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Hug an independent record store on Record Store Day

Allison Ross — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:13:05 +0000

Debbie Ross of Music Movies and More.

Chris Anchors of Palm Beach Gardens stops by the Music, Movies and More store about three times a week.

He loves flipping through CDs and vinyl records, checking out the artwork, discovering new bands. He likes chatting with other music lovers who stop by the shop on Forest Hill Boulevard in West Palm Beach.

The store’s owner, Debbie Ross, chats with him and is quick to play songs from different underground bands for any customer who’s interested.

"I’ve been going to her store since age 16," said Anchors, 25. "She’s introduced me to so much music."

It’s this love of independent music stores that Record Store Day is intended to foster and celebrate. The third annual event, happening Saturday, has quickly grown, driving spikes in traffic to about 1,400 participating independent record stores worldwide.

According to organizers, total sales at independent music stores jumped 21 percent on Record Store Day last year.

Backing from bands and record labels has increased Record Store Day’s profile. This year, labels are releasing more than 150 items for the event from musical acts large and small.

Among the high-profile releases: John Lennon, Elvis Presley, The Doors, the Flaming Lips, Flogging Molly, the Rolling Stones, Wilco and the Beastie Boys.

The Music, Movies and More store is participating for the first time this year, Ross said. She’s hoping the event will bring in some sales and get people talking about cool music and independent music stores.

South Florida band The Republik will appear at her store at 10 a.m. Saturday as part of her celebration.

"I’ve had calls from some hard-core fans who asked if they could sleep on the sidewalk the night before," Ross said. "The last year and a half has been tough for everyone. I started questioning if people were losing interest in what I had to sell, but I really don’t think that’s it."

In an age of iTunes and digital downloads, independent record stores like Ross’s have become few and far between.

Yet these retailers serve a passionate niche of music lovers of all ages who still like to rifle through stacks of CDs and vinyls to find musical gems.

In fact, there has been a resurgence in sales of vinyl, as some music lovers eschew digital music in favor of what they say is the more authentic sound of records.

"There’s something different about vinyl," said Andrew Watt of Palm Beach Gardens. "It’s less mechanical and produced-sounding than the stuff you get on iTunes. There’s more of an intimate connection with the music. You feel like you’re there, almost."

According to Nielsen Soundscan, about 2.5 million LP/vinyl records were sold in 2009, an increase of 33 percent from 2008 and a huge jump from sales in 2006 of about 858,000 records.

But independent record stores say they’re struggling to survive.

"Independent record stores, like all small American businesses are very important to their local communities," said Eric Levin, one of the organizers of the Alliance of Independent Media Stores. He pointed out that more of the money spent at independent stores stays local compared to money spent at a national chain or online.

Levin, who owns Criminal Records in Atlanta, said independent music stores allow new and small bands to get discovered.

"Stores like mine are where the seeds are planted," he said.

"If I go out of business tomorrow, there won’t really be anyone left in my area to keep offering the music I have," Ross said. "I couldn’t start a business like this now."

She said she hopes "to keep hanging in there, but we’ll see."

She added, "As a community, you just can’t let independent stores like this go by."

Record Store Day

Stores throughout the country are participating. In Palm Beach County, though, the only participating retailer is Music, Movies and More:

When: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today

Where: 2640 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach

What: Special event celebrating independent record stores. A wide variety of special edition albums will be sold. South Florida band The Republik will play from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Discounts available on certain items in the store.

For more information: call 561-969-0002; or for information about Record Store Day, go to www.recordstoreday.com.

Gift cards down in favor of discounts

Allison Ross — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:12:10 +0000

Do you have a gift card on your holiday wish list? So do many people. The National Retail Federation says that it still tops the list of presents that gift recipients are asking for this holiday season.

But just because you want a gift card to your favorite clothing store or restaurant doesn’t mean you will get it.

According to a survey by the NRF, shoppers are expected to again pull back on buying gift cards this year in favor of getting more for their buck with discounted merchandise.

• The average person is expected to spend $139.91 on gift cards this holiday season, compared with $147.33 last year.

• Total spending on gift cards is expected to reach $23.63 billion.

• The problem with gift cards is that, unlike other merchandise this holiday season, they won’t be going on sale.

However, some retailers are offering other incentives on gift cards, including providing a wider range of gift card prices.

For instance, Simon Property Group — which operates the Boynton Beach Mall and Town Center at Boca Raton — announced last week that it is offering a new gift card that can be purchased in any denomination between $20 and $500 — not just the usual $25, $50 or $100.

Indeed, according to the NRF, gift recipients can expect cards with lower monetary values this year.

• The average value per card this year will be $39.80, compared with $40.54 in 2008.
Says the NRF news release:

• Department store gift cards will be the most popular, with 38.4 percent of gift-givers planning to give at least one card from a department store.

Other popular gift cards according to the NRF:
• restaurants (33.4%)
• bookstores (24.4%)
• electronics stores (18.8%)
• discount stores (16.3%) were also among shoppers’ favorites.

The ultimate shoppers’ guide to Black Friday

Allison Ross — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:48:08 +0000

THE GAME PLAN: For Debbie Donnelly-McLay (left) and Marcia Pinto, the day’s plan is created based on the importance of items, when stores open and the location of each store. In the Boynton Beach Mall, they split up so they can get more things. (BRUCE R BENNETT/Staff Photgrapher)

Study up, grab a partner and make sure you have some caffeine

When she was 15 years old, Debbie Donnelly-McLay spent a year in Brazil, learning about the culture as part of an exchange program through her local Rotary club.

Seven years ago, when her Brazilian host mother, Marcia Pinto, came to visit her in the United States, Donnelly-McLay decided to return the favor by giving her “adopted mother” an all-American cultural experience: Black Friday shopping.

“She’d, of course, never seen anything like it,” the Boynton Beach resident said with a laugh. “I had actually never done it before either, but it goes hand-in-hand with Thanksgiving as an American tradition.”

Pinto rolls her eyes and shakes her head when asked about Black Friday. She complains about having to get up early and having to deal with the rush and craziness of other shoppers. She jokes about how Donnelly-McLay drags her along against her will.

“The first year, when the alarm went off, I said, ‘No, forget it,’” Pinto says. But as she keeps talking, her eyes light up as she discusses snagging deals or finding the last of a much-coveted item. She proudly displays a Gucci bag that she bought for $4.

And so the one-time cultural exchange has become a tradition for the two women.
Their day begins around 3 a.m. and goes until about 1 p.m. And they’ve come up with a routine that works for them.

Preparing for the big day:
The day before, they buy two newspapers and spread the ads across the floor. They circle the most important items that they want and make their shopping list. They make sandwiches from leftover Thanksgiving food that they’ll take to keep nourished during the marathon shopping day. The next morning, they get up about 3 and get coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, then hit the stores.

The game plan:
The day’s plan is created based on the importance of items, when stores open and the location of each store. In the Boynton Beach Mall, they split up so they can get more things.
Rules of the day:

Skip must-have items that other shoppers will be rushing for and go for more things on the list. Don’t spend a lot of time trying to snag one thing. Leave the kids at home with Donnelly-McLay’s mother. Wear comfortable tennis shoes so your feet don’t get tired before the shopping’s over.

Places they have to hit:
The Boynton Beach Mall, Target, Walmart

The best part of Black Friday:
The adrenaline rush, coming home to see what you were able to get. The two of them finish about 70 percent of their holiday shopping during this day.

How the economy affects their Black Friday shopping:
Donnelly-McLay says she will be buying for fewer of her extended relatives this year, but Pinto says her list of about 56 people will stay intact and that she’ll spend about the same as in previous years. “I have to buy,” Pinto says. “How can you say no to grandkids?”

Bonnie Welsh gets in the spirit, dressing for the shopping day. (Post file photo)

To people who don’t know her, Jupiter resident Bonnie Welsh’s Black Friday shopping uniform belies her seriousness about the shopping day.

Every year, she dons a Santa hat and festive red holiday Snoopy T-shirt the morning after Thanksgiving. Sometimes she adds a Christmas-themed sweater if it’s chilly outside.

But she will be the first to tell you that shopping on Black Friday is not for the carefree or faint-hearted.

This 12-year Black Friday shopping veteran has devoted great effort to perfecting her preparation and shopping processes.

A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, she starts walking around the neighborhood or doing other things to get in shape, because she knows all the shopping will take a toll on her otherwise. She keeps an eye on leaked Black Friday ads, and pays close attention to what her family wants for the holidays. It’s nearly a year-long process if you include saving up for the big day, Welsh proudly explains.

But this year, for the first time in over a decade, Welsh will not be getting up before dawn on the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping — and she’s devastated about it.

Welsh is turning 50 years old this year, and her birthday just so happens to fall on Black Friday. A happy bonus for her, until her husband announced that he was surprising her with a trip to the Bahamas.

“I asked him if there was any way we can postpone it or move it,” Welsh said.

While Welsh is slowly warming up to the idea of the trip, she says she’s sad she’ll be missing the Black Friday deals. As for holiday shopping, she said that she may just shop online this year.

In the meantime, she shared some of her best tips for other shoppers who will be able to hit the stores this Black Friday.

Here’s her list of top tips for the day she calls the ‘Super Bowl of shopping’

Find coffee. Check in advance to see who is open 24 hours.
Dress comfortably. Make sure you won’t be too hot inside crowded stores or too chilly standing outside in line. Wear tennis shoes.
Consider not carrying a purse. Use your pockets, but make sure the pockets aren’t really loose.
Smile. It’s a holiday season. If you’re grumpy, you’re missing the whole point. It may also make people around you more willing to help you.
Have a game plan. Map out the where, what and how long. Bring a friend — but only if you’ve shopped together before — because tag teams sometimes work really well. (Part of Welsh’s game plan includes figuring out when to start wrapping the presents after she finishes shopping.)
Check out which stores match advertised prices, and whether they carry the exact item you want.
Remember to buy something for Toys for Tots, Salvation Army or your favorite charity. (Welsh uses these gifts as her excuse to still shop at Toys “R” Us on Black Friday, since her son has outgrown toys from this store, she says.)
Set your dollar limit ahead of time. Use a specific list of gifts and recipients and stick with it.
Shop smart. Anything you buy on Black Friday should be at least 25 percent off. Give yourself a reward for all the money you saved.

The Importance of Black Friday

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is considered the official start of the holiday shopping season.

It’s so named because it traditionally has been the day when a surge of shoppers would help push retail stores into profitability for the year.

This shopping day is considered a key measure of how willing shoppers will be to spend during the holiday season.

Traffic at the typical mall is 3.1 times greater on Black Friday than on an average day, according to Shoppertrak.

Because of all the advertised discounts for Black Friday, the Thanksgiving edition of The Palm Beach Post has the most insert ads of any edition during the year.

Last year, The Palm Beach Post had inserts from 64 retailers on Thanksgiving.

The content of Black Friday ads typically has been kept under very close wraps until the day of Thanksgiving. Post employees who work with the ads have to sign confidentiality agreements. The ads themselves are kept in cages, and very few people have access to the locks. No cellphones are allowed on the floor, since other newspapers had problems with workers taking cellphone pictures of the ads.

Some major retailers leak Black Friday deals themselves to drum up interest. This year, Staples announced some of its Black Friday deals on its Twitter and Facebook accounts. Walmart also confirmed some of its Black Friday deals last week.

While Black Friday still remains an important shopping day, some contend that it is fading in importance. Indeed, many large retailers have begun offering big discounts in the weeks before Thanksgiving that normally were reserved for Black Friday weekend.

According to a survey from dealnews.com, 12 percent fewer people say they will definitely shop during Black Friday this year compared with 2008. The survey suggests that people are instead looking for the same deals online instead of braving stores.

Put warning labels on hot dogs, says cancer awareness group

Allison Ross — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:08:33 +0000

OK, we all know that to many hot dogs are not that good for us (even if they are great for summer barbecues near the pool), but one Washington, D.C.-based group is suing to force hot dog manufacturers put warning labels on their product.

Today, The Cancer Project filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in Newark on behalf of three New Jersey residents, saying that hot dog makers are failing to warn consumers that eating hot dogs may increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

The group sued Nathan’s Famous, Kraft Foods/Oscar Mayer, Sara Lee, Con Agra Foods, and Marathon Enterprises, and said in the lawsuit that the companies need to put the following warning on their labels:

Warning: Consuming hot dogs and other processed meats increases the risk of cancer.”

For evidence, the group references a 2007 study published by the American Institute for Cancer Research that found that eating one 50-gram serving of processed meat (about the amount in one hot dog) a day increases the risk of colorectal cancer, on average, by 21 percent.

What do you think? Are hot dogs “as American as baseball and apple pie,” or are they potential killers? Sound off by posting a comment below!

Image on The Cancer Project's Web site

Food freebie Monday: Starbucks ice cream, McDonald’s mocha madness

Allison Ross — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:28:00 +0000

McDonald’s is rolling out its Free Mocha Mondays promotion today: every Monday through August 3, customers who come into their local McDonald’s between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. can receive a complimentary sample of the restaurant’s McCafe Mocha products.

You can choose from an 8 oz. sample of the McCafe Mocha, or a 7 oz. sample of the McCafe Iced Mocha (one per person, of course).

If mocha’s not your motivation this Monday, log onto Facebook and go to the Starbucks ice cream app page. There, you can send someone (including yourself) a coupon for a free pint of the new Starbucks ice cream. Over 800 coupons will be given away each hour, and you can only send a coupon once.

Now you have two free, delicious ways to get your week started!

Know of any other good freebies to kick off your Monday? Post a comment below and share the knowledge!

Free Slurpees from 7-Eleven on 7/11

Allison Ross — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:22:43 +0000

This Saturday is July 11, meaning it’s the “birthday” of convenience store chain 7-Eleven. To celebrate its 82nd birthday, the company is giving away close to 5 million free 7.11-ounce Slurpee drinks at its stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Ask for one of the “Happy Birthday” cups when you go to a 7-Eleven store on Saturday to get your free Slurpee.

As a bonus, a promo code on the cup that will allow you to get discounted general admission tickets to Live Nation concerts across the country. In addition, when you enter the promo code, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win one of 711 $50 Live Nation Concert Cash prizes, which can be redeemed for concert tickets at Live Nation.

For more information on other retail and restaurant news, check out the Palm Beach Post’s Malled! blog.

Big news for Chick-fil-A lovers: new store opens today in West Palm Beach!

Allison Ross — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:55:19 +0000

Exciting news, Chick-fil-A fans: the opening of the poultry restaurant’s newest location is here!

The company opened its stand-alone location at 6060 Okeechobee Blvd. at 6 a.m. today (June 18).

Knowing that the first 100 people in line when the store opens receive a one-year supply of gift certificates to Chick-fil-A (something that the company has done at every store opening since 2003), fans of the fast-food sandwich eatery began lining up days in advance.

Customer Baric Dillard, age 3, came outside to hug the Chick-fil-A cow because he thought the cow looked sad standing on the sidewalk and waving to passing cars.

Indeed, according to franchise owner/manager Rob Morris, the first line camper arrived from Alabama on Tuesday at 2 p.m. By 6 a.m. Wednesday, there were more than 100 people waiting in line for the Thursday opening, and the company had to hold a raffle for those who would be the first 100.

Even after that raffle, another 34 people continued to stand in line just for fun, Morris said. And fun they had: those waiting in line were able to access the bathrooms in the store whenever they needed to, were treated to free food and ice cream parties, and even got to head into the store so employees could practice their serving skills.

“There were 5 or 6 girls from the cheerleading squad from UCF standing in line,” Morris said. “They kept doing stunts in the parking lot.”

Sad you missed out on the excitement? There are still prizes to be had at Chick-fil-A. Head to the new location as soon as you can to snap up free travel mugs (they are close to running out) or miniature Chick-fil-A cows. Later today, the store will be giving away coupons for a free breakfast. And Mayor Lois Frankel will be stopping by the store at 10 a.m. for the “ceremonial first bite.”

Wellington residents Bob and Ginny Lovern planned their morning errands around a trip to the new Chick-fil-A store. Sitting at a booth and eating their breakfasts, the pair said they eat at the location in the Mall at Wellington Green at least a couple times a week.

“I really like their ice cream,” Bob Lovern told me.

Will you be checking out the new location? Let me know what you think!

New Chick-fil-A store on Okeechobee near the Turnpike.

Business is rocking at SunFest

Allison Ross — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:04:31 +0000

Jonathan and Ginger Popper have been viewing SunFest through the Eyes of Wellington for 12 years.

This year, they like what they see.

In fact, the husband-and-wife duo decided to open their Eyes of Wellington sunglasses stand on Thursday afternoon instead of Friday because Jonathan Popper was impressed by the crowd turnout.

Intuition seemed to pay off: By about 7 p.m. Thursday, they had sold pairs of glasses ranging from $80 to a whopping $1,500.

“It’s too early to tell yet, but so far it feels like it’ll be a good year,” Jonathan Popper said. “The crowd’s definitely turning out.”

Though the economy has taken its toll on this year’s SunFest – sponsorship fees for the event are down 18 percent – several vendors said people attending the event are still spending.

“SunFest is still a fun-fest,” said Mick Clements, co-owner of Saltwater Cowboy and Bounty Hunter Hats.

Nearby, Stephen Bonanno Sandals also was chalking up sales.

“We were nervous about the economy, but we have been phenomenal so far,” said owner Stephen Bonanno. His SunFest tent, which is selling sandals ranging from $65 to $150, was packed with shoppers browsing and trying on shoes most of the afternoon.

Not every vendor has seen strong sales, however. Peggy Olson, who was running the stand for Palm Beach Gardens-based Seaside Smoothies, said that “people are out, but they’re not spending a lot of money yet.” Still, she’s hopeful that this weekend will be better as thirsty crowds look for refreshment.

Other vendors decided to hedge their bets before the show, choosing to bring more inventory in the lower price ranges.

Clements, for instance, added more $20 and $25 cowboy hats. “Those are selling well, whereas my $200 hats are sitting on the wall,” he said, pointing to a row of handcrafted hats.

Theresa Disque, who was working at the SunFest merchandise booth near Evernia Street, said her company, Image Works in Palm Beach Gardens, decided to stock more “low-key” T-shirts and items this year, instead of polos or T-shirts with high-end designs.

And sales could pick up with the larger weekend crowds.

“When the economy’s bad, people want to be entertained and escape for a little while,” said Ron Kasab of the Bavarian Roasters nut stand. “Swine flu and the economy can’t change that.”