NEW YORK — Rite Aid and CVS/pharmacy have rung in the holiday shopping season with a range of deals and promotions heading into Black Friday, following up with more offers on Cyber Monday.
Rite Aid said Monday that it’s giving consumers a head start on shopping for Black Friday (Nov. 23) with 4,600 locations open at least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
And for the 71 million shoppers that the National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts will visit retailers nationwide on Black Friday weekend, Rite Aid is e-mailing "Black Friday Survival Guides" with shopping tips and a special savings sneak preview to its most loyal customers. The guides contain seven tips to help shoppers prepare for the "epic deals" they’ll be seeking that day at their shopping stops, such as how to stay hydrated and keep energized by taking advantage of Rite Aid’s deals for the week on water, Gatorade, Red Bull and healthy snacks.
The guide is being sent along with an exclusive preview of Rite Aid’s regular Black Friday promotion "3 Big Days to Save," which offers members of the drug chain’s wellness+ loyalty program deals on holiday essentials such as gift wrap, batteries and greeting cards.
"Our convenient locations and extended holiday hours give weary shoppers a chance to refuel and refresh on their marathon shopping quests and a break from crowded mall and big-box store parking lots."
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Rite Aid reported that about 21% of shoppers will shop drug stores this holiday season, the highest percentage since 2004, according to NRF.
"Rite Aid has long been a Black Friday destination because our convenient locations and extended holiday hours give weary shoppers a chance to refuel and refresh on their marathon shopping quests and a break from crowded mall and big-box store parking lots," Tony Montini, executive vice president of merchandising for Rite Aid, said in a statement. "This year we’ve also taken care to select some of the hottest items spanning the major gift categories to help weekend shoppers cross a few names off their lists."
Special prices during the 3 Big Days to Save event include a 52-piece wooden train table set, Hot Wheels die-cast cars and toy favorites priced at $2.99 from Rite Aid’s private brand Kids Stuff, including dolls, tea sets, plush stuffed animals, and electronic cars and trucks. For women, customers can choose from pampering gifts such as massaging slippers and foot bubble baths or beauty gift sets, such as a wet n wild 10-piece nail kit. And for men, Rite Aid has practical gifts such as the Conair beard trimmer or ear/nose/brow grooming kits as well as fun items, including video-game consoles that play classic Atari and Sega Genesis games.
Last-minute host and hostess gift offerings include Hershey’s Pot of Gold boxed chocolates, holiday-themed tins of gourmet cookies and popcorn, seasonal M&M’s, scented candles, or buy one/get one free deals on As Seen on TV gifts, including Snuggies, Pillow Pets, Perfect Meatloaf and the Ahh Bra. Stocking stuffer ideas include 8-gigabyte flash drives or SD memory cards for phones and portable electronics, as well as prepaid gift cards. Rite Aid said that shoppers at this year’s 3 Big Days to Save event can get a +UP Reward good for $10 to $15 off of a future Rite Aid purchase when they buy select gift card denominations for the iTunes Store or for a Home Improvement card good at a variety of nationwide hardware retailers.
Also included in the 3 Big Days to Save event are holiday decorations including stuffed indoor snowmen, Santas and Christmas trees or a porch decorating kit with two door trees, two garlands and a 20-inch wreath. Rite Aid, too, has a buy one/get one offer on select American Greetings cards and a deal on photo greeting cards that can be customized for as little as 25 cents, each at www.riteaid.com/photo with uploaded or online photos from Facebook and Picasa.
On Cyber Monday, Nov. 26, the Rite Aid Online Store is offering 40% off more than 1,000 items and free everyday shipping on purchases of $50 or more. Specials include a range of gift items such as select Revlon and Covergirl cosmetics, holiday decorations and electronics.
CVS/pharmacy, meanwhile, is rolling out a wide range of in-store and online offers for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season, running the gamut from hot electronics and popular toys to stocking stuffers, fragrances and gift cards.
The drug chain said Monday that a special three-day Black Friday sales event, from Nov. 22 to 24, will serve up extra savings across a range of product categories.
For example, buy one/get one deals will be available on specially advertised toys, and discounts will be offered on select Discovery Kids toys ($12.99), Dream Lites ($27.88), radio control cars or trucks ($9.99) and wireless indoor helicopters ($12.88).
In gadgets and technology, CVS is serving up sales on a broad selection of gadget gifts, such as an Android tablet with a 7-inch digital touch screen ($78.88) or a choice of a Sylvania Home Theater System with DVD player, iCraig Tower Speaker with FM Radio, AM/FM Vintage CD Jukebox, American Cinema Popcorn Popper or Sunbeam Microwave Oven (all $48.88).
"Whether hunting for the best Black Friday bargains or making a quick stop for holiday essentials like wrapping paper, batteries or stocking stuffers, shoppers will discover great value at CVS/pharmacy this year."
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And in novelties, CVS stores will showcase the Nesquick Chocolate Fountain, Waffle Zoo, Super Pretzel Maker, Keebler Cake Pop Maker, Keebler Pie Maker or Sunbeam Sewing Machine, all available for $12.88 each.
CVS noted that a a variety of daily essentials and gifts are included in "Free After ExtraBucks Rewards" promotions, enabling ExtraCare cardholders to earn instant rewards for buying specially marked items detailed in the circular and on store shelves. For recipients of Sunday newspapers across the country, there’s also a 25%-off shopping pass for in-store purchases within the weekly circular.
"Whether hunting for the best Black Friday bargains or making a quick stop for holiday essentials like wrapping paper, batteries or stocking stuffers, shoppers will discover great value at CVS/pharmacy this year," stated Judy Sansone, senior vice president of merchandising at CVS/pharmacy. "Starting with our three-day Black Friday sale, customers can take advantage of incredible promotions on a wide variety of gifts for everyone on their list. We’re happy to make the holiday shopping experience easy and convenient for our customers while offering tremendous savings and selection."
Special deals on holiday gifts and decor and everyday staples also are being offered, on CVS.com, the retailer said, adding that shoppers can sign up online to get Double Quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards on their purchases both online and in-store.
On Black Friday, shoppers can visit CVS.com to shop for gifts and take advantage of exclusive online-only deals, including free shipping from 12 p.m. through 3 p.m. EST and on all orders over $25 all day. And on Cyber Monday, consumers will find more exclusive deals on CVS.com plus free shipping on all orders over $25.
CVS said that after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, shoppers will find thousands of other opportunities to save and earn rewards at CVS/pharmacy. ExtraCare members can check the circular in-store or online to find additional savings during the holidays, and those participating in the Double Quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards promotion through Dec. 15 can earn double the rewards on most gift purchases, including more ExtraBucks Rewards that pay out in January. And at CVS.com, customers can check back for more promotions throughout the holiday season.
On the social media front, CVS is providing exclusive gift tips, promotions and giveaways on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Shoppers can follow @CVS_Extra on Twitter (Twitter.com/CVS_Extra) to learn about upcoming ExtraCare promotions and participate in various giveaways, including the "12 Days of Giveaways" event starting on Dec. 3. More holiday savings news and updates can be found on the CVS/pharmacy Facebook page (Facebook.com/CVS).
And beginning Nov. 20 for the five weeks leading up to Christmas, shoppers can head to "Destination Christmas" on CVS.com or visit the CVS/pharmacy YouTube channel each week to watch videos featuring moms with popular blogs sharing their favorite gift suggestions and holiday savings tips, the retailer added.