Black Friday Survival Tips from Rockaway Townsquare

Simon Property Group, owner of Rockaway Townsquare and a host of other New Jersey malls, offers tips for making the most of the 2013 holiday shopping experience:

• To avoid the onslaught of holiday shoppers, pick your shopping time wisely. The best time to shop is at 11 a.m. on midweek mornings. Peak shopping occurs on Saturday afternoons.
• Create a thorough list of what you intend to buy before you arrive at the mall.
• If you are fairly certain what you intend to buy, or have done advance browsing online, take the time to call stores from home and have particular items put on hold. When you arrive at the store, your items will be at the checkout counter and ready for purchase.
• Be certain you have all forms of payment you plan to use – credit cards, gift cards, cash checks, etc., and photo ID if you plan to use checks.
• Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes. Being comfortable while you shop is extremely important. And layered clothes allow you to easily adjust from the cold temperatures outside to the warm temperatures inside. 
• Wear a handbag with a strap that you can put across your body and keep in front of you.
• When parking your car, park near the store where you plan to end your shopping trip. Write down the letter/number of the parking lot section and what major stores are nearby, so you will be able to readily find your car once done.
• Take a break. Simon’s properties feature soft seating areas where guests can take a few minutes to relax and decompress.
• Be sure to stop by Simon Guest Services or any mall’s customer service center first to obtain a mall directory and inquire about promotions and coupons.
• Don’t have the cashier put the receipt in the bag—that’s an easy way for receipts to get misplaced once you return home. Instead, keep all receipts in a designated place in your wallet, purse, etc.
• Ask cashiers about return policies, because they vary from store to store. And always ask for a gift receipt.