The Holiday season is upon us and with it comes colorful lights, tasty treats, catchy songs and yes– lots of shopping. Retailers spend months scheming for catchy new ways to line customers up at their doors, and they’ve been more than successful. The Thanksgiving holiday weekend marks the beginning of the holiday spending season, and this year, American consumers opened up their pocket books in ways retailers have not seen since before the recession. The National Retail Federation stated that spending per shopper surged 9.1 percent over 2010 — the biggest increase since 2006 — to an average of almost $400 a customer. In all, 6.6 percent more shoppers visited stores on Thanksgiving weekend than in 2010. The Federation found that total spending, including online sales, reached an estimated $52.4 billion Thursday through Sunday.
On the eve of Black Friday, Shoppers lined up at midnight for promises of half priced iPads, video games and toys. Some deal seekers even risked life and limb for their half-priced finds. One incident in a California Walmart left several shoppers disillusioned as they were pepper sprayed by a woman who was worried she would miss out on the last discounted Xbox. Violent incidents also occurred in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, New York, Alabama and Connecticut, with most of the reported incidents happening at or near Walmart stores.
Our clearly retail-obsessed interpretation of the holiday season has left stores like Walmart with piles of cash, but what has it done to the true meaning of the holidays? In a perfect, morally sound world, the holidays would be a time of giving back and appreciating family, friends and community. However, it seems that our society has removed itself so far from these ideals that there is no turning back. Maybe though, there is a way to work around our retail obsessed views of the holidays in order to give back to the community and re-connect with the true meaning of the holiday season.
Several online sites and select retailers have embraced the idea of giving back while still acknowledging the fact that we live in a consumer culture. Essentially, they provide opportunities for you to shop and still give back at the same time!
So with the true meaning of the holiday spirit in mind, I have provided you all with a brief list of websites that might give you the opportunity to give a “Gift That Gives Back:”
http://greatergood.org/cause-children.html: This site includes a number of on-line stores that will donate a portion of the amount you pay for the items purchased to non-profit causes that work to alleviate poverty and hunger, promote peace, address cancer and other widespread health problems, foster literacy and provide education, preserve vital habitats in peril, and provide protection and care to vulnerable animals.
http://store.humanesociety.org/prod_detail_list/GiftsUnder50?r=ppcholiday2011&s_src=googlecpcgiftguide&cr=shopnowgiftguide&gclid=CLjOgbGZ2KwCFS4DQAodzS1Opw : Feel like helping a puppy? Who doesn’t…? Buy a gift for your own pet, or an animal themed gift for a family member or friend. Proceeds go to helping the Humane Society!
https://www.theveteranssite.com/store/royaltytotals.do?site=The_Veterans_Site&siteId=345: This site has everything from clothing and jewelry to home décor and car accessories. Each item you buy funds at least one meal for a veteran who is either homeless, or struggling to stay afloat — at no extra cost to you!
http://www.onehopewine.com/index.php?gclid=CJDBsLad2KwCFQyFQAodu1Jmrw: For all you wine lovers out there, this website allows you to buy wines from companies that give back HALF of their profits to charity.
http://www.giftsthatgive.com/: This website has deals from well-known brands such as Sferra and Lily Pulitzer. You choose one of the listed charities, then what you want to buy, and 20% of your purchase will go directly to the charity of your choice!
With just a few clicks of a button, you have the ability to complete your holiday shopping list, and help someone in need all at once. So go ahead, shop away!!