Shoppers Pick They Favorite Spots for Holiday Purchases

1 Mass Merchants
PERCENT OF VOTES 58%
Retail rivals Wal-Mart and Target are at it again this holiday season, fighting a pitched battle for consumer dollars. To entice budget-conscious shoppers, Wal-Mart is rolling back prices of 100 different items to $10 and less, while its competitor plans to lower costs up to 50 percent on anticipated big-seller gadgets.

2 Online
PERCENT OF VOTES 37%
A great deal of shoppers will be avoiding crowded stores this year, and why not, with free shipping abounding from online retailers including Finishline.com, DSW.com and Zappos.com. And customers can receive up to 20 percent off merchandise from a number of other retailers on the Web.

3 National Chains
PERCENT OF VOTES 32%
Stepping up their game this holiday season, Kohl’s will be expanding the number of days customers can earn and redeem “Kohl’s Cash” in-store coupons. The retail chain also plans to spend more money on direct mailing than last year, hoping to send nearly 50 e-mails to customers within the two-month holiday span.

4 Electronics Stores
PERCENT OF VOTES 26%
Electronic megastore Best Buy has big plans for the season, including giving consumers’ pockets a break with their “Deal of the Day,” where savings are offered daily on everything from gaming systems to stereos, now through Christmas Eve. The company also will hire more blue shirts to man the Best Buy floors to help with the customer craze.

5 Department Stores
PERCENT OF VOTES 25%
Department stores are always eager — sometimes a little too eager — to get into the holiday spirit, and Sears is no exception. The store has already begun its Black Friday sales, offering bargains on everything from power tools to workboots. And Neiman Marcus is making an extra effort this year to appeal to customers: Half the items in its annual holiday catalog will cost less than $250, a stretch for the luxe company.

6 Warehouse Clubs
PERCENT OF VOTES 21%
Costco Wholesale will be the place to shop for Thanksgiving dinner this year. After a test run at its New York stores, the company plans to start accepting food stamps at the clubs nationwide. It hopes to honor the program in half its stores nationwide by Turkey Day.

7 Toy Stores
PERCENT OF VOTES 20%
Toys ’R’ Us is reintroducing consumers to the idea of convenience this season. Like JCPenney in 2008, the children’s superstore has given customers the layaway option of putting larger-ticket items on hold, as well as the alternative of making a series of payments until the item is paid for in full.

8 Outlet Stores
PERCENT OF VOTES 20%
Tanger Outlet Centers are spreading cheer through their Twitter page this winter. The outlets have already begun to tweet about their Midnight Madness Sale, which starts at 12 a.m. on Thanksgiving night, as well as special sales and steals throughout the stores. And as an added bonus, every store in the centers is having major markdowns.

9 Clothing Specialty Stores
PERCENT OF VOTES 18%
Old Navy plans to embrace Black Friday this year, opening its doors at 3 a.m. It also is giving away a Lego Rock Band video game with every $20 purchase while supplies last, and will host its always-welcomed sales, such as 30-to-60 percent off the normal price on a selection of clothing.

10 Catalogs/Mail Order
PERCENT OF VOTES 16%
While ordering via catalog might not give you the opportunity to see Santa at the mall, Lands’ End has one alternative. On the company’s Website, products called “St. Nick Picks” will be featured daily to entice consumers to make purchases early and at a good value. The site also displays gift ideas priced under $30, $50 and $100.

(WWD)