the buzz log

July through October are the months when most Americans are born, at least according to the last time the government counted up all the little fingers and toes. Moms-to-be are starting to show now, propelling them into full surfing mode for maternity wear. Luckily, a few have support: Recently, 1 out of 5 searches for “maternity clothes” on Yahoo! were conducted by men. (Otherwise, there goes their comfy flannel shirts to the cause.)

With Mother's Day only weeks away, figuring out what to give a mama-to-be might be a little easier if you knew what she craved. Below are items on some ladies' Search wish lists (besides a really good sardine milkshake and some chalk-flavored chips).

• Hot Mamas-to-Be. A rapid weight gain doesn’t mean you can't—and don't want to—look good. "Sexy" ensembles have swelled up more than a third compared to last year. Online shoppers have considered “maternity belly rings,” “sexy maternity T-shirts,” “hot maternity dresses,” “erotic maternity lingerie,” and even “strapless maternity dresses.” Here's hoping gravity holds for those fashionistas.


• If the Shoe Doesn't Fit: As tummies swell, so do the tootsies, which explains a threefold Web surge for “maternity shoes,” compared to last year. Unlike the come-hither looks sought above, more pragmatic considerations dictate what goes on aching feet, namely "comfortable."


• Oh Snap. Who says women don’t want to be photographed when they’re heavier? Searches for "maternity photography" (as well as inspiration for such poses) are up 48%. The queries come from all over the country—from San Diego, Calif., to Jackson, Miss., to Fort Myers, Florida. Demi Moore may have helped to wallop the pregnancy photo barrier with her 1991 Vanity Fair cover; before then, a woman's "condition" was something to be shrouded in lots of fabric. But the biz is also a natural outgrowth of the big wedding-photography boom.


• Hey, I'm Birthin' Here. Will New York see a population boomlet? At least, that’s the region doing the most research into maternity clothes, followed by Washington D.C., Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Either those ladies are more fashion-conscious, or expect to hear the pitter-patter of little feet in those areas.

Filed under: Shopping, Fashion, Photography, Pregnancy, Women, Shoes

When the legend of capitalism is studied millennia from now, will future economists recognize discount sales as the slippery slopes that they are? After all, once you knock 50% off a price tag, it's going to take that and then some to get shoppers to come back again.

And don't retailers know it. Every year they churn out massive discounts and incentives to inspire the increasingly crazy shopping that occurs once we've stopped eating turkey. This time around, though, consumers and retailers have been playing a game of chicken in this woeful economy.

So far, needy desperation had led to discounts well in advance of the holiday season, leading to spikes for that awkward term, "pre-black friday sales." Black Friday may sound like the title of a low-budget holiday slasher flick, but in this sequel not all buyers have fallen victim to incremental cuts, and many may be holding out for the bitter final markdown.

Indeed, intense online vigilance continues to show a pent-up need to buy: Cumulative searches for sale-related terms ("day after thanksgiving sale", "walmart black friday") and sites tracking them ("theblackfriday.com," "tgi black friday") are 38% higher than the same 2007 shopping period.

True, the Sacramento Bee claims "big early markdowns could rob Black Friday of some of its traditional oomph." Then again, the New York Post reports that shopping centers expect Thanksgiving sales to be higher... but profit margins smaller. Search activity may be leaning towrds the Post's slightly more optimistic outlook: Would-be shoppers have been scouting out way more stores in advance than last year, such as:
  • Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Sears, Target, Circuit City, Kmart, Menards, Macy's, Meijer, Apple, Amazon, Fry's, Kohl's, Home Depot, Office Depot, Shopko, Best Buy, Lowes, Staples, Sam's Club, JC Penney, Old Navy, Costco.

Naturally, part of this increased online activity could due merely to savvier consumer behavior about checking for sales info online (especially finding those ads so conveniently "leaked" in advance).

Or perhaps consumers realize that this year, they don't have to pay the real Black Friday prices: nasty crowds, dwindling inventories, and mall overload. Instead, they can bide their time or, as they've been already doing, walk away entirely. In this game of chicken, the retailers have already blinked, and may be preparing for the crash as well.

Filed under: Shopping, Holidays, Sales, Economics

Are there three words more dreaded and charged in the history of childhood summers than “back to school”? Just as the hot, glorious months begin to seem like they could stretch on forever, those three blunt sounds bring it all crashing to a close.

This year, the trio of words is scaring the grown-ups, as well. In articles climbing the Buzz charts, we read of retailers “terrified” of slumping fall sales and parents doing their best to “scrimp” for bargains in the face of daunting gas and food costs.

However, it doesn’t have to be that way. A number of blogs have risen to the challenge of helping folks find deals before the school buses roll onto the roads. “Get it for less,” cries Savvy Sugar. “Cut your back-to-school shopping bill in half,” declares Shine. Thinking specifically of college kids, NextStudent offers tips for “surviving the economy.”

The green-oriented sites have taken a particular interest in reducing back-to-school costs—and consumption. Pushing the local swap meet, Craft Magazine encourages readying for classes in “green, DIY style,” while Sustainablog.org calls for an end to the “madness”: “It’s time to curb the stuff.”

Curbing the stuff may help with the adults' concerns, but woe to the not-yet-graduated set. None of this will delay the time before homework starts accumulating in lockers and teachers begin checking attendance. Enjoy your summer while you can, kids.

Filed under: Shopping, School