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Midnight Shopping – The New Normal

Midnight Shopping – The New Normal

Associated Press reporters out of Fredericksburg, Va. reported that, ” a month, just after midnight, the beeping checkout scanners at a Wal-Mart just off Interstate 95 come alive in a chorus of financial and at grocery stores across the country, the chimes come just after food stamps and other monthly government benefits drop into the accounts of shoppers who have rationed things like milk, ground beef and toilet paper and can finally stock up again.”

The report refers to those who are shopping just prior to the midnight hour when their food stamp rations will be deposited electronically onto debit cards for the next month. The entire scenario sounds much like the food rationing lines of decades past – only based on the high-tech, electronic system of the 21st century. Problem is, hunger in 2010 is the same as hunger in the 1900’s.

Some shoppers have children in tow and others leave them sleeping at home – alone – in this midnight hour. Empty stomachs await midnight treats. Sounds like Christmas. But it’s not Christmas at all. In fact, it is far from a holiday.

One father stated to the reporter that, “The kids are sleeping, so we go do what we’ve gotta do. Money is tight,” And they needed the food stamps because, “his job as a restaurant server doesn’t quite cover expenses for their five children.” “We try to get here between 10:30 and 11 because we know we’ve got a lot of stuff to get. That way by 12 o’clock we’re at the line cashing out and done,” he said.

This is not a third world country. This is happening now in the United States. The jobless rate is stuck at 9.6%, one and two parent households (41 million total) are shopping with food stamps at midnight on the last day of the month, children are going to bed hungry, 1 in 7 Americans are now living in poverty, and Richard Hastings, macro and consumer strategist with Global Hunter Securities. “This is going to be like this for many years to come.” And further stated that this is “the new normal”.

And yet, with all of this doom and gloom, people still refuse to look for alternative sources of income. These same people continue to turn up their noses at home based business opportunities that are working to assist Americans by supplementing their household income. I even personally spoke to someone who would not consider a home business because it would interfere with their unemployment benefits; even though the potential was clearly there for her to exceed what the benefits were paying. Does this mean that there simply is no hope for the majority, because they refuse to recognize there has been a paradigm shift in this country. It is, in fact, the very same shift that has taken people out of food lines and ‘shifted’ them to electronic debit cards. E-commerce is not the future – it is the ‘now’. And it will be the strong, those with a vision and the creative who will survive this storm. And for those who continue to dismiss the possibilities, I wonder; don’t they have a responsibility to show their children a new and different way – as well as feeding them in the midnight hour? What could they learn by watching their parent(s) turn their circumstances around by turning themselves around?…

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Nike Shoes – An Historical Landmark in the Sporting World

Nike Shoes – An Historical Landmark in the Sporting World

Ask any kid today; he or she would say “Nike” if you tell them “shoes.” Nike has become a synonym itself for the word shoes. No wonder it did, for it has a long success behind it. The name of the company is fully justified and can never be called a misnomer for in Greek Nike is the goddess of victory. The company has its headquarters today in the Portland metropolitan area and has about a revenue excess of about $20billion (USD) today.

In 1967, Nike was the first product that was sold by the company (then called by its founders Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight as Blue Ribbon Sports Inc) and it was a soccer cleat. The famous waffle soles and air soles were created by the Nike Company and was commercialised by them for the first time in the world in 1972 and 1979 respectively and the company earned a huge profit for the shoes made the athletes happier. This gave the company the idea to go public in 1980.

In 1984, the company’s prestigious Air Jordans were created after an agreement that was signed by the then Super Start of NBA, Michael Jordan. That was the first time ever, a range of shoes was created for basketball alone or rather for Michael Jordan alone. Later this brand swept the market clean of other shoes. Apart from the Jordans, the company also released another elite class of sport shoes called Air Force 1 later.

From 1988 to 1996, many developments pushed the company higher. A store called Nike Town was established in Oregon (presently the Head Quarters) in 1990, just after the famous tagline “Just Do it” was created in 1988. Now, it is a large enterprise that manufactures all types of sports apparel after many acquisitions and expansions and is the favourite brand for millions.…

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Finding Bed Linen to Match Your Bedroom Decor by Shopping Online

Finding Bed Linen to Match Your Bedroom Decor by Shopping Online

Buying new bed linen is not something you would necessarily make a special shopping trip for. The solution is to buy it online through one of the terrific online shopping malls, which have many stores selling home furnishings including for the bedroom. This saves having to go out when quite frankly you may have better things to do with your time.

Amongst the stores featured here there are some well known and established names from shopping malls across the UK. There are also perhaps other less well known names to conjure with, but with just as good a choice of bed linen as the big department stores. The bottom line is the shopper can browse around each store to find what suits them best, without having to do the leg work required in a large shopping centre.

Some of these stores can offer customers eco-friendly furnishings for the bedroom, including an organic range of cotton bed linen. These shops have linen to cover all sizes of beds whether it is a single or a king-sized as well as matching pillow covers. It is important that customers have lots of choice and hopefully that is what they get online.

Sometimes people like to really add a lot of colour to the bedroom and some online stores can certainly provide that. They have bed linen with many bright colours as well as some rather more conservative styles. The beauty of shopping online is that you can quickly see whether a colour is going to match your current decor, making it less likely that you will need to send something back to the shop.…

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How to Shop For Your Nike NFL Jersey

How to Shop For Your Nike NFL Jersey

Owning a Nike NFL Jersey is a given if you are a proclaimed fan of football. There is no better symbol of support than putting on a jersey similar to the one your favorite player wears, whether watching a game at the stadium, at a pub or at home. Most athletes appreciate this gesture and it helps them identify their fans from the crowd. Buying an NFL jersey is quite a task; you do not want to end up with just any jersey, you want to end up with the best jersey.

The fit is one of the most important aspects to note when buying football jerseys, or any other apparel for that matter. There is an option to order a custom jersey with a custom fit, but it will likely cost more. That said; it is important to know your jersey size. It might be a given, but jerseys look best when they are hanging loosely. Knowing your size also makes things easier when shopping online. It is not always easy to get it right the first time, but the good news is that Nike NFL Jerseys are available in pre-defined sizes. All body sizes are covered to ensure that no fan every football fan gets a jersey regardless of their frame. Sizing charts are provided to make the process easier.

Know your budget. Nike insists on quality and most of their jerseys come at a considerably high price. Not to say that the jerseys are exorbitantly priced, this would be one of the cases where the price reflects the quality. Usually, you can get a good jersey for under $100 but prices vary greatly from store to store. Additionally, you might have to decide whether quality is more important to you than price. Premium Nike NFL Jerseys are more expensive, and the elite variety tops the price list. At the end of the day, your drive for getting a football jersey is what will drive your decision.

Know your favorite players. With your best player in mind, it becomes a little bit easier to pick the right jersey. This is particularly important if you opt for a custom jersey. Custom jerseys are undeniably costlier, but the appeal of having a unique jersey often outweighs the price.

Do your shopping online. Shopping online offers convenience and it is more time effective. On the flip side, going from store to store in search of the perfect jersey has an unbeatable appeal. At the end of the day it all comes down to how much time you have on your hands and whether you are the kind of guy who wants to go shopping for a jersey

After getting the perfect jersey, there is simply no better way to break it in than by attending your favorite team’s game wearing the jersey. An ordinary NFL jersey will not cut it, but a Nike NFL jersey will get you in the right state of mind for the start of the next football season.…

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Shopping For Jewelry – Then and Now

Shopping For Jewelry – Then and Now

Let’s face it, the way we shop for almost everything in this world has changed in the past 10 years. The way we shop for Jewelry has changed drastically as well. Not so long ago it was almost unheard of to buy a piece of jewelry without first seeing it, holding it, and comparing pieces in person. I remember the time when I actually made a whole day of shopping for jewelry. It wasn’t uncommon for me to spend up to 6 hours travelling around to various jewelers to compare prices, quality, and of course reputation.

That was then and this is now, seemingly out of nowhere the online jewelry revolution took over! I am not going to sit here and say that the offline jewelry shopping practitioners are gone completely, but let’s face it – going online can quite often be easier AND more affordable!

It is now quite possible to do ALL of your jewelry shopping from the comfort of your own home. That’s right, as many of you likely already know shopping for jewelry online can be quite an enlightening and time saving experience.

I am here to give you some guidance as to how to evaluate the jewelry you find online and of course how to evaluate the person who is selling it in this virtual fashion. The first question that always comes to mind is: “How can I trust the websites who sell jewelry? Are they reputable? Safe and Secure?” Ah yes, these are quite important and I will address them all briefly in this article.

First comes the “Trust Factor” for shopping for jewelry online. Make sure to see if they look like a legitimate business. Do they display the phone number of their business clearly? This is often and indication that you can trust the website. Make sure to call the number and double check that it appears to be a legitimate business. Next comes the “Reputation Factor”. I recommend typing into Google the name of the business. See if any negative reviews come up. If not, I would feel safe to continue shopping on this site.

Finally there is the all important security factor. Is this site secure? You will likely be entering your credit card information on this site, so its important to verify that is it indeed a secure website! The easiest way to tell is to look at the websites address bar. If this site has https:// before the websites domain name, then it is often secured by an SSL certificate. In plain English, this means that all transactions on this site are encrypted and that your information will not be easily compromised.

As you can see shopping for Jewelry online can save you a lot of time, effort, and money! The fact that the online jewelry stores usually don’t have physical storefronts allow them to pass the rent and maintenance savings on to you! So make sure to follow the guidelines above and have a great time shopping online for jewelry!…

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Top 3 Places To Experience Denver Shopping

Top 3 Places To Experience Denver Shopping

Denver, Colorado is one of the largest cities between the Mississippi River and Las Vegas. It has grown from a small cowtown community based on petroleum and ranching into a thriving leading edge multi-industry based economy with a growing influence in the arts and culture. These changes have influenced the shopping experience in Denver and has given rise to a number of unique areas to have an enjoyable shopping experience. In this article 3 well known shopping areas are discussed.

1. Cherry Creek Shopping Area

Cherry Creek, located east of Downtown Denver, is comprised of over 4 square blocks of unique clothing boutiques for men and women alike, salons and spas, higher end restaurants, bars, a Whole Foods grocery and other specialty shops. Many of the art galleries here carry art from local artists. The Cherry Creek neighborhood also boast a large indoor Mall with more of your typical higher end department stores like Nordstroms. For the unique experience, shop in the outdoor shopping area. Paid street parking is available and is paid for by coin or credit card ticket machines. Free parking is available in the mall parking garage for those that want to shop in the mall.

2. 16th Street Mall

The 16th Street Mall is located in the heart of Downtown Denver. It as a mile long outdoor foot traffic only mall that is lined with mostly restaurants and bars with a few drug stores, entertainment venues and other tourist oriented shops. For clothes shopping, a visitor can check out the Pavilions Mall that boasts some unique boutiques along with more restaurants and a movie theater. Most of the nightlife along the 16th street mall occurs in the lower part of the mall. This section of the city has been built up since the mid 90’s and has become a hotbed of bars, restaurants and coffee houses. The original mall has even been extended to include more of the LoDo area. Visitors can either walk the length of the mall or hop on any of the free shuttles that run up and down the mall at regular intervals.

3. Stapleton

Stapleton is so named because this area is where the old Stapleton Airport used to be. Stapleton is a planned community of a mix of businesses and residences. The businesses include restaurants, some unique shops, bars and coffee houses, and even a roller derby arena. This shopping area is geared towards supporting the Stapleton residents however, there is good shopping to be had for anyone who ventures into the area. Stapleton is a long term development and is still being built out, so it is a place to return to on occasion to see what new shopping experiences are available.

While the Stapleton shopping area, Cherry Creek and the 16th Street Mall aren’t the only places to shop in the Denver Metro area, these places give a visitor to Denver an all around experience of what Denver shopping can offer. Many of the shopping areas have some offerings that are uniquely Denver. Denver shopping malls are numerous, however as usual, much of the mall experience is fairly typical and not unique to this Rocky Mountain city. Entertainment can also be a uniquely regional experience. Attending a movie in one of the historical Denver movie theaters can be a rewarding outing as well.…

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The Top Shopping Malls in Orlando

The Top Shopping Malls in Orlando

If shopping is your passion, then Orlando could be the ideal vacation for you. You’ll find big names and big discounts at Orlando’s shopping malls.

Here’s our guide to the Top Shopping Malls in Orlando

The Mall at Millenia

The Mall at Millenia is an amazing shopping experience, and popular with locals and visitors from all over the world. The Mall at Millenia is distinctive shopping mall with dramatic architecture, and the facilities on offer make this shopping mall an experience like no other. As well as the big name shops you’ll find a Post Office, valet parking, currency exchange and a concierge service. There are wheelchairs and strollers available for shoppers to enjoy all 150 stores. Shops include Abercrombie & Fitch, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Chanel and Gucci.

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Another well loved shopping mall with stores including 7 For All Mankind, Banana Republic, DKNY, Ted Baker and Victoria’s Secret. Grab a bite to eat at Subway, Starbucks or Japan Café Grill. This shopping mall also offers its visitors foreign exchange facilities, wheelchairs and stroller rental.

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Shopping malls are located at Vineland Avenue as well as International Drive.

Florida Mall

There’s something for everyone at central Florida’s largest mall with 1.9 million square feet of shopping. But this is far more than shopping. Florida Mall is an experience you’ll never forget and an amazing day out with the family. This is a must do for anyone visiting Orlando. Shops include JCPenney, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hollister and Pottery Barn. As well as this, Florida Mall offers a choice of 30 restaurants and cafes. There is also a soft play area, a gift wrapping section and valet parking

Festival Bay

Much more than shopping. Located at International Drive, Festival Bay Mall offers Vans Skatepark, Monkey Joe’s fun-filled inflatable play centre, Loose Ends Hair Salon and glow in the dark mini golf at Putting Edge Fun Center. Hardcore shoppers need not worry! As well as all of this you can enjoy Nine West, Universal Orlando Store, Perfume Studio and Ron Jon Surf Shop. There are some fantastic restaurant options to, such as options at Cricketers Arms English Pub, Bergamo’s Italian Restaurant and Fuddruckers. To complete the experience, there is also a movie theatre with all the latest films to enjoy.

So, you’ll see, if shopping is your thing then Orlando is the place to go. And even if it’s not, there’s a lot more than just shops to keep you entertained.…