Topic: Shopping

Shopping Under the Influence: A Guide

Shutterstock/Christian Mueller

Stoical types will tell you that the only way to SUI well is to not do it at all, but there are some tips that can help you do it better. Because chances are, you are going to be exposed to a drink and a store, or a drink and your computer and an Internet connection, at some point in the very near future. You might as well be prepared, or as prepared as possible. Follow these rules.

By Rebecca Greenfield

Mar 8, 2013

The Department Store Is Watching You

It's not quite that scene at the Gap in Minority Report, but the next time you leave your iPhone's WiFi signal on in public, expect a digital trail: real-world stores are tracking your every move.

Comments | 4,215 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Feb 11, 2013

Raise Your Hand if You Think Buying Stuff with Hashtags Is a Good Idea

Twitter and American Express announced a curious new partnership on Monday: a program that lets you buy things like jewelry and electronics by tweeting out a specific hashtag.

Comments | 862 Views

By David Wagner

Dec 21, 2012

Today in Research

Understanding the Holidays, Through Science

Discovered: the new secret of mistletoe; it's actually the lack of thought that counts; why holiday shoppers are so rude; miracle at Christmas market.

Comments | 1,704 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Dec 19, 2012

The Future of Shopping Is the Past

Online retailers that for years have championed e-commerce over brick-and-mortar are now opting to build their stores as well. But what does that mean for actual last-minute holiday shopping?

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Jen Doll

Dec 11, 2012

The Art (and Science!) of Self-Gifting

Many of us are cutting to the chase and simply buying gifts for ourselves this season, according to the market research. 'Tis the season for getting yourself a little something, apparently.

Comments | 929 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Nov 28, 2012

The Heaviest Thing Amazon Will Ship for Free Weighs Nearly a Ton

You know how Amazon has that "Super Saver" option that promises free shipping on pretty much anything you buy if you're willing to wait, like, six weeks for it to arrive? They're not kidding. 

Comments | 50,866 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Nov 28, 2012

The Cyber Monday Record Is More About Online Shopping Than Fake Holidays

This Monday broke the single-day record for American online shopping, according to comScore. But it's still to soon to tell if that's because we're shopping more in general, or just when the sales (!) are most pronounced.

Comments | 345 Views

By Jen Doll

Nov 26, 2012

Some Alternatives to Cyber Monday

If you have a case of the Cyber Mondays, you're probably asking yourself, "How do we stop the Cyber Train?" It is simple. Refuse to partake! Next week, try these instead.

Comments | 862 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Nov 26, 2012

Is This the End of Cyber Monday, or Just the Real Beginning?

Heading into what could be third straight year of record-setting sales — and fever-pitched hyperbole — Cyber Monday is still fighting off the fake-holiday accusations. Has it become the Valentine's Day of Christmas? We look at the numbers.

Comments | 1,161 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Nov 26, 2012

Thanksgiving Shoppers Get Holiday Season Off to a Record Start

Early indications suggest that this holiday shopping season could be the best we've seen in years, as more people spent money this holiday weekend and they spent more of it. 

Comments | 636 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Nov 8, 2012

Wal-Mart's Black Friday Moves Deeper Into Thanksgiving

Wal-Mart unveiled its first plans for the holiday shopping season, which includes moving their Black Friday shopping deals earlier into Thanksgiving Thursday then they've ever been before.

Comments | 7,844 Views

By Jen Doll

Sep 6, 2012

The Quest for Gender Equality Stops and Shops

You might say, haven't there always been men's departments? Do not underestimate the power of the new gender-based selling. As Eric Wilson writes in the New York Times, "it would seem that the fight for gender equality has finally come to the place where one might least expect it."

Comments | 7,402 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Aug 29, 2012

The Uncertain Retail Power of Pinterest

Pinterest's promise lies in its apparently unique connection to online shopping, but so far the numbers don't conclusively prove that the social network drives incredible sales. 

Comments | 663 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Aug 10, 2012

Trimming the Times

Crime in Syria, Reading in New York, and 'Into the Woods'

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 422 Views

By Jen Doll

Jul 26, 2012

The Rise of the Grocery Store 'Man Aisle,' Just for Man Things

Since shopping is hard for men, and men only buy a certain array of manly things, an Upper West Side grocery store has launched what the New York Post is calling "the city's first 'man aisle.'"

Comments | 9,308 Views

By Jen Doll

Jul 19, 2012

Artisanal Water: It's What You Sell When People Will Buy Anything

In an especially Emperor's New Clothes sort of twist, a new store in Manhattan's East Village is selling New York City tap water that they filter via a special technique back to discriminating water consumers.

Comments | 3,968 Views

By Jen Doll

Jul 18, 2012

The Great Tabloid Shoe Split: All's Fair in Divorce and Footwear

You know a story is a perfect tabloid story when you get not only an "exclusive" New York Post news story about it but also a dedicated rant from Andrea Peyser on the topic. Today, we get both, about a woman and her shoes.

Comments | 619 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Apr 3, 2012

Today in Green Research

The Cost of Buying Less; Fukushima Didn't Wreck the Ocean

Discovered in green: Buying less stuff won't make everything all better, what Fukushima did to the ocean and its fish, fertilizers are doing nasty things to our air and sparrows have changed their tune for noisy cities. 

Comments | 517 Views

By Jen Doll

Mar 28, 2012

The Park Slope Food Coop Drama Is Over (for Now)

After a dramatic lead-up that included passionate campaigns and weeks of canvassing on both sides from Coop members and local politicians, the members of the Park Slope Food Coop voted down the opportunity to vote on whether or not Israeli products should be banned from the store.

Comments | 899 Views

By Jen Doll

Mar 27, 2012

It's Israeli Boycott 'Primary Night' at the Park Slope Coop

The Park Slope Food Coop is gearing up for a meeting tonight that may be the most talked-about Park Slope Food Coop meeting in history. But do you know what is at stake? The topic is boycotting products from Israel, but there is more: vegan marshmallows! shift credits! parliamentary procedure! We put together a preview.  

Comments | 1,397 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Dec 26, 2011

Today Is the Day to Return All the Stuff You Shoplifted This Holiday Season

We survived Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Super Saturday, now it's time for "Gift Receipt Monday," the day when people take back all the stuff bought on those other days to get the Christmas gifts they really wanted. 

Comments | 1,695 Views

By Ted Mann

Dec 24, 2011

Americans of Mixed-Up Priorities Fighting over Air Jordans

The new Nike Air Jordan is a revival of a previously popular model. It is causing shoppers around the country to lose their minds.

Comments | 6,322 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Dec 23, 2011

Stat of the Day

Americans Shoplifted $1.8 Billion Worth of Stuff This Christmas

Hope you have a Merry Christmas, America, because you've been extremely naughty at the mall this year.

Comments | 25,934 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Dec 23, 2011

Retailers Are Desperate for Last Minute Shoppers

With only two shopping days left, retailers have entered desperation mode, doing anything to get rid of merchandise before December 25. 

Comments | 1,944 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Dec 19, 2011

Occupy Amazon Is a Tough Movement to Get Behind

In response to Amazon's price check application, retailers have responded, creating an "Occupy Amazon" movement that unfortunately for them, doesn't help their cause.

Comments | 2,580 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Dec 5, 2011

We Still Shop at the Mall for a Bunch of Reasons

With record breaking Cyber Week numbers and the reported death of malls, it looks like Internet shopping is moving ever-closer to replacing the physical experience of going to stores. But brick-and-mortar stores still have some reasons to exist.

Comments | 6,836 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Nov 29, 2011

The Robot Invasion (of the Mall) Has Begun

In airports, people are spending more and more money at vending machines, giving retailers a great reason to come up with creative new ideas to sell stuff in a human-free or at least more automated environment.

Comments | 933 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Nov 23, 2011

Your Guide to Black Friday Scams

Everybody's getting excited about all the sweet deals coming up on the biggest shopping day of the year, but don't get too excited — you might get ripped off. 

Comments | 6,207 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Nov 22, 2011

Stop Putting Words on Girls Clothing

Lately, clothing stores haven't had enough sense to discern the line between popular slogan and inappropriate saying, so we're suggesting they call the whole thing off.

Comments | 796 Views

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