In marketing ploys designed to woo last-minute shoppers and strike — and then ease — their panic over conquering the gift list in the dwindling days to December 25, Banana Republic, Walmart and Toys “R” Us are taking direct aim at the season’s annual procrastinators with a variety of hooks that offer the implicit message, “relax – we’ll make it easy for you latecomers. We’ve got you covered.”
According to The National Retail Federation, fewer than 1% of Americans have wrapped up their Christmas shopping lists by December, Walmart points out.
•To draw the attention of last-minute shoppers with nine days to go until Christmas, the retailer issued its holiday shipping cutoff dates that ensure home delivery by Dec. 24.
It’s also offering free delivery to shoppers’ local stores for orders placed online. Site-to-store shipping will be available within five to seven days for orders placed by the evening of Dec. 18. Walmart is also offering free same-day store pickup for orders placed by Dec. 23.
•Toys“R”Us is appealing to shoppers in a time crunch with its “Gifts Made Easy” service. “Last minute shoppers, rejoice!” said the retailer. “Our online Gift Finder will help you find exactly what your child is wishing for! Simply search presents by age, gender or price.”
The gift finder additionally provides links to “popular picks that are going fast!” and “gifts under $30,” among other categories. The toy chain is also offering Free Store Pickup and
•Meanwhile, the
“Extra Help”: Customers who shop at all U.S. stores will receive a $30 credit from TaskRabbit to help with any last-minute tasks, such as “holiday party cleaning help, peppermint hot chocolate runs, hanging Christmas tree lights, picking up your office’s Secret Santa gift, etc.,” the retailer says.
“Free Rides”: Shoppers looking to escape congested parking lots and lugging shopping bags on public transportation can catch a free ride (up to $20) with Curb to or from Banana Republic stores across the U.S.
“Free Same-Day Delivery”: Customers who shop on bananarepublic.com and reserve their items through Reserve In Store will can have those items shipped that same day for free through Deliv. The service is available in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Houston and Seattle.
“Free Shipping and Gift Wrap”: Shoppers in San Francisco, New York and Miami will get a $25 credit at the register that can be used to ship their gifts through SHYP. Customers who visit the Banana Republic Grant Ave store in San Francisco, Soho store in New York and Aventura Mall in Miami, can turn over their gifts to Shyp workers to be gift wrapped with Brit+Co designed wrapping paper and shipped off anywhere in the world.
