CyberMonday Kicks Off Today!

My friends can't stop talking about the glory of Black Friday. As if getting up at 3 a.m. and fighting throngs of non-caffeinated shoppers could be considered a good time. I, for one, value my sleep. And that's why I prefer to follow a better shopping holiday--Cyber Monday.

For those not aware of the amazing-ness of Cyber Monday, which officially started in 2005--this post-Thanksgiving shopping day takes place online, via the comfort of your laptop. Retailers are known to offer spectacular online one-day promotions. And according to a recent survey by Shop.org, 83.7 percent of retailers will have an online holiday promotion, up from 72.2 percent last year. Promotions will range from specific deals (38.8 percent), to email campaigns (32.7 percent) and one-day only sales (24.5 percent). Even better, 22.5 percent of retailers will offer free shipping on all purchases.

No shipping charges, I can shop in my pajamas and there are special offers? Seriously, it doesn't get any better than this.

Having to be at work isn't about to slow anyone down. Shop.org also reported that 55.8 percent of employees with Internet access will shop from work, compared to just 44.7 percent in 2005. It's really the young kids that are paving the way for us in this regard with 70 percent of young adults ages 18-34 shopping while working. Men are even more likely to shop and work than women--a whopping 60.3 percent versus 51.5 percent. I love to see men get passionate about shopping, don't you?

All of this working and shopping isn't too much of a surprise--after all this is the nation that practically invented multitasking. Who says we can't work and shop for the holidays at the same time?!

So, now that we know shopping online on Cyber Monday is the hip thing to do, how do we know where to shop? Well, as luck would have it, retailers have also created a site where we can gain access to special holiday promotions, via CyberMonday.com. There will also be (now this is exciting) a "Deal of the Hour," where a new retail promotion is featured every 60 minutes. It will be just like the Price is Right! Consumers can take advantage of free shipping offers, discounts and free gifts with purchase.

Since you're at work, reading this blog, you might also want to check out some of your favorite retailers' sites and finish up that holiday shopping. Wouldn't it be grand to have all of your holiday shopping complete by the end of day today? Shop on!

Have you used CyberMonday.com before? Prefer to online holiday shop over facing the crowds on Black Friday? Leave your comments here.

--Heather Strang