Holiday Tip-Sheet for the Early-Bird

Cleveland, Ohio (November 2007) – The National Retail Federation reports that more than 40 percent of all shoppers plan to begin their holiday shopping before Halloween. This year, getting an early jump on the competition will have more perks than ever before.

Retailers always take note and modify their offerings in accordance with such trends and American Greetings lifestyle experts offer the following tips for these proactive shoppers to take advantage of what is out there (well, if they haven’t started shopping already).

• Use that extra time to actually shop: If you find yourself in the midst of your shopping list before Halloween rolls around, reward yourself by taking more time to peruse the aisles to find the perfect gift, card, wrap and accessories for everyone on your list.

• Enjoy the lack of traffic: By getting out ahead of everyone else you have ensured yourself the avoidance of long lines and crowded malls. So take advantage of your situation to actually enjoy your shopping experience in a leisurely fashion.

• Spread out your holiday tasks and hunt for bargains: Starting your holiday preparations early means that you’ll have more time to commit to all of your various seasonal tasks, including sending holiday cards, grocery shopping, baking and cleaning. It also means that you can bargain shop a bit for the essentials.

Make a list of everything you need to get done and then spread out your holiday chores as you go. Use down time to fill out greeting cards, bake and freeze items on the weekends and pick up a few items every time you head to the grocery store for the big holiday meal. Take advantage of early sales and specials as you go.

• Solicit help: More time means more opportunity to find out exactly what friends and family want. Casually note favorite colors and styles, and stay alert for any hints they may drop. You can also seek out suggestions for any hard-to-buy for person on your list.

• Dress up your gifts: In addition to having more time to get everything done, the early bird also has more time to dress up their gifts to ensure that they express the sentiment that went into them. You took extra time to choose that thoughtful gift, so use care to make it look like it from the outside in. Accentuate any gift with a handmade attachment or other thoughtful touch.

The new collection of holiday cards from American Greetings can be found at participating drug chains, grocery stores and super centers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. Visit www.americangreetings.com/retailers for store locations.

About American Greetings Corporation
American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of social expressions products and greeting cards. Its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.7 billion. For more information on the company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.