, more so than chardonnay,”
Winery will go well with any fish or chicken dish as it has a more buttery taste, with a few more flavors mixed in to create a variety of flavor. “It’s got a little bit of buttery taste to it as well as citrus, a little bit of oak,” Kiplinger said.
PThis inot Grigio J. Lohr, white wine by iverstone RThis Walnut Crest is an Italian red wine by J. Lohr
red wine by The Seven Deadly Zins will go well with steak. Depending on the Zin, the wine can be a little more dry with more mineral content to it. Since there is no tartness, the wine soaks into tastebuds with an earthy-like taste instead of a smack.
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Thanksgiving Extra Major retailers keep same Thanksgiving hours Mariah Carey, Pat Benatar, Questlove set for Macy’s Parade AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015
By Kavita Kumar Minneapolis Star Tribune
Black Friday creep has finally hit a wall. Some big-box stores first started encroaching on Thanksgiving Day in 2010. Since then, more have joined the groundswell and every year inched forward their store opening times an hour or two earlier in order to keep up with their competitors. But this year, that progression has come to a standstill. O n T u e s d ay, R i c h field-based Best Buy Co. Inc. said it will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, the same time as it did last year. In doing so, it will be among the earliest of big-box stores to open that day, joined by
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Mariah Carey, Questlove from the Roots, the cast of “Sesame Street,” Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will be among the stars celebrating at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Cirque du Soleil, Trey Songz, Prince Royce, Jordin Sparks, Shawn Mendes
Balloons are back
The Parade’s signature giant character balloons have showcased the world’s most beloved cultural characters since the late 1920’s. Evolving from a simple paper sketch to giant wonders on Thanksgiving morning, the balloons are transformed by Macy’s “Balloonatics” into high flying art. This year, four new giant charac-
and Jennifer Nettles will also participate in the 89th annual parade on Nov. 26, Macy’s announced Monday. Train, Daughtry, Jake Owen, Andra Day, Andy Grammer and MercyMe will also be part of the lineup. The special will air at 8 a.m. on NBC’s “Today” show. ters will take center stage including: Angry Birds’ Red by Rovio Entertainment; the pre-historic and legendary DINO by Sinclair Oil; Ice Age’s Scrat and his Acorn by Twentieth Century Fox; and Ronald McDonald debuting in his fourth whimsical giant balloon. Returning characters include: Adventure Time with Finn & Jake, Diary of A Wimpy Kid, The Elf on the Shelf, Hello Kitty,
Toys ‘R’ Us. Then at 6 p.m., Target, Macy’s, and Kohl’s, among others, will swing open their doors, also at the same time they did last year. “It’s been somewhat of a surprise we haven’t seen more creep into Thanksgiving Day, and hopefully it will stay that way,” said Ken Perkins, president of firm Retail Metrics. “I thought retailers would continue to push the envelope and end up where Kmart is, which is open all day.” Retailers likely judged that opening earlier probably would not attract more shoppers. “When you push it earlier than 5 o’clock, you’re pushing it into dinnertime for most Americans and
the crowds are not going to be as robust,” he said. On top of that, with the growing importance of round-the-clock online shopping, retailers can still capture sales without their stores having to be physically open. While stores won’t open earlier this year, that hasn’t stopped them from of fering Black Friday deals earlier in the season. Best Buy, Target and Kohl’s are among those who offered early Black Friday deals in one or twoday sales this week. “Some have star ted Black Friday deals as early as Nov. 1,” said Marshal Cohen, a retail analyst with the NPD Group. “It’s on. In case you didn’t know it, the holidays have started.”
Other participants include Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, Rachel Platten and Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell. Broadway will be represented by “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Finding Neverland,” “The King & I,” “On Your Feet!” and “Something Rotten!” Spectators will get a peek at NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” How to Train Your Dragon’s Toothless, PADDINGTON, Pikachu, Pillsbury Doughboy, Skylanders Eruptor, Snoopy & Woodstock, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger and Thomas the Tank Engine. Returning balloonicles (a Macy’s Parade hybrid of cold-air balloon and vehicle) include the famed-spokesduck The Aflac Duck and the supercool KOOL-AID Man.
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Thanksgiving Extra
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Shop: Sears raising funds for Make-A-Wish From Page 1
Sears, 1300 18th Ave. NW, Suite H
Sears Hometown kicked off its first Thanksgiving shopping week at its new location at 1300 18th Ave. NW with Wish Wednesday yesterday, but the deals and a drive to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation are just beginning. Sears will open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving. “Wednesday and Thursday will probably be our two biggest days,” owner Cory Squier said. The store reopens from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday before returning to normal store hours the rest of the weekend. Wish Wednesday was held last year, but Squier and Sears are looking to expand the event. Austin’s Sears Hometown is one of about 1,200 stores in the country and most are working on the drive. While the main Hometown office set Austin’s goal at $400, it’s already raised more than $150 and Squier would like to get closer to $800. As for popular items, Sears typically has deals on appliances like washers and driers, along with deals on tool sets. Squier said they have some new tool sets out that he expects will be popular. “I think it will be a successful event, especially with the new location,” Squier said. Sears also had Veterans Day doorbusters and other sales throughout November, and various sales should continue throughout December. Customers who donate $5 to Make-A-Wish from Nov. 19-22 or December 10-13 will receive a $10 Award Card to be used toward a future purchase; valid Dec. 3-9 or Dec. 26-31, respectively. The store will also hold the A Very Merry Santa Sale later. Customers who donate $5 to Make-A-Wish will receive an extra 10 percent off everything storewide from December 17-24. The Make-A-Wish drive lasts through Dec. 31.
Runnings, 1400 18th Ave. NW
Runnings is again bucking the trend of earlier Thanksgiving openings. The farm and retail store won’t open Thursday, but it will open for Black Friday starting at 5 a.m. on Friday.
Shoppers wait in line to pay for items just outside of Younkers at the Oak Park Mall during a past holiday season. Herald file photo “It’s a family-run company and they’re big on us having some family holiday time,” manager Everett Hackensmith said. Still, Hackensmith said the company is looking for a strong Black Friday weekend with many deals. “The company as a whole is going after those three days a lot more than we have in the past,” he said. Hackensmith said the company will have a bigger ad coming out than in past years, with many deals and hot items, one being a toy helicopter. “Just hoping everybody stays in town and shops local in Austin,” he said. Runnings will be open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
promised many deals of 50 percent off or more, along with special floor clearance items and more sale items at www.roomsandrest.com. “This year has definitely been picking up,” he said. “We’re definitely excited.” Freeburg said they have many new staff members and recently remodeled, so he promised an exciting year of deals. Though this will be Austin’s first Black Friday since Target closed just down from Rooms and Rest, Freeburg doesn’t expect it to affect his business since it’s at a busy spot in the shopping center.
Radioshack, 1702 17th St NW
Radioshack is offering a mix of electronics and prepaid phones over the holiday weekend. JoAnn, Radioshack will be open 1700 17th St. NW JoAnn Fabrics got an ear- from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on ly start on holiday shopping thanksgiving and then from after opening from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. The store, however, will not be open on Thursday. It will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Manager Linda Pownell promised many specials, and she said customers like the early open days since they don’t like the rush of Black Friday. “Just very busy and just fun,” she said. Deal items will include fleece for blankets, flannel, irons and much more.
Rooms and Rest, 1700 17th St. NW
Furniture store Rooms and Rest won’t be open Thanksgiving, but it will open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Black Friday. Manager Jeff Freeburg
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Black Friday before returning to normal hours on Saturday. The store, which now parters with Sprint, will have several deals on Sprint, Virgin Mobil and Boost prepaid phones. Manager Dennis Parada also said they’ll have drones, helicopters, headphones and bluetooth speakers on sale. Parada admitted he didn’t know what to expect from this holiday season, and he wants people to keep the store in mind. While Radioshack closed many stores nationwide over the last year, Austin was one of more than 1,400 that stayed open and paired with Sprint. Radioshack is also near the former Target location, and Parada wants people to remember Radioshack and the new possibilities with its phone partnerships. “Hopefully people remember that and remember Radioshack for all the stuff
that they need,” Parada said. Since the change, Parada said the store also remodeled to better fit its prepaid phone sales. “It’s gone pretty well,” he said.
Walmart, 1000 18th Ave. NW
known as “Black Friday” has been encroaching on the holiday in recent years. But this year Walmart Stores is giving those who would rather shop on their couch in P.J.s more access to Black Friday sales. Most — about 96 percent — of deals offered the holiday will be offered both online — started at 2:01 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning — and in stores — starting at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. That’s up from 90 percent last year. The company will also be offering all the deals at one time, rather than spreading them out for limited times at different parts of the shopping day. “Customers today are bombarded with different messages and different offers,” said Steve Bratspies, chief merchandising officer of Walmart U.S., at a media event at its store in Secaucus, New Jersey, on Wednesday. “We’re moving to one event to make shopping easier.” The two-month November and December shopping period is a crucial time for retailers because it accounts on average for 20 percent of the retail industry’s annual sales. B e n t o nv i l l e, A rk a nsas-based Walmart offered a disappointing forecast in October, predicting revenue for the current fiscal year would be flat, down from its previous forecast for sales growth of 1 percent to 2 percent. And it said it expects profit to fall as much as 12 percent for next fiscal year as spending on e-commerce operations and higher wages squeeze the bottom line.
Walmart Stores says it is offering most of the same Black Friday “doorbuster” deals online and in stores for the first time and giving online shoppers an early jump on the sales. The world’s largest retailer is heading into the holiday season with a turnaround plan after being battered by the economy and tough competition. Walmart’s U.S. CEO Greg Foran is spearheading a major overhaul of the stores that includes basics like making sure stores are cleaner and well stocked. —The Associated Press The busy shopping day after Thanksgiving Day contributed to this report.
Thanksgiving Extra
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015
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Too soon? 5 reasons why many people secretly love rushing the holiday season Brandpoint Content
You probably rolled your eyes when your hometown’s holiday lights go up the day after Halloween, cringed when the mall decks its halls before Thanksgiving and scoffed at the neighbors who’ve already begun Christmas shopping. But secretly, you love the early arrival of the holiday season — and you’re not alone. One in three Americans begins shopping for holiday decor before Halloween, according to a new national survey. The survey of 1,000 people, conducted by Sentient Decision Science and commissioned by national discount retailer Big Lots, confirms what some people might hesitate to admit — many Americans don’t mind rushing the holidays, and they’re willing to start spending early to make the season as bright as possible. People shopping for holiday decor say they’ll spend an average of $189 on new decorations and materials. The majority will set a budget, and half of the budgeters anticipate they’ll overspend. Unsurprisingly, families with children plan to spend
the most on decorations ($248 on average) and are more likely to start shopping early. Inspired by the survey, Big Lots has dubbed Nov. 16-22 “National Decorate Your Home for the Holidays Week,” and offers these five reasons to begin decking the halls early this year: • Eighty-eight percent of surveyed Americans said they’ll decorate for the holidays, but with two-thirds of them waiting to shop, early buyers may find the best selection. As the holidays get
closer, even stores like Big Lots, which carries a wide selection of holiday decor items, will see their stocks dwindle, leaving late-shoppers with less choice. The decorations that top Americans’ to-buy list are tree ornaments (63 percent), indoor light strands (49 percent), candles and candle holders (47 percent), wreaths (45 percent) and outdoor light strings (45 percent). • Decorating early allows you to enjoy the festive spirit of the season longer. Plus,
you won’t have to stress about getting the decorations up in the last few days before the holiday, so you’ll have more time and energy to take care of last-minute gift shopping! • An early start means you can afford to take your time to achieve exactly the look you want. Two out of 10 holiday decorators say they “put a lot of time and money” into making their homes look great for the holidays — so great, in fact, that “it could be on the cover of a magazine,” according to the survey.
• If you’re among the eight in 10 people who plan to buy some new Christmas decorations this year, doing so early gives you plenty of time to ensure everything works, is in good shape and fits perfectly with your theme. • DIYers who start early will have more time in which to hand make unique decorations. More than a third of people 45 and older will make some of their own decorations this year, and 75 percent of Millennials (people 18-34) say they’ll do so.
Although it may seem like the end-of-year holiday season gets closer to Labor Day every year, most people, it seems, don’t mind all those early decorations as much as you might think. Americans who decorate (88 percent do) say they’re committed to it, with a third saying they “do a lot” and 12 percent admitting they “go overboard.” So go ahead and start decorating — chances are your house won’t be the only one in the neighborhood with a wreath on the door at Thanksgiving!
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015
Thanksgiving Extra
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD