SHOPPING

Are you tired of looking at the mall for that hard-to-find gift? Then it could be worth a short drive just south of downtown to Pica Pica Plaza, which supports a variety of San Antonio small businesses.

As shoppers swipe and click their way to record holiday spending, cashback apps can put money back in pockets.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have come and gone, but there are still some sales awaiting holiday shoppers. Consumer Reports tracks prices of many of its top-rated products and found some gift ideas on discount right now.

From the week Thanksgiving through the end of the air, UPS says air shipping traffic will reach its annual peak. But you only have three weeks to guarantee package delivery with some of the more common delivery services.

Who is ready to shop ‘til they drop? Need a break from staying at home?

Fabletics, the trendy activewear brand from actress Kate Hudson, is edging closer to opening its first San Antonio store.

Shipping delays and supply chain issues mean shopping will look slightly different this year because the sales have already started.

An all-new Barbie truck will cruise into The Shops at La Cantera this weekend.

More major retailers are joining the list of businesses that will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

The holiday hustle is on. If supply chain issues and microchip shortages have you stressed and worried you won't be able to find what you want, some smooth moves can ease your mind and to-do list.

Despite supply chain disruptions, there are still some November deals as long as you shop early, according to Consumer Reports shopping experts.

Why travel out of town to the Hill Country for a market day when there will be one in your own South Side neighborhood?

The scariest thing this Halloween won’t be ghouls or goblins; instead, it may be checking your bank account balance after having purchased all of your holiday items.

Alice Thompson was awarded £185,000 after being told she could not work shorter hours to pick up her child.

We somehow made it to August, which means it’s back-to-school time for students and teachers everywhere.

Buy now, pay later is a payment option that’s becoming more popular among online shoppers to buy clothing, electronics, gym equipment and even vacations.

Shopping for school supplies can add up for parents, but it also opens up an opportunity to speak with their children about what they can afford at the store.

Attention San Antonio shoppers: a new Burlington Coat Factory is coming to town.

July is starting off with a bang when it comes to Fourth of July Sales. Consumer Reports tracks prices and found July is the best time to buy several of its top-rated products.

The couple behind the popular, San Antonio-centric shop Feliz Modern is opening up a new space at the Pearl.

Y'all, the next best thing to Christmas is quickly approaching: Amazon Prime Day 2021.

Long lines and crowded aisles at the grocery store can get old real quick. It leaves you wondering if there’s a simpler way to get your shopping out the way without all the added stress of wait times and bumping into strangers as you make your way to the register.

Is your dad more sporty, more outdoorsy, more artistic or something else entirely?

Father’s Day is almost here, but if it’s been a tight year, money-wise, just know that you’re probably not alone in feeling like you’d rather save the more expensive festivities for another time.

The month of May brings a spring shower of Mother's Day and Memorial Day sales. Consumer Reports tracks the best time to buy its top tested products and says May is a good time to buy mattresses and more.

The Farmers Market Plaza Building at Market Square downtown will reopen after a three-month closure due to repairs and maintenance.

During the pandemic, Amazon sold billions of dollars worth of clothes. Wells Fargo estimates that U.S. sales of clothing and shoes on Amazon, including third-party sellers, grew 15% in 2020, reaching $41 billion. many vendors are wanting to establish a comprehensive brand presentation on the site, with assortments that minimally compete with existing channels. Wells Fargo estimates sales of clothing and shoes on Amazon will surpass $45 billion in 2021, a 10% gain. Only six other companies in the U.S. sell $10 billion worth of clothes or more TJMAXX, Macy’s, Target, GAP, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta and Ross stores.

SAN ANTONIO – Target and Rowan have teamed up to bring ear piercers to select stores in Texas and across the country. Rowan, a trendy earring shop and ear piercing service, will soon have piercing nurses at seven San Antonio-area Target stores. AdKSAT has reached out to Target to ask if the service will be added to other stores in Texas or the San Antonio area in the future. So far, the service is also available at Target stores in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. Rowan currently offers an at-home piercing service in the Houston area for $135.

The pandemic didn’t just send Costco members flocking to stores for toilet paper, canned goods, and disinfecting wipes in 2020, but rather vehicles through the big-box chain’s car-buying program. Even as car sales as a whole took a dive, Costco members bought more than 689,000 new and used vehicles through the its auto program last year, a 12% increase over 2019 sales according to Business Insider. Costco attributes that bump to an increase in the amount of “limited-time” member-exclusive deals with brands like Audi, Chevrolet, and Volvo. All you have to do is go to the Costco auto program webpage and you can browse the available vehicles, calculate monthly payments, and read reviews. Once you provide your contact info and Costco membership number, you can go to participating dealership and you can buy or lease the vehicle with the Costco discount.

Hobby Lobby confirmed a rumor on Wednesday that their 40%-off coupons are going the way of the dodo bird. Officials with the retail chain responded to a Facebook post saying that as of Feb. 28, Hobby Lobby will no longer be offering the popular coupon in stores or online. This will offer a better value instead of providing a discount on only one item with the coupon,” officials said. “It is always our intent to provide you with beyond compare service, great prices and the best selection,” Hobby Lobby officials said on Facebook. “We appreciate your understanding during this period of transition and thank you for your continued business.”AdThere are currently more than 900 retail Hobby Lobby stores including seven in the San Antonio area.

A brand new store called Black Friday Deals has people lining up outside the door every morning. BALCONES HEIGHTS, Texas – Black Friday Deals and Discount Store in San Antonio has officially set a grand opening date for this Friday, Jan. 22. The popular Black Friday Deals store in Houston announced its second location in the San Antonio area in December. According to KPRC, the items at the Houston location are mostly overstock or returned items and the new location is expected to be stocked with the same type of merchandise. The price of items changes every day, according to the day of the week.

SAN ANTONIO – A new type of thrift shop has opened in San Antonio. B. Kay Richter, who is on the Board of Directors for Spare Parts, told KSAT that it is “the first store of its kind to open” in the Alamo City. Supplies for sale include art books, coloring books, crafting supplies, old calendars, old magazines, old photos, art brushes, paint, glue, primer, canvases, crochet supplies and yarn. While the store does not take clothing like a regular thrift store, it does take buttons and fabric, as well as sewing supplies. Spare Parts is located at 13491 Wetmore Road, near Thousand Oaks Drive.

(Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)SAN ANTONIO – A pop-up mercado at Market Square will open up at the beginning of 2021 as the Farmers Market Plaza Building will temporarily close for repairs and maintenance. Starting on Jan. 7, more than 25 businesses from the Farmers Market Plaza will head to the Centro de Artes building at 101 S. Santa Rosa for three months. The pop-up mercado will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sundays. The Farmers Market Plaza Building will close on Jan. 2 and reopen sometime in the spring, according to the Center City Development and Operations Department. The rest of the shops and restaurants in Market Square will stay open during that time.

SAN ANTONIO – Determined and likely desperate shoppers braved the crowds and the COVID-19 pandemic in their quest to find stocking stuffers and gifts they forgot or still needed to buy. “Last minute shopping -- you know how that goes,” said Socorro Morquecho, who was picking up some holiday pastries. She was among the shoppers on Christmas Eve who said they weren’t that worried, judging by what they saw. “But I still need -- well, we all need to be careful.”Others said it seemed that many Christmas Eve shoppers were aware they needed to be as safe as possible. Michelle Johnson, who was with her husband looking for stocking stuffers, said she was encouraged to see merchants were doing their part.

With kids and adults stuck indoors, gaming is moving to a new level of popularity. Even on a budget, if your loved one loves gaming, we have some gift ideas for you. Two of these brands have just released, new generations, the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. PlayStation has tons of exclusive franchise titles whereas Xbox has more backwards compatibility, meaning players can still use old games on the new hardware. Gamers may be called “geeks” but they are always excited to talk about and share games.

BALCONES HEIGHTS, Texas – The popular Black Friday Deals store in Houston is about to get a second location in the San Antonio area. Black Friday Deals is a new store that will be located at 100 Crossroads Boulevard in Balcones Heights, an incorporated area within the city limits of San Antonio. The price of items changes every day, according to the day of the week. Posted by Black Friday Deals Houston on Friday, September 25, 2020An official with the San Antonio location said on Facebook that all products are allowed to be inspected and tested by customers before purchase to see if the item works. This will be the second Black Friday Deals store in Texas.

KSAT12 checked with the San Antonio e-commerce software company Searchspring to breakdown the numbers and explain what it means for small businesses. According to Searchspring’s findings, consumers spent $1 million every minute on Black Friday and spent $1 billion on Cyber Monday. And then going into Saturday, you saw almost $5 billion spent on small businesses online alone. So you’re really seeing people in the community wanting to rally together, support their local businesses, even if that means doing so online,” Martin said. This pandemic has hurt a lot of local small businesses, so there are ways to use this information to your advantage.

SAN ANTONIO – Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who can’t find these next-generation gaming consoles on store shelves. But, there may still be a way you can snag one, even potentially before Christmas. The PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X, launched by Sony and Microsoft respectively, are the most anticipated gaming consoles of the year and sold out almost immediately on their launch days and on Black Friday. Following Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping events, chances are these consoles will be back in stock at least once more before Christmas Day. Related: Having trouble getting your hands on the Playstation 5 or XBOX Series X?

Amazon Prime Days are here, and as the author of this story, I have to tell you: I did a LOT more online purchasing than I planned on, just while sitting around my house in quarantine last year.

SAN ANTONIO – Concha coin purses, new Spurs merch, locally sourced meal kits and embroidered koozies are surely making San Antonio residents’ Christmas wish list this year. The search did not disappoint, as businesses are selling items unique to San Antonio right now, from apparel to art to Christmas decorations. Take a look below at gift items you can buy locally in San Antonio for the holidays. The San Antonio store is selling a variety of small ornaments in the shapes of tacos, avocados, pinatas, palms, stars and more. You can support San Antonio, have breakfast and shop for gifts all in one place.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Black Friday has quickly become a national holiday, pushing some sales to start as early as Thanksgiving morning! In 2019, the number of in-person shoppers on Black Friday fell by 6.2% and 93.2 million people instead made an online Black Friday purchase. We have the details on what a pandemic Black Friday and COVID Cyber Monday will look like. As we say bye-bye to Black Friday, be aware of Cyber Monday and holiday sale hoaxes. To receive a free weekly email on Smart Living from Ivanhoe, sign up at: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftkRELATED: New Texas store offers Black Friday deals on brand names everyday for $7 or less

We’re right in the middle of November, so if you’re looking to save a little money, this is the month to do it. Typically the rule is to wait until the last half of the month when sales people are trying to hit their sales goals. November is also a great time to save on some grocery items, like turkey. November is a great month to get married, money wise. Finally, you can also save a little cash by buying next year’s Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations now.

NEW YORK (AP) – The nation’s largest beauty chain has a deal to place shops in more than 100 Target stores by mid-2021. Ulta Beauty and Target said Tuesday that the shops will be located next to Target’s existing beauty sections. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The partnership comes as the coronavirus pandemic has upended shopping habits. But the deal could hurt department stores like Macy’s, which had already seen their share of their beauty business eroded even before the pandemic.

It’s never too early to start your holiday shopping, whether it’s online or in the store. According to a new survey on studyfinds.org, nearly half of Americans have already started shopping since being stuck at home during the pandemic. Whether you’ve started your holiday shopping yet or not, there’s still time. The survey showed 48% say they plan on doing their holiday shopping online to avoid the craziness in the stores. Researchers say nearly half worry about spending too much on holiday shopping, but majority are planning to have their holiday spending paid off by Christmas morning.

Enjoy shopping, rides, festivals and food at Traders Village this fall | SA Live | KSAT12Published: October 15, 2020, 1:46 pmThe Corny Maze is the largest in South Texas sitting at 10 acres and San Antonio’s first and only corn maze.

You can get them all on Amazon, and since it’s Prime Day, why not treat yourself to something special for your kitchen? Instant Pots are insanely popular, so if you already have one, you know just how versatile this kitchen appliance can be. It’s really great for steaming veggies, too. Really nice Dutch ovens can get really expensive, but this one on Amazon is a reasonable price, and it’s a great quality. Having both of these items in your kitchen will be great additions.

SAN ANTONIO – It’s fun to get great deals during a shopping event like Amazon Prime Day, but scammers are looking for unsuspecting customers in an effort to get information or money. The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers who are doing their shopping on Amazon.com during Prime Day so they can avoid becoming victims to scammers. The BBB says the scammers will call you with an issue on your Amazon account. Problems range from fraudulent charges on your Prime Card to unfulfilled orders for expensive products. The con artists will then ask for information, such as credit card numbers or Amazon account details.

Y’all, the next best thing to Christmas is quickly approaching: Amazon Prime Day 2020. You can already start “watching” items you’d like to get an alert on, whenever they go on sale on Amazon Prime Day. In the app or on the website, when you look up an item, check for the Prime Day badge, which means it’s a Prime Day Deal. Amazon Prime Day 2020 notification directions. Now you, my friend, are full of knowledge and power to take on Amazon Prime Day 2020.

SAN ANTONIO Today at 1 p.m. on SA Live, Labor Day shopping deals and trends, a grill recipe with tips and gadgets from Jess Pryles, Elder Eats featuring a 60-ounce michelada and Jen goes spelunking. First, we want to know - what are you doing for Labor Day? Retail Me Not shares deals and trends for Labor Day weekend, with savings on everything from mattresses and patio furniture to clothes and school supplies. How much do you know about Labor Day? Play along with Mike and Fiona as they put their knowledge to the test with Labor Day trivia, and dont miss Copa Wine Bars easy sangria recipe!

SAN ANTONIO – Fashion trends come and go, but “going out of business” signs have never gone out of style in San Antonio. Handy AndyHollywood VideoJoske’sKmartMervyn’sMontgomery WardPaylessRadio ShackToys”R”UsThe VogueWolff and MarxWoolcoSurely more department stores or other retailers have left the San Antonio area. Image: UTSA Special Collections, San Antonio Express-News collection (UTSA Special Collections, San Antonio Express-News collection)Joske’s Department Store was founded in 1869 by Julius Joske, according to the City of San Antonio. Image: Courtesy UTSA Libraries Special Collections/San Antonio Express-News (Courtesy UTSA Libraries Special Collections/San Antonio Express-News)The exterior of Joske Brothers Store on Alamo Street in San Antonio, circa 1892. Image: Courtesy UTSA Libraries Special Collections (Courtesy UTSA Libraries Special Collections)The Vogue, a women’s clothing store, stood at 301 E. Houston St.

Free admission for children younger than 12, along with teachers, military, health care professionalsIf you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241.

Pier 1 has three stores in San Antonio, one store in Selma and one store in New Braunfels, according to its site. Its lenders have agreed to let Pier 1 overdraw its lending facility by $40 million to help it fund the liquidation process. Once a mall staple, Pier 1 sales have slumped in recent years because of growing online competition and shifting consumer habits. It announced in February that it was closing around 450 stores, including all its locations in Canada. The company currently has more than 500 stores down from 1,000 last year.

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is here to encourage the holiday spirit of giving. Michelle Miller has more.