Expect more promos, free shipping as days wane for holiday shoppers

Next week could be one of the busiest shopping times online since Cyber Monday, some experts say.

In fact, Thursday, Dec. 17, is expected to be the next heaviest day online because hundreds of retailers are expected to offer free shipping as an incentive to procrastinators and bargain hunters, said Illinois Retail Merchants Association spokesman Pete Gill.

"That has the potential to be even busier than Cyber Monday," Gill said. "But (Dec. 19 is) the last Saturday before Christmas online and in stores, that is expected to be among the busiest, too."

For the holiday season so far, nearly $16 billion has been spent online, marking a 3-percent increase versus the same time last year. The most recent week ending Dec. 6 reached $4.6 billion in holiday spending, heavier than any individual spending week in 2008, but still below two individual weeks in 2007, according to ComScore, which tracks online shopping.

Besides sales and promotions, free shipping has been the big hook to get online shoppers to order.

"It's one of the most sought-after promotions," said Thomas Harpointner, CEO of Atlanta, Ga.-based AIS Media, which works with retailers nationwide.

Dec. 17 represents the last day most retailers will offer free shipping so the product arrives on time for Christmas. Ground shipping is usually the free promotion. But the closer you get to the holiday, the more it will likely cost, especially for express or overnight shipping, he said.

And don't be surprised if bricks-and-mortar stores use e-mail to send you last-minute coupons or specials, even as late as Christmas Eve, to drive you into the store, Harpointner said.

"Retailers this year are really embracing the Internet," he said.

Surfing: Oakbrook Terrace-based CompTia, a trade group for IT professionals, will partner with Work force Investment Boards to help people gain the training and certifications needed to help secure IT jobs. See www.comptia.org/certifications/backtowork.aspx.

• Chicago-based CouponCabin.com, which started in Hoffman Estates, now offers more than 35,000 coupons online.

•Arlington Heights-based Restaurant.com launched Feed It Forward, an online initiative that allows people to give away gift certificates now through Christmas Day. See www.Restaurant.com/FeedItForward on how to share the remaining gift certificates for free.