The Blog @ Shopping-Bargains

Our much anticipated Product Search Engine that matches individual products to specific store coupons and free shipping specials is now live at Shopping-Bargains.com. This new, price comparison-like tool gives shoppers the tools they need to save even more money online when they search for specific products.

Our Product Search Engine is powered by a database that currently contains nearly 700 store catalogs and 20 million products. And if you don’t think this is enough (we don’t!), we’re regularly adding additional stores and products to this database as well.

So how do you use our new Product Search Engine? Just look in the header on any main page on Shopping-Bargains.com and you’ll see the product search box (see example above on right). Enter your product keyword, title, model number, etc. and click “Go” (or hit return). If a product match exists, the results will contain (when available) product images, prices, short descriptions and store information including whether a coupon code or shipping special may be available.

[Read more →]

This May marks the 10th annual National Military Appreciation Month and I wanted to write something in honor of our troops and their sacrifice. With that in mind, I interviewed Debbie Gregory, President and CEO of MilitaryConnection.com, and asked her several questions about ways to show support for military personnel. I encourage readers to act on her suggestions and do something in support of our military, not just this May, but all year long.

Mike Allen: With May being Military Appreciation Month, what are some practical ways civilians can show support to military personnel and their families?

Debbie Gregory: We at MilitaryConnection.com believe that there are a variety of ways that civilians can show their support and appreciation for our troops and their families. If you want to make a small gesture, you could [Read more →]

I received some Mother’s Day and spring suggestions from Jeanne Grasso of Always for Me that I wanted to pass on to our readers looking for suggestions on what to buy for Mom. Always for Me specializes in fashionable plus size apparel, lingerie, swimwear and more. Jeanne writes:

We have added some great new sale items to our lingerie section - that might be good for husbands to show the mother of their children how much they love them ?? We also have a fantastic selection of cover ups, sundresses and skirts for MOM. Why not a “Time out in Terry” for Mom. Terry robes and cover ups are great for after the beach or pool, relaxing at home or after a shower. Pair these with a cute pair of flip flops, a spa certificate, some great smelling beauty products and MOM will love it! Pretty and Practical. Check out our selection at the link below:

http://www.alwaysforme.com/coverups2.html

For those women looking to redefine their swimsuit shape before the season is in full spring we have a great selection of plus size work out wear… yoga pants or bike shorts and a great cami/workout bra might be just the inspiration Mom needs to take time for herself to get in shape.

Planning that Memorial Day barbeque or summer beach vacation - shop early for the best selection of plus size swimwear on the web.

I appreciate hearing from our store partners and receiving personalized suggestions that I can pass on to our readers. Be sure to check out the product reviews at Always for Me since it can help you make a decision that is more flattering.

On April 16, 2008 I served on a panel of judges for the final round of the Mississippi State University 2008 E-Business Plan Competition. Four student teams were competing for financial backing to start their proposed online business. The results of this competition, co-organized by The Services Innovation Group of the MSU College of Business & Industry’s Department of Marketing, Quantitative Analysis and Business Law and the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship Center, was announced today in the Starkville Daily News. Teams were judged on their written business plan and a formal presentation of their concept.

The first place team, composed of Renee LaBruyere, Ivan Valdez and Annette Woods, was awarded a $5,000 grant to help bring their concept into reality. This team will also receive guidance over the summer by the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship Center. I have been asked to serve as a mentor during this process as well.

I was pleased to have been asked by Gerald Nelson, director of the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship Center, to serve as a judge and look forward to mentoring this group of talented students.

A very thorough and favorable review of Shopping-Bargains.com was published by Associated Content on April 18, 2008. This review, entitled Shopping Bargains: The Ultimate Coupon Site, was written by Associated Content writer Amy Cox.

One of our readers sent me a thought-provoking email she received from “Laine’s Letters” in answer to a question to one of her readers about “homemakers.” This reader’s question for Laine had to do with feeling that her job as a homemaker was worth “little or less” than being employed within a career. Laine’s response was to show that a homemaker contributes an enormous amount financially to the family and she assigned a dollar value to 33 categories of services and savings within her own family.

One thing that Laine suggested was for homemakers to write down everything they as a homemaker save per month by being a homemaker. Multiply that figure by 12 and that’s a homemaker’s “yearly savings salary.” Laine had the goal of trying to double her husband’s annual salary by her savings as a homemaker. In her example, she did more than that. (In her case, they worked very hard to become debt free and she homeschools the children. Her figures come from what friends and family members are paying each month for similar items in southern California where she and her family reside.)

I wanted to share a portion of this letter since many of our readers and shoppers are homemakers and I thought it might be an encouraging exercise for each homemaker to find her “yearly savings salary.” I’m sure many women feel unappreciated and undervalued and I hope this information will [Read more →]