Savvy Shoppers Turn to Half Off Depot for Holiday Shopping

Social Commerce Site to Offer 10 Percent Off for Black Friday
Atlanta – November 17, 2010 – Each year, millions of consumers flock to shopping malls and major retailers the day after Thanksgiving with the hopes of finding the best deals of the holiday season, and while Black Friday’s roots run as deep as the 1960’s, the current economic environment has shoppers being as budget-conscious as ever.

The National Retail Federation reported that 40 percent of shoppers will be keeping sales and discounts in mind during their holiday shopping this year. However, getting the best deal doesn’t necessarily mean having to bear the crowds on Black Friday. Instead, savvy consumers are turning to websites like Half Off Depot to find great discounts from the comfort of their own homes.

Sarah Baker, an Atlanta mother of two, uses Half Off Depot to buy holiday gifts for a host of friends and family members.

“My friends and family lead very busy lives, so when the holidays roll around, I like to encourage them to do something for themselves, and Half Off Depot makes that easy and affordable,” said Baker. “On one site, I can get restaurant certificates for my foodie friends, skydiving lessons for the daredevils, basketball tickets for the fanatics, and a surprise bed and breakfast getaway complete with wine tasting for my husband and myself!”

Rebecca Tatum of Tennessee says her family does the same.

“As a one-income family, we have to be creative to make ends meet during the holidays. With Half Off Depot, we can give great gifts without breaking our budget,” said Tatum.

Currently available in more than 30 markets across the US and Canada, Half Off Depot features a virtual shopping mall of deals from 50-90 percent off at shops, restaurants, bars, attractions and events.

The idea is simple: Half Off Depot partners with local businesses to offer products and services at a major discount. Consumers are then given the option to buy the deal for themselves or as a gift for someone else. After a deal is bought, the buyer either prints a voucher or waits for a gift certificate in the mail. Then, when it’s time to redeem, they simply present the voucher to the merchant.

Half Off Depot has already saved consumers across its 30+ markets nearly $5 million to date in 2010 alone, and the company expects that number to significantly increase as the holiday season approaches.

Last year, Half Off Depot saw a drastic increase in revenue during the holiday season, particularly during Black Friday, when average daily revenue increased by almost 450 percent.

“The holiday shopping landscape is changing drastically, and frugal consumers are refusing to pay full price for items they could easily get at a discount,” said Patrick Best, president of Half Off Depot. “It’s this budget-savvy mindset that has allowed Half Off Depot to grow and thrive.”

In order to save consumers even more money as the holiday shopping season kicks off next week, Half Off Depot will offer a Black Friday coupon code. For an additional 10 percent off the website’s already great deals, shoppers should use the code “blackfriday” during checkout from November 26-30. To begin shopping, visit www.halfoffdepot.com.