Latest news with #discountshopping
Bloomberg
11 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Temu's US Sales on a Losing Streak on Tariffs, Ad Spending Cut
Temu continued to suffer double-digit sales drop in the US as the online marketplace cut spending on advertising, adding to a slump caused by tariff-induced hike in product prices since April. The discount shopping app owned by PDD Holdings Inc. first saw a drop in sales after it added import duties to goods shipped directly from China in late April, according to Bloomberg Second Measure, which analyzes credit and debit card data. Import duty on shipments from China rose to 54% in early April and subsequently surged to as much as 145%.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
B&M bargain hunter reveals how to pick up £248 worth of items for just £22.80
A SAVVY shopper has revealed how they picked up a whopping £248 worth of goodies from B&M for just £22.80. The eagle-eyed bargain hunter shared their massive haul on social media, revealing how they used a free app to unlock hidden discounts. 3 3 In the now-viral clip, they explained how they scanned barcodes on items using the B&M app's built-in scanner and discovered shockingly low prices. Many of the deals were not even marked on the shelves. They kicked off the haul with a 50p air freshener, down from £3.48, and a keychain arcade game down from £10 to 50p. A trendy sunset lamp was also reduced from £8 to just 50p. But the real savings were found in the toy aisle, where the TikToker picked up heaps of cut-price finds including a Barbie Colour Reveal set, a Crayola paint station, tracing pads, and even Funko Pop gift sets, all for just £1 each. One of the biggest wins was a £25 item that scanned for just £1 at the till. They also picked up a £10 charger for just 50p. In total, they saved over £225, all thanks to the B&M scanner app. The savvy shopper who goes by @nostalgia.2000s1 on TikTok has posted a video explaining just how shoppers can use the scanning app to get money off their purchases. The tool allows shoppers to discover discounted items before the staff have even reduced them. B&M shopper rushes to buy energy-saving gadget scanning for £1 instead of £35 The scanner lets you see if the item's price is cheaper than advertised on the shop shelf. Products that are typically discounted are seasonal items and old stock that B&M is trying to shift, or they're labelled "big brands" and "big savings". The scanner is c free to use - you just need to download the B&M app. Retailers tend to reduce items like this to clear out seasonal stock or discontinued lines, often at specific branches. How to maximise your chance of finding a bargain The Sun has covered plenty of B&M scanner wins over the years, so we've picked up a few tricks or tips along the way. Here are some pointers to help you nab a deal: Check seasonal items: These are the items that are most likely to be reduced. So after Christmas, you'll want to be checking all the festive products. And after summer, you may find paddling pools and outdoor toys reduced. Scan reduced items: Even reduced items can be discounted even further when you check it with the B&M scanner. Visit more than one B&M: If you've got the time, it could pay to visit more than one B&M as stock availability and discounts will vary between branches. For example, we spoke to B&M shopper Chloe Louise who nabbed £860 worth of goods for £80 by visiting five stores in one day. Pick your day and time carefully: We've spoken to B&M haulers who claim the time and day you visit your local store does have an impact on how many bargains you'll find. There isn't a set formula for all stores, so try and visit at different times until you know when is best. Use Facebook groups: Keep an eye on what is likely to be reduced by joining B&M Facebook groups. For example, the B&M Bargains and More page has more than 274,000 members all posting deals. So while you might not find the exact same deals, it's definitely worth checking your local store. The reduced price shown on the app is what you'll pay at the till. Products typically discounted include leftover Christmas stock, discontinued toys and branded items B&M wants to shift. It's always wise to shop around too. Tools like Price Spy, and Google Shopping can help you compare prices across thousands of retailers. If you're lucky, you could bag a basketful of bargains – just like this savvy shopper. How to use the B&M scanner app Using the B&M app will help you bag plenty of bargains on your next shopping trip. The app is free and easy to use. Here's how you can join the bargain hunt. You'll first need to download the B&M app for free on any smartphone with an App Store or Google Play. Once you've installed it on your device, click on the option labelled "more" on the bottom, right-hand side of the app home page. You'll then find an option that says "barcode scanner". Click on this and you'll open a camera screen. Use the camera to hover over the barcode of the product you wish to check. If the price comes up as lower, take it to the cash desk and it will automatically scan at the lower price. You don't need to sign up for the B&M app to use the barcode scanner. What other deals are available at B&M? Bargain hunters have been flocking to B&M, desperate to get their hands on massively reduced homeware items. The items included a bedside table that was previously £45 but now scanning for £1. Elsewhere, B&M released a number of garden furniture, this included a Sienna double egg chair which retails for £250. It also released the Paris 2-Seater Pod Chair is on sale also priced at £250. Whilst you'll always land a good deal, B&M isn't the only place savvy shoppers will find great bargains. Last month, budget supermarket Aldi launched a gorgeous new garden must-have Decorative Table for just £14.99, perfect for creating your own Mediterranean retreat. As well as a cheaper alternative to the Karcher pressure washer by some £80. Argos has also slashed its prices on a massive range of outdoor and DIY essentials, with discounts of up to £60. Three weeks ago, Wilko knocked down prices on patio sets, lounge chairs and bistro sets. It's always worth having a look across different stores and comparing prices to make sure you're getting the best value for money. How to compare prices to get the best deal JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn't mean it's always a good deal. There are plenty of comparison websites out there that'll check prices for you - so don't be left paying more than you have to. Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers. Here are some that we recommend: Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results. Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one. CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of. 3
Asharq Al-Awsat
12-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
'Treasure Hunt': Tourists Boost Sales at Japan's Don Quijote Stores
Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colorful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote store in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. "I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there's so many options, everything's in a different language," 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the United States told AFP. But "I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like $70" including "a coffee cup for my mom, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple toys". The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed "Donki" were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration: the idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel, "Don Quixote". He wanted to shake up Japan's staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fueled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are "around 1.7 higher than before the pandemic", said Motoki Hata, a manager at the retailer. Last year its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12 percent year-on-year for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a "treasure hunt" -- a fun experience that foreign visitors love, Hata told AFP. "Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for," he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavor KitKats, a popular exclusive product. - 'Jungle'-like - Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 stores in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the United States and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs -- including levies of 24 percent on Japan, which have been paused until July. Even so, "I wouldn't bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment", Kraft said. "Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan -- even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their stores." They are also "some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I've seen", with consistently "the best selection of almost anything". However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is "cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old" with products seemingly "hanging from everywhere". Don Quijote's omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its "Don Don Donki" jingle on repeat just adds to the "jungle"-like experience. "It is just almost an assault on the senses," Kraft said. - Inflation hits - Still, Don Quijote "has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan", Kraft said -- especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country's core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2 percent in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice. Household consumption fell 1.1 percent in 2024, with some people making the trip to Don Quijote to save. "It's less expensive than other shops, and they also have famous brands," said a Tokyo resident who shops at the store twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Shoji Raku, 20, told AFP she shops at Donki for "shampoo, electronics and everything that you don't find elsewhere". There is even usually a cordoned off adults-only section at Donki stores selling various sex toys. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new stores targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centered on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. "It is a store for you to buy as much as you want -- but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it," he said.
Malay Mail
11-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
From sex toys to cherry-blossom KitKats, Japan's Don Quijote thrives as tourists ‘hunt' for quirky bargains
TOKYO, May 12 — Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colourful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote store in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. 'I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there's so many options, everything's in a different language,' 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the US told AFP. But 'I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like US$70 (RM300.79)' including 'a coffee cup for my mom, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple toys'. The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed 'Donki' were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration: the idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel, 'Don Quixote'. He wanted to shake up Japan's staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fuelled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are 'around 1.7 higher than before the pandemic', said Motoki Hara, a manager at the retailer. Last year its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12 per cent year-on-year for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a 'treasure hunt' — a fun experience that foreign visitors love, Hara told AFP. 'Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for,' he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavour KitKats, a popular exclusive product. 'Jungle'-like Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 stores in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the US and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs — including levies of 24 per cent on Japan, which have been paused until July. Even so, 'I wouldn't bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment', Kraft said. 'Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan — even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their stores.' They are also 'some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I've seen', with consistently 'the best selection of almost anything'. However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is 'cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old' with products seemingly 'hanging from everywhere'. Don Quijote's omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its 'Don Don Donki' jingle on repeat just adds to the 'jungle'-like experience. 'It is just almost an assault on the senses,' Kraft said. Inflation hits Still, Don Quijote 'has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan', Kraft said — especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country's core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2 per cent in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice. Household consumption fell 1.1 per cent in 2024, with some people making the trip to Don Quijote to save. 'It's less expensive than other shops, and they also have famous brands,' said a Tokyo resident who shops at the store twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Shoji Raku, 20, told AFP she shops at Donki for 'shampoo, electronics and everything that you don't find elsewhere'. There is even usually a cordoned off adults-only section at Donki stores selling various sex toys. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new stores targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centred on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. 'It is a store for you to buy as much as you want — but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it,' he said. — AFP
Japan Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
'Treasure hunt': Tourists boost sales at Japan's Don Quijote stores
Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colorful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote store in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. "I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there's so many options, everything's in a different language," 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the United States said. But "I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like $70" including "a coffee cup for my mom, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple toys." The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed "Donki" were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration: the idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel, "Don Quixote." He wanted to shake up Japan's staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fueled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are "around 1.7 times higher than before the pandemic," said Motoki Hara, a manager at the retailer. Last year its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12% year-on-year for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a "treasure hunt" — a fun experience that foreign visitors love, Hara said. "Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for," he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavor KitKats, a popular exclusive product. 'Jungle'-like Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 stores in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the United States and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs — including levies of 24% on Japan, which have been paused until July. Even so, "I wouldn't bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment," Kraft said. "Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan — even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their stores." They are also "some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I've seen," with consistently "the best selection of almost anything." However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is "cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old" with products seemingly "hanging from everywhere." Don Quijote's omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its "Don Don Donki" jingle on repeat just adds to the "jungle"-like experience. "It is just almost an assault on the senses," Kraft said. Inflation hits Still, Don Quijote "has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan," Kraft said — especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country's core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2% in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice. Household consumption fell 1.1% in 2024, with some people making the trip to Don Quijote to save. "It's less expensive than other shops and they also have famous brands," said a Tokyo resident who shops at the store twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Raku Shoji, 20, said she shops at Donki for "shampoo, electronics and everything that you don't find elsewhere." There is even usually a cordoned off adults-only section at Donki stores selling various sex toys. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new stores targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centered on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. "It is a store for you to buy as much as you want — but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it," he said.
