Jim Winsett of the BBB. Q. Major shopping events for retailers and charitable donations will be occurring over this holiday weekend and next week. What advice and information may BBB provide?
A. Great question and we will respond to each.
1) Black Friday: The BBB article last Friday provided tips and advice for your shopping experience to be safe and productive. The key reminder is to budget and research items you wish to purchase. Interesting 2016 trend: Black Friday was the first day to generate more than a billion dollars in online sales from mobile devices. In 2016, Black Friday set a record 3.05 billion dollars in single-day online sales. 99 million people went to retail stores on Black Friday.
2) Small Business Saturday: Small Business Saturday first began on Nov. 27, 2010, and was launched by American Express, a BBB Accredited Business. The goal was to encourage shoppers to support small, local businesses. Each year the message and movement has increased. Better Business Bureau is pleased to support Small Business Saturday for the sixth year and urges consumers to support small businesses in their community.
There are 23 million small businesses in the country. An estimated 112 million consumers reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday in 2016. Among those who shopped on the day, 32% reported attending a community event.
There were 250,000 posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter promoting Small Business Saturday. Reminder, for many small local retailers, the holiday season represents 75 percent or more of their annual sales. Do your part to sustain local business.
Check the Small Business Saturday website for a list of shops in your area that are participating. Supporting local businesses can be turned in to a great event shared with friends and family. Many communities will hold fun events on today in honor of Small Business Saturday.
Cyber Monday: Shoppers often participate in Cyber Monday because of the 24-hour convenience that online offers, they are able to avoid the crowds that Black Friday brings, and they appreciate the sales and delivery specials that online retailers offer. While shopping online, it's important to remember to do your research and shop securely. Below are some trends and tips to help make your online shopping a safe and successful one. Make Sure Your Family Shops Safe.
1. Parental control: There is software you can install on your kids' and teens' computers and mobile devices to limit the websites they can access.
2. Hackers like kids' IDs: Since kids and teens usually have good credit, hackers are always on the lookout for their information. That can allow hackers to obtain credit cards and more. Talk to your family about the importance of not giving out personal information in soliciting emails or social media.
3. Email phishing: Teach your teens and young adults how to catch email phishing.
4. Looking out for scams: Young people tend to shop based on what their peers or celebrities are wearing or using. Scammers will try to lure them to click on links such as "free Kylie products," "free concerts," "free game" and more. If it's too good to be true, do not click.
5. HTTP and HTTPS: Before sending any personal and sensitive information, make sure the website has "https://" at the beginning of its web address. The "S" at the end of HTTPS indicates that the website is secure because it is encrypted, which makes it safe to enter credit card or other personal information.
Fun fact: In 2016, Cyber Monday achieved a new record with $3.45 billion spent online. 47 percent of all website visits came from mobile devices - mostly smartphones - and contributed 31 percent of sales. Search ads drove 38.5 percent of sales on Cyber Monday. Desktops accounted for 53 percent of visits and 69 percent of sales.
#GivingTuesday; 2017 marks the sixth year of #GivingTuesday. It's a global day of giving that's powered by social media and collaboration. Following the shopping rushes of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is often regarded as the start of the charitable season. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide are engaged in the day.
In 2016, $168 million total dollars raised for charitable organizations. There was 2.4 million total social media engagements with #GivingTuesday. There were 1.56 million total gifts. People spent on average $107.69 on gifts. One in 4 donated offline through cash, check or over-the-phone contributions. The global impact; 98+ countries and more than 40,000 nonprofits participated in #GivingTuesday
During the holiday season, BBB encourages those more fortunate to donate to charities and help others. It is also a time and great opportunity to talk to children about Philanthropy.
1. The conversation counts. Talking to a child about giving makes them significantly more likely to give.
2. Show and tell. Show your child an action of charity; then help them understand why you did it.
3. Start young. Cultivating the habit of giving in childhood could have a lifelong impact on them and, more importantly, those in need.
4. Be a guide, not a boss. Let your child discover the causes they care about, and nurture their passion.
5. We can all give. You don't need to be a millionaire to make a difference. Offer time or skills, and your child can see there's more to giving than just dollars and cents.
The Better Business Bureau wishes all a Merry Christmas and enjoyable holidays.
Jim Winsett is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.