LGBTQ news and entertainment
According to the Commerce Department, gross domestic product surged at a 4.9% annual rate over the summer as the job market continued strong, and falling inflation gave Americans confidence to spend on goods and services. This news comes on the heels of solid 2%-plus readings in the first two quarters of the year. Not quite the doom and gloom you keep hearing about from some folks. Continue reading “Report: GDP Surged At 4.9% In Third Quarter”
The BBC reports a balloon drop at Westfield Parramatta mall in Sydney went terribly wrong when several participants were crushed in the chaos. Hundreds of shoppers were fighting for the balloons which were stuffed with gift cards (some worth only $5). The incident occurred at the end of a marathon Christmas shopping event. There were children among those injured in the crush, and several were sent to the hospital. The mall owners say they are investigating the incident.
Online sales hit a Black Friday record with $7.4 billion in sales as people stayed home and shopped via the internet. That’s just barely behind the record one-day online sales which was $7.9 billion on last year’s Cyber Monday. Adobe Analytics tracks sales for 80 of the top 100 U.S. online retailers, and according to the AP, they expect online sales to jump to another record this Cyber Monday with an estimated total of $9.4 billion. Adobe reports 39% of all online purchases on Black Friday were done on cell phones. Top sales items included Frozen 2 toys, sports video games, and Apple laptops. Meanwhile, RetailNext – which tracks instore activity at thousands of stores – says instore traffic dropped 2.1% from last year. However, in-store and online shopping aren’t always separate. Many shoppers order online and then pick up purchases in person, avoiding the hustle and bustle in store aisles. Adobe says online/in-store sales surged 43.2% from a year ago.
Love everything Colton Haynes? Want more? We got the store!
Colton Haynes excitedly shared the news that he’s launched a new online store (located at, appropriately coltonhaynes.com) for selling “super limited edition stuff” like iPhone cases, t-shirts, hats, posters and more.
The handsome Haynes shared with his Twitter followers he used the “Daddy” label as that’s what fans call him online; and the “Anxious” label referring to his ongoing issuing with chronic anxiety.
I did the DADDY Merch cause y’all have always called me that on Twitter 🙂 & y’all know why i did the ANXIOUS items!— Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) July 5, 2016
Sales were apparently brisk as after two hours the site had crashed due to traffic, and the merch was almost sold out.
I am so blown away by all of yalls support 🙂 In just under 2 hrs…we are almost SOLD OUT. Sending hugs!!! https://t.co/cZnNqVeyUI— Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) July 5, 2016
Here’s Colton’s announcement vid today:
Pinterest features an adorable gay couple as the social site offers buyable Pins.
Learn more at https://pinterest.com/buyit
One of my “Roving Reporters” spotted one of my favorite entertainment insiders, Brian Edwards, down at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica after a mad-dash thru the Converse Store. Gee, shopping for a change. Imagine that!
Its rumored that friends of Rusty Joiner and his wife Charity are concerned that Brian will turn baby Cariss Alaina into a shop-a-holic before she’s 5! Story at 11:00! 🙂
#MissThangShoppingPro
#TeachThemYoung
#DivaInTraining
More stores than ever are announcing that they will be open for business on Thanksgiving Day this year.
The move has turned off some shoppers who think being open for business on the traditional family holiday is in bad taste and takes workers from their families.
Walmart, Target, Kmart, Macys, Gap and Old Navy are just a few of the stores that will be open to snag those early holiday season dollars.
On the flip side, Costco, Apple, Radio Shack, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls, among others, have stated they will be closed on turkey day so their associates have the day to celebrate with their families.
What do you think? Should shoppers be mad that stores are open on the holiday itself? Or does this give some employees the chance to make some extra salary? Should anyone care?
Leave your comments below. I’m curious how folks really feel about this.
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| Graphic via ThinkProgress – Click image to enlarge |
You had to know this was coming sometime!
We now have The Randy Report Official T-shirts, coffee mugs and a little something cute for the furry friends in you life!
Check out my little t-shirt selection at Cafe Press.
All proceeds go to help buy coffee or wine for this friendly neighborhood blogger 🙂