Friends–load your smartphones with some supersaver shopping smartphone apps. Or get behind your laptops or desktops. It’s time to get ready for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and every other shopping day this holiday season.
Here are my recommendations for the six best shopping apps and websites to find gifts for you or your loved ones.
For the Techie
BuyVia—If you’re buying a tech gift this season, this app’s for you. It compares prices at national and local outlets and lets users set up alerts (including location-based ones) for products. Not sure if the price of the item on the shelf is the lowest you can find? Use the UPC barcode scanner to get an answer immediately. There also are coupons and deals for local stores. Has a website too. Free for Apple and Android.
For the Fashionista
Net-a-Porter—is a great app and website to find gifts for the luxury fashion lover on your list. This app lets users shop the hottest looks from more than 350 of the world’s leading designers. You can create and manage gift lists as well. No deals- but top of the line merchandise. The app is free for Android, iPhone and iPad.
For Moms and Kids
Zulily is a daily deal website for new moms and kids offering new boutique items—all at an average of 50% off. Users sign up for a free membership and emails are sent to your inbox with daily deals. Great site for the young ones because they outgrow clothing so quickly, aunts (like me) and grandparents can find terrific gifts at slashed prices.
For the Hard to Buy for Person
Grommet is a website filled with interesting new products that haven’t made it mainstream yet. They say they sell “products with a purpose invented by people with stories.” Site owners also claim to add a new product every 24 hours.
For the Pet Lover
UncommonGoods has a full array of unusual gifts for everyone on your list, but the gifts for pet lovers are outstanding. You can send in a photo of your favorite pet to will be placed behind a Presidential desk for an “official” portrait. The options are whimsical and sure to delight the canine and feline parents on your lists.
For You
RedLaser—Great price comparison app. Just scan a barcode on an item and instantly you’ll be able to compare prices of it between thousands of online and offline retailers. Stores don’t like this app, they call using it “showrooming,” because it lets users to easily access current deals at local stores or scan to discover if a better price is close by. Free for iPhone, Android and Windows phones.
Do you have a site or app you’d like to add? Please leave it in the comments section.
Read more from Susie Mitchell on her website, Clear Writing Solutions