Category: Purcado

As the holidays are fast approaching, Santa’s little elves—you know the ones at the post office—are hard at work. Because so many people send things via snail mail this time of year, services like Amazon, FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service have to flex their schedule just a bit. But what does that mean for you and your Christmas gifts?

You want to make sure your gifts arrive on time. So, you’re probably going to have to flex your schedule a bit, too. Shipping something through USPS? Send packages and cards out earlier than normal—a week before they need to arrive is the most common recommendation. And a far as shopping online? The earlier you shop the better, because stores have similar shipping policies to make sure they can guarantee delivery by Christmas.  

Haven’t finished your shopping? Don’t sweat it. You still have time to shop, ship and have a jolly ol’ time. Here are the most important delivery dates and deadlines you should know if you’re still picking out some last minute gifts.

Nordstrom

Shop Nordstrom to find the perfect gift for every fashion girl and guy in your life. The last day for two-business-day shipping is December 20. Last day for free standard shipping on gift cards and qualifying merchandise is December 21. Miss the deadline? Order online and pickup in store. 

Macy’s

Want a great deal on shoes and boots fro the family? Macy’s is where it’s at. For standard shipping and premium shipping, order by 5 p.m. on December 20. For express shipping, order by noon on December 21. Found something online after the cut-off date? No worries, you can buy online and pickup in store until 10 a.m. on December 24.

Zappos

Zappos offers fast, free shipping every day with no order minimums. To get your order by Christmas morning, order before December 21.

Amazon

Amazon is your one-stop-shop for all of the gifts on your wish list this season. The last day for standard shipping is Monday, December 18 if you want your items before the holiday.

Are you a Prime member? You’re guaranteed free two-day shipping until December 22, free one-day shipping until December 23 and Prime Now 2-hour delivery until December 24.

Target

Target has a lot of great deals for the holiday season—and free shipping until December 23. Just make sure to order by 11:59 p.m. on December 20.  Choose “holiday shipping delivery” if available and the package is guaranteed to be delivered by then.

Finish Line

Need new sneakers for the family? Want a cool pair of Nikes for the kids under the tree? Order from Finish Line by December 17 for guaranteed Christmas delivery and get free shipping when you spend $75 or more.

ShoeMall

ShoeMall is offering great discounts on every day shoes and designer brands throughout the season. Choose free standard shipping and order by noon CST on December 15 for guaranteed delivery. Choose priority shipping and order by noon CST on December 17 for guaranteed delivery. Need it fast? Choose express shipping at checkout and order by 11:00 a.m. CST on December 20.

Footshop

Shopping for a sneakerhead? Footshop carries the latest and greatest in trendy sneakers for men and women. Shop until December 15 for guaranteed Christmas delivery.  

Want to get the best price on your favorite shoe brands? Search with Purcado to find the lowest price on Nikes, Adidas, Converse and more every single day. Want to learn more? Follow us on Instagram!

When it comes to planning the family holiday card, there are two types: those who have their photos taken, cards printed, and letters mailed by December 1 and those (AKA you) who just looked at the calendar and said: “oh no, not again”. Don’t fret, though—we’re saving you this year in more ways than one. First, we want to help you make inexpensive holiday cards with the tools you already own. 

Here’s our guide to taking a professional-looking photo with just an iPhone (so you don’t have to hire an actual professional or pay your friend with the DSLR)—plus tips for finding the best deals on holiday shoes to wear for your photos.

Decide what you’re wearing.

Coordinating outfits with the entire family can be a struggle, but the perfect holiday card requires a solid plan. Inexpensive holiday cards are doable if your outfits are already in your closet! Pick a color-scheme—and, to save money, choose something out of your own closet. If you need a new pair of winter boots, then shop around first. Don’t buy before comparing prices—use a site like Purcado to easily compare prices on your favorite shoe brands or styles to know exactly where to shop to get the best deal. 

Plan the shoot.

You can’t simply take the photo for your inexpensive holiday cards , you need to have a plan. Where will you shoot it? What time of day? Who will take the photo? Plan ahead. Pick a day that forecasts decent weather, then choose the golden hour to shoot—at sunrise or an hour before sunset. Choose a few good poses. Stagger the subjects, with some standing and some sitting, and always have adults hold children. Whatever you decide, just make sure it looks natural, not staged. Also, mixing in few different poses keeps the shoot fresh and gives you more options once it comes time to create the card.

Set up the shot.

When it’s time take the photo, you’ll need to set up the shot. If you or someone in your family is blessed with an iPhone 7 Plus (or better yet an iPhone X), set your phone to Portrait mode and go. You’ll be shocked by the ease of this “professional” photo shoot. Don’t have a fancy iPhone camera? It’s okay, Dad who hasn’t given up his iPhone 5, you can still take a great photo. Achieve perfect lighting by tapping and holding anywhere on the screen to lock AE/AF, and then slide your finger up or down to adjust the exposure. Remember, the best photos are taken outdoors, in good lighting, with a non-busy background (think: open field or brick wall).

Don’t forget to edit.

Every great photographer knows their job isn’t done when the camera turns off. Processing, editing, and touching up is an art in itself. But thankfully, it’s easy as pie—and you can do it all from your phone. Inexpensive holiday cards aren’t impossible—even when editing the photos. You don’t need a Lightroom subscription. For a low price, editing apps like VSCO can bring life to your image with unique filters and lighting options. Don’t see a filter you like? You can purchase the perfect coloring pack on the VSCO app for as low as $1.99—still cheaper than a professional photographer.

Make those inexpensive holiday cards.

There are also several apps that let you make inexpensive holiday cards straight from your phone. Here are a few favorites.

Felt. With this easy-to-use app for the iPhone or iPad, you can save time writing and sending countless holiday cards. With Felt, you can create one card to rule them all, plug in different addresses and send. No more hand cramps from writing, stuffing envelopes or fussing with stamps. Felt cards start at just $3, including postage!

Ink. With over 500 customizable card designs, Ink is the go-to app for creatives looking to make the perfect Christmas card. Each card starts at $1.99 (including postage!).

Shutterfly. Shutterfly offers an easy-to-use desktop or mobile app for designing your cards. Simply navigate to their site or download their app, upload your photos and start creating. Cards start at $0.76, not including postage!

Send, send, send.

Once you collect the addresses of friends and family, it’s time to send out your cards. All of these apps—with the exception of Shutterfly—will address and mail your cards for you, so you can skip this step. However, if you choose Shutterfly, you’ll have to mail them yourself. You could go to the Post Office and wait in line, but we all know how maddening that can be—especially during the holidays. Save time by ordering postage online—either at USPS or Stamps.com.

So, now you know the secret to an easy, fast and inexpensive holiday cards that still look amazing—what are you waiting for? Head to Purcado to find the lowest price on holiday shoes. Then, grab your phone, some festive sweaters and get to work!

Purcado Can Save You $ On Your Holiday Shoes & Boots

Purcado is the shoe search engine—and the quickest and easiest way to find shoes online for less. Think of us as the Trivago of footwear (and the ultimate shoe sale!). We present you with prices from 100+ retailers all in one place, so you can easily see the savings. When you need a new pair of shoes, don’t pay full price. Search with Purcado and find the best deal on the web.

Best part? Our service really works to save you money (and it’s FREE to use). The average Purcado user saves 30% off retail price on the athleisure, fashion, and running shoes they actually want. Smart shoppers search with Purcado first—try us out today!

For many, Thanksgiving evokes images of giant turkeys, dining tables overflowing with food, and family gathered around the kitchen to say grace. You laugh. You cry. You catch up with long-distance cousins. You hug Aunt Deb a thousand times because she can’t believe how big you’ve grown. You don’t think much about how special it is because you know you’ll be back here in a month to do this all over again at Christmas.

If that was you, do you know how fortunate you are? For many families, the thought of Thanksgiving paints a very different picture. Maybe they don’t have family to celebrate with or perhaps they can’t afford the luxury of a holiday feast. Either way, this is the year to remember what Thanksgiving is all about: being grateful and thankful for what we have and spreading that joy to our friends and neighbors.

Take this holiday as an excuse to do something kind for another. From feeding the homeless to trotting along on a 5K, there are plenty of opportunities to serve your community on Thanksgiving (and year-round!)—here are 5 ways to give back this holiday season.

1. Run a 5K for a Cause

Have an athletic family? Forgo the turkey this year, lace up your running shoes, and hit the trail. Most major cities, and even some small towns, hold 5K races on Thanksgiving to raise money for local charities or nonprofits. Even if you don’t like to run, you can always help by volunteering with packet pick-up before events or set up before the big day.

2. Donate to a Local Food Bank

Did you overestimate how many cans of cranberry sauce you’d need? Want to pick up a few extra cans of soup and veggies on your grocery run? Donate them to a local food bank and help families in need have a Thanksgiving meal, too. Don’t know where to donate? You can look up the location of a nearby food bank and learn how to donate here.

3. Visit a Nursing Home

Older folks in a nursing home may not be in good enough health to visit long-distance family this holiday season. Brighten their day by offering even just a few minutes of company. Want to make a bigger impact? Organize a volunteer event for your church group or community organization—the more smiling faces the merrier!

4. Clean Out Your Closet

Since the holidays are all about giving (not receiving!), what better way to show support and love to your community than to help keep them warm. You just bought a new jacket for yourself and your kids, but what about those who can’t afford winter clothing? Take this time to empty out your closet and get rid of old hats, sweatshirts, coats, mittens, and boots. Don’t have anything to give away? Go out and buy some affordable clothing—from a place like Target—and donate it to a local charity.

5. Help Your Neighbor

Giving back on Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a grand gesture of generosity. A simple act of kindness can go a long way. Help out your neighbor by mowing their lawn when you mow yours. Offer to babysit for the single mother down the street. Giving back to people you know is just as rewarding and thoughtful as helping your greater community.

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Thanksgiving is a time to remember who matters the most: the people around us. Whether it’s family, friends, co-workers or community members with whom you spend most of your time, do something kind for them this holiday season. You’ll see how special a simple act of giving can be.

From all of us at Purcado, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

It should come as no surprise that here at Purcado our team loves a good pair of shoes. As many of us are self-proclaimed sneakerheads, we aim to stay up to date on fashion trends. It’s our mission to provide our readers with the most eye-catching styles and show-stopping deals. As per our newest team member, you might also notice that we love animals. 

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What’s better than puppies? Nothing—and, as you can see in the cutest (and furriest!) campaign ever, Neiman Marcus, agrees with us.

Want to put a smile on your face? Shoes and puppies can do just that. In a genius marketing feat Neiman Marcus and The Dogist, an Instagram account run by photographer Elias Weiss Friedman, paired designer shoes and adorable dogs to show off (and sell!) this season’s hottest accessories.

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Why Successful Brands Advertise Using Animals 

According to the American Pet Products Association, it’s estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States. Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. What do these statistics tell us?

People love animals—especially their own. Pets are a cherished part of every family, with special privileges and a unique place in our hearts.

When placed at the forefront of an advertisement, they work. And, the reason is simple. The love and adoration we have for our pets can be channeled to create positive first impressions and greater customer attention. Think about those Super Bowl ads that featured a furry Golden Retriever. They’re memorable because you probably pictured yourself.

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If you’re the guy going out with his buddies, you definitely want to make it home for your Fido, too. And, let’s be honest, who’s not still singing along to the K9 Advantix dog from 2008?  

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In marketing, the most basic formula for a successful campaign lies in the ability to find a common connection between you and your consumer. Marketers spend much of their time trying to discover what will grab the attention of the largest number of people in their audience.

Animals offer something that other advertising techniques cannot: inclusivity. Sure, there are different breeds and sizes, but overall animals appeal to people regardless of demographics. Oh, and they’re really cute.

So, Neiman Marcus, we applaud you for finding the golden ticket—and we don’t mind ogling cute shoes and fluffy puppies while admiring your fall campaign. You most definitely got our attention.