What to expect from Presidents Day sales
Look for deep discounts on a variety of items to begin the week before the actual holiday.
This post comes from Louis Ramirez at Dealnews.
While many consumers often associate February with deals on chocolates and flowers, this month's best sales will actually take place on Presidents Day, which some consider the retail industry's first major sale day of the year.
If you're one of the lucky few to have the day off, there are a lot of offers and promotions to wade through. But are these sales worth it? We combed through 2012's best Presidents Day bargains to offer some guidance for 2013.
Sales might eclipse Valentine's Day
As with Black Friday and Christmas, Presidents Day sales start way in advance. In fact, last year some of the earliest sales began nine days before Presidents Day, which is Feb. 18 this year. However, the majority of retailers (including Macy's, Aeropostale and Crate & Barrel) kicked off their sales five days in advance.
This year, we expect to see the bulk of Presidents Day sales begin Wednesday, Feb. 13. Last year, promotions were consistent throughout the week, so if you see a Presidents Day sale on Feb. 13, you can rest assured that price or discount won't change much come Feb. 18.
Apparel is most heavily discounted
Shoppers, take note: When it comes to Presidents Day sales, apparel is the most discounted item. In fact, last year clothing accounted for 30% of all Presidents Day sale items listed on Dealnews. We saw major sales from the likes of Gap (40% off), Levi's (25% off) and Aeropostale (50% off). Men's suits also saw significant savings with a BOGO sale from Macy's and up to 55% off men's suits at Kohl's.
In addition to apparel, home furnishings and accessories also saw significant discounts last February, accounting for 23% of sales with deals on big-ticket items, such as mattresses (up to 66% off at Sears) and patio furniture (up to 50% off at Home Depot).
Consumer electronics see aggressive discounts
Finally, gadgets and consumer electronics accounted for 17% of all deals, with notable discounts from Lenovo, Dell Home and J&R. Each took 10% to 15% off select laptops.
However, keep in mind that this year big-screen HDTVs (55 inches and up) and Ivy Bridge-based laptops are undergoing aggressive discounts, so keep an eye on those items this Presidents Day.
Other discounted items worth noting include tools, watches and pet food, each of which saw deals from 20% to 30% off. In addition, if you happen to miss a Valentine's Day jewelry or chocolate deal, rest assured that there's a chance it might still be available come Presidents Day. Last year we saw Godiva and Szul extend their Valentine's Day offerings through Presidents Day.
More on Dealnews and MSN Money:
- Valentine's Day shopping guide
- The best and worst things to buy in February
- Awful taxes that make yours seem not so bad
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