Shopping

From gift cards to gift receipts, it was a busy day at Westfarms.

The death of the American mall has been greatly exaggerated…depending on who you ask. The visuals at the Enfield Square Mall have been stark for some time. One day before Christmas, empty parking lots and anchor stores were seen. This has not been a surprise for lifelong Enfield resident Carolyn Renius “I grew up here my whole life and...

After this season’s peak shopping days, retailers expect their return rate to be 17% higher, on average, than usual.

As the holidays approach, many people are still looking for last-minute gift options. But with the online shopping arrival window closing, some gifts might not come until after the holidays.

The discount retailer will begin “going out of business” sales, or “GOB” sales, at its 963 remaining stores ahead of the closures.

From creative toys that inspire imagination to useful gear that makes life a little easier, we’ve rounded up the best holiday gift ideas for kids of all ages.

Mall owners and retailers are trying to capitalize as teens and twenty-somethings show about as much interest in shopping in person as baby boomers do.

Weighted blankets are a popular choice to warm up in cold weather, but research on their effectiveness is limited. Such blankets come with extra heft in the form of glass beads, pellets or cotton. They’re also more expensive than regular blankets. Scientists think the added pressure could calm the brain’s fight-or-flight response or signal the brain to produce what’s called...

Looking for the perfect gift that won’t add to the clutter? From adventure-packed activities to personalized moments, these gifts prioritize creating memories over accumulating material things.

As exciting as Cyber Monday deals may be, remember not to cash out when you check out. Consumer stress is on the rise and you don’t want to make it worse by falling into a buy-now, pay-later disaster, according to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people’s regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation — has become the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it.

Ultra low-cost online retailers Temu and Shein are giving Western retailers a run for their money this holiday shopping season.

While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded...

By measuring purchases by how much you will use them, you can make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

It’s tempting to hibernate after loading up on an indulgent Thanksgiving feast, but you’ve got places to go and deals to scoop up on Black Friday.

Consumers are hardwired to think more of short-term gratification than long-term goals.

More shoppers are using ‘buy now, pay later’ plans heading into Black Friday and the holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. Experts say the short-term loans can lead consumers to overextend themselves and warn that those...

The holiday shopping season is in full swing. Experts say Black Friday sales are no longer only offered on the Friday after Thanksgiving – deals can be found starting right after Halloween.

Signs for Black Friday sales are on full display ready to attract shoppers at WestFarms Mall. “Well, we usually walk the mall but while we are here, we are getting all the good sales that are going on and Christmas shopping,” Doreen Piscitelli, of Newington, said.  WestFarms spokesperson Amanda Sirica said what used to be traditionally a one-day sale...

Here’s a list of what stores will be open and closed on Nov. 28, 2024.