AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- All holiday shoppers know, especially the last-minute mall go-ers, that retail stores during the holidays can be stressful. Between the crowds and lines, piles of rifled-through inventory, and pushy fellow shoppers – some may classify it as their own "Nightmare Before Christmas." While this crowded chaos can be difficult to navigate, it is nothing compared to the stresses of retail employees this time of year.

Shopping and trends expert for RetailMeNot, Sara Skirboll, says, "Between searching the stockroom for the last bit of merchandise, or trying to make sure shoppers are getting the best deals possible - the patience displayed by retail employees is unmatched." RetailMeNot was able to pick the brains of thirteen different retail workers to get their thoughts, tips and woes of holiday shopping. Skirboll adds "When checking everything off your holiday wish list, it is important for shoppers to remember that a little kindness can go a long way. In order to make it a great time of savings for everyone, be respectful of both the retail stores and sales associates."

For the full list of do's and don'ts, and when to shop and what to snag – head to the RetailMeNot blog, The Real Deal, for the holiday scoop.

1. Remember that the early bird gets the worm. "Definitely shop in the morning for sure because that is when the stores are the quietest. Everything is the most organized, and people are most willing to help you because it's a fresh, clean slate on the day, and spirits are higher." – Logan Kolakowski
2. Show up with a strategy. "Plan your attack, divide and conquer, weigh the deal over the effort, and decide what is worth the effort and where. If it's electronics, expect to camp out. Apple only has 5% off, so don't bother. Look for stores that already have deals or discounts, as they will likely dig deep." – Jonathan Wallis
3. Retail workers like to be asked for help. "I worked for a high-end athletic retailer, so our garments had a lot of technical components beyond just the way they look. I actually loved getting the chance to really add value and showcase my product expertise—it's like being a personal shopper!" – Emily Swann
4. Kindness pays off. "In some cases, especially with places you shop often, be friendly with a manager. They often know the week ahead what deals they will have, and more often than not, they will have a special a few days before Black Friday that is equal to Black Friday if not better." – Molly Bradford
5. Start in the back. "When there's a storewide sale, what's by the doors has most likely already been picked over. You'll find more options in the back, as shoppers tend to go there last or skip it altogether." – Mary Carter
6. Be an informed returner. "Every store is different with returns. Insider tip: The policy is usually on the back of all receipts from the store." – Alex Bernard
7. Buy online and pick up in store when possible. "If you can pre-order and pick the items up or put them on hold, I would highly recommend it. Get what you need and then get the heck out of there before the rush. Also, if you can pre-order and pick it up, wait until the store is about to close. It won't be as crazy then."– Haley Ellis

Keep these shopping tips and advice while shopping this holiday season and happy hunting!

About RetailMeNot, Inc.
RetailMeNot, Inc. (https://www.retailmenot.com/corp/) is a leading savings destination connecting consumers with retailers, restaurants and brands, both online and in-store. The company enables consumers across the globe to find hundreds of thousands of offers to save money while they shop or dine out. RetailMeNot, Inc. estimates that $4.8 billion in retailer sales were attributable to consumer transactions from paid digital offers in its marketplace in 2017, more than $560 million of which were attributable to its in-store solution. The RetailMeNot, Inc. portfolio of websites and mobile applications includes RetailMeNot.com in the United States; RetailMeNot.ca in Canada; VoucherCodes.co.uk in the United Kingdom; ma-reduc.com and Poulpeo.com in France; and GiftCardZen.com and Deals2Buy.com in North America. As wholly owned subsidiaries of Harland Clarke Holdings, RetailMeNot and Valassis, a leader in intelligent media delivery, are partnering to connect retailers and consumers through meaningful digital, mobile and print promotions both online and in store.

Media Contact:
Hillary White
RetailMeNot
hwhite@rmn.com
(832) 278-5615

SOURCE RetailMeNot