DALLAS -- With retailers opening their stores even earlier for Black Friday doorbuster sales, shoppers started the hunt for December holiday deals as early as Thanksgiving evening. But shopping in the middle of the night is nothing new for 7-Eleven customers. They have been doing it for years.
"7-Eleven is a great place to multi-task when the days--and nights--don't seem long enough, and the shopping days are dwindling," said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, 7-Eleven Inc.'s senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics. "Fill up you car, grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich, and while you're at it, scratch off a couple of things on your holiday shopping list. No lines and no worries. It's about convenience, and that's what we're all about."
Deal the Cards
7-Eleven has music, game and general purpose gift cards. Titles include Vanilla Visa, iTunes, Facebook, Zynga, Xbox Marketplace and PlayStation.
"Recipients can use general purpose gift cards for whatever they want ... or need," Delgado-Jenkins said. "They can split it up among their favorite stores, put it toward necessities like gas and groceries, or even use it for something experiential, like a trip. They're not locked into one store or restaurant."
With iPhones and iPads at the top of millions of Christmas lists, iTunes gift cards are a great choice to give new users of the latest Apple devices. Apps, songs, movies, TV shows, audio books--the online iTunes and App Stores have something for everyone. 7-Eleven carries $15, $25 and $50 iTunes cards.
Or give the gift of game. Each month, more than 230 million play Zynga online games like FarmVille, Mafia Wars, CityVille and Words with Friends. While the games are free to play, players can purchase virtual goods to enhance the experience and fun. Zynga cards purchased at 7-Eleven unlock an exclusive, free in-game item--the Polar Bear Globe. Facebook introduced its own gift cards last year, offering a safe and easy way for Facebook users to pay for digital and virtual goods in games and apps across mobile, desktop and videogame systems. 7-Eleven also carries Microsoft Xbox Live Marketplace and Sony Playstation gift cards.
Give a Jingle
As an alternative to high-priced smartphones, 7-Eleven offers cost-saving, no-contract options on feature-rich phones that include texting, social networking, web browsing, camera, voice dialing, Bluetooth, games and apps.
One such handset is Virgin Mobile's PayLo Kyocera 2300. Currently available online and in most stores for $49.99, the phone is available through December at participating 7-Eleven stores for just 29.99. The Kyocera comes preloaded with Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and games. The $30 monthly fee includes 1,500 minutes of talk time, 1,500 texts and 30 megabytes of data.
For heavier wireless and data users, 7-Eleven offers the T-Mobile Nokia X2 handset, available with unlimited monthly data plans. During December, the retail price of the handset is discounted $20 to $59.99. The Nokia X2 handset is also pre-loaded with social media apps, email, instant messaging, an MP3 player and games. Users can also download other mobile apps from the TMobile Mall. Unlimited phone, texting and web access is just $50 per month.
Airtime cards for both handsets are available at participating 7-Eleven stores.
A (Angry) Bird in the Hand
7-Eleven has gotten in the game, offering a variety of Angry Birds merchandise from bird and pig plush toys to magnets, key chains and wrist bands. Items retail from $3.99 to $9.99.
Pillow Talk
Participating 7-Eleven stores have Pillow Pet Pee-wees, an affordable mini-version of the popular full-size pillow pet. This small-size companion folds out to a pillow and is great for nap time, road trips and airplane rides. Suggested retail price is $12.99.
A Remote Possibility
The retailer is offering a remote-controlled race car or helicopter designed exclusively for 7-Eleven and with an affordable suggested retail price of $12.99 and $19.99, respectively.
Right Time
7-Eleven is carrying a selection of trendy, bright-colored watches. All designs retail for only $9.99.
Tool Time
Mr. 7 Hands Multi-End Screwdriver with Flashlight is a convenient and practical gift. With its unique folding arms, this screw driver keeps both Phillips and slotted bits in multiple sizes at the user's fingertips. An attached flashlight handily lights the work area. Suggested retail price is $14.99.
Light Her Fire
7-Eleven is offering LED holiday candles. Each of the three flameless snowmen gives off a welcoming glow and retails for just $4.99.
Wine Down
Entertain on a budget with 7-Eleven's value-priced Cherrywood Cellars or Sonoma Crest Cellars Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. Award-winning and recognized as "good buys," 7-Eleven's private-label wines outsell vintages for well-known domestic wineries, the company said.
Sweet!
7-Eleven stores will stock a variety of sweets, perfect for gift-giving or stuffing stockings--Skittles Holiday Banks, LifeSavers Heritage Tins, Hershey Giant Kisses and 5-pound chocolate bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Snowmen and Trees, Snickers Nutcrackers and Ghirardelli chocolates.
Hitting the Road?
For those wanting to make a surprise trip to see the family, 7-Eleven now offers a convenient way to purchase Greyhound bus tickets. Holiday travelers can book reservations online at greyhound.com and select cash as their payment option, placing the schedule on hold for 48 hours. The customer prints the confirmation slip and takes it to any participating 7-Eleven store within 48 hours to complete the cash purchase and receive a printed ticket and receipt. At the station, riders can proceed directly to the bus terminal without waiting in line at the ticket counter. The technology behind the transaction is powered by the PayNearMe cash payment network.
"We know the holiday clock is ticking," Delgado-Jenkins said, "but 7-Eleven will be open and ready whenever they are."
Based in Dallas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 8,900 7-Eleven stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven has approximately 44,300 stores in 16 countries. During 2010, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales close to $63 billion.
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