YAKIMA, Wash. — For those who are keeping track — there are just eight days left until Christmas. And the rush has begun:
• The U.S. Postal Service said in a news release that today will be their busiest mailing day. It expects to process about 658 million pieces of mail, compared to 528 million on a typical day. This is a surprise to few. Despite urging from some to send gifts and cards early, many still wait until the last minute. And no doubt the other shipping companies will be busy as well.
• Speaking of shipping, today is Free Shipping Day. Just like its siblings Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Free Shipping Day is yet another opportunity for retailers to offer a fresh new promotion to get them shopping. Of course, it’s worth noting that many retailers have offered free shipping throughout the holiday season.
• With the record turnout on Thanksgiving and Black Friday this year, it’s not surprising that shoppers made more progress on their holiday lists this year. Shoppers, on average, completed 56.5 percent of their shopping compared to just 46.5 a year ago, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation. But retailers need not worry — just 11.3 percent surveyed said they were completely done with their holiday shopping.
So how much shopping do you have left this holiday season? Have you taken advantage of free shipping offers online? Let me know in the comments.