The Shoebox

We’re in the home stretch of Holiday madness. 2013 is knocking on our door and some will welcome the New Year with open arms, while others will shoo it away. Regardless of your feelings on the 13^th year of the millennium, be sure to start to new year fresh: Allow positive thoughts to wash over you like a salted ocean on a warm day and think up the ultimate resolution to achieve in 2013. It’s a new year, a new start, so do away with regrets and fears and make this one count.

Get What You Really Wanted

According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated $62.7 billion dollars worth of unwanted gifts will be returned this year. To avoid battling the crowds and waiting in that long, pesky return line, only to discover you failed to achieve the store’s return policy, be sure to do your research first.

Many stores will issue you a store credit so as long as your merchandise is unused and the tags are in tact, but some outlets are upping their policies this year due to a spike in return fraud, which will cost retailers $2.9 billion this season. The National Retail Federation reports that criminals will return stolen merchandise with fraudulent tags and receipts, making it difficult for employees to be generous with their understanding of receipt-less-returns.

Phoning your relatives and friends to request a receipt for their generous gift doesn’t sound fun or ideal, but at the end of the day they’d rather see you using something their money purchased for your rather than knowing that far-too-big sweater is sitting in the back of your closet. To smooth things over, after your exchange is complete, be sure to send your loved ones a picture message of the goodies their returned gift landed you.

New Year’s Day Sales

Many of us are suffering from shopping exhaustion and over indulgence, but those of us who are still hanging on and ready for more, Tuesday is your time to shine. As the partied-out nurse their champagne hangover on New Year’s Day, be the first in line for up to 70% off sales from department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney’s, who boast notoriously good New Year’s Day deals.

For those discount-seeking shoppers who can’t quite bare the light of day on New Year’s, there are plenty of online sales set to take place. Check Macys.com for price slashing coupon codes, as well as the sale section on Bloomingdales.com and Nordstrom.com, for additional markdowns.

Sample Sale Code: Light Yellow

There are no important sample sales to report during this holiday week, but if you are looking to get your fashion fix then get your discount shoe shopping on come Tuesday.

Located at 537 3^rd Avenue, Shoebox will play host to a Designer Warehouse Sale through January 7^th with footwear from Frye, Kate Spade, KORS, and many more for up to 80% off, in addition to handbag collections from Rebecca Minkoff, Kooba, and Botkier, among others.

A similar sale of sorts is going on nearby in Gotham Hall at 1356 Broadway. Starting Wednesday at 9AM, the Shoe-Inn Footwear Warehouse Sale will unleash a price set sale, with boots from Ralph Lauren, Elizabeth and James, Sam Edelman, Frye, and more marked at either $50, $75, $100 and $150 and designer shoes from Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, marked at $25, $50 or $75.

With so many parties and far too much shopping taking place early on in the week, you’re going to have to make next Saturday and Sunday the ultimate recovery weekend. Did someone say spa day? Happy New Year shopping lovers!

By Caitlin Colford