Burnsville Center offers suggestions to avoid the Holiday shopping rush
Burnsville, MN (December 4, 2013) – The 2013 holiday shopping season is set to be the shortest on record. With just 20 shopping days left before Christmas, six fewer than last year, consumers will undoubtedly be seeking easy and efficient ways to still get their shopping done. In order to make the most of your shopping trips, follow these simple tips.
Have a shopping list. Taking a few minutes to actually write out what you need and who you’re shopping for can save both stress and over-spending. It will also save you time, especially if you’ve written down information such as sizes and color preferences. Don’t forget to list the people who will receive holiday tips such as the babysitter, dog groomer, mail and newspaper carriers or hair stylist. This will also help you manage your holiday budget. But you may also want to have a few “surprise” gifts that are generic in case you forget anyone or someone drops by with a gift for you during the holidays.
Be comfortable. Wear comfortable shoes to keep your feet happy during your shopping trip. If possible, leave your bulky winter coat in the car.
Shop during the week rather than on the weekend. Generally, fewer people shop during the week as compared to the weekend. Also, malls are places where people socialize as well as shop. With school in session during the week, you’ll find fewer families in the mall at that time.
Shop early in the day rather than later in the day or evening. Remember the saying, “The early bird catches the worm.” The same applies to shopping. In the mornings there are generally fewer people out. That means fewer crowds, faster service and time to browse a bit more when making gift selections.
Shop with somebody. This is a good idea unless the person you’re shopping with is the person you’re shopping for! Nevertheless, time goes by faster when you’re shopping with someone. Plus, you have somebody to talk to, to share gift ideas with and to help make color and size decisions.
Make multiple shopping trips rather than an all-day shopping marathon. This will require a bit more planning, but can help preserve your strength, stamina and sanity in the long run. There are numerous methods to use in following this suggestion such as shopping for all the members of a particular family or purchasing children’s presents on one trip and adult’s presents on another trip.
Map out your shopping trip. When planning a trip, you wouldn’t dream of driving off without having looked up directions on your phone or the internet. Why should shopping be any different? If you know what you want to purchase and where you can find it, half your battle is won. Check the mall web page BurnsvilleCenter.com to see where the store is located within the mall. If you're in the mall, check the backlit directory. This will enable you to determine where you need to go and in what order to shop as you check off items from your shopping list.
Don’t forget the gift receipt and gift wrapping. In order to ensure that the recipient can return or exchange an item, make sure the sales associate includes a gift receipt with your purchase.
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance or directions. In order to make room for holiday and seasonal merchandise, stores sometimes have to reconfigure departments or sections. This can be confusing to a customer who regularly shops that store. As a result, a great deal of time can be spent “searching” for merchandise and the searching can lead to frustration. Why not simply ask a sales associate for assistance?
One final suggestion regarding shopping – at any time – but particularly during the holidays, is to keep safety in mind at all times. Know where you place your credit card or checkbook after a purchase. Don’t keep large amounts of cash in your wallet or purse. Take in just want you need to spend and come back later. When getting money from an ATM, don’t let people crowd you too closely. When taking purchases to your car, lock them out of sight in the trunk rather than exposed in the back seat. Finally, let somebody at home know you’re going to be shopping, your destination, route and estimated time of return.
Another bonus that Burnsville Center offers during the holiday season is extended mall hours. For your convenience Burnsville Center offers extended shopping hours beginning December 6 through Christmas Eve. Visit the mall website at BurnsvilleCenter.com for daily extended hours.
About Burnsville Center
Burnsville Center is 1.1 million square-foot super regional shopping center located in Burnsville, MN, at the point where I-35 splits to I-35E and I-35W at County Road 42. The mall houses 150 specialty stores including aerie, Aéropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Charlotte Russe, dELia*s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gymboree, Hollister Co., Victoria’s Secret and Zumiez, along with a 11-restaurant food court and 5 family sit-down restaurants.
Persons interested in learning more about leasing space at Burnsville Center should contact Eric Griffith at CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., CBL Center- Suite 500, 2030 Hamilton Place Boulevard, Chattanooga, TN 37421-6000, or by telephone at 423.553.8727.
Burnsville Center is owned and managed by CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. has a regional office in Boston (Waltham), MA. The shares of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CBL.” The company can be found online at CBLProperties.com
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