Over the Thanksgiving break, Ronda and her Mom had the bright idea of heading out to WalMart Thanksgiving night for a couple of “door busters” that where advertised in the Thanksgiving Day Flyer. The rational was that THIS Walmart was out in the boonies and the crowds wouldn’t be as large.

WRONG! They both headed out at 9:45pm for the 10:00pm sale and were home by 10:10pm. See, THIS Walmart was so packed that people were parking across the four lane highway and walking across to get these deals. Just a quick glance at the huge crowd turned them around to head home. These “deals” weren’t worth the hassle or madness.

Not when you’re at risk of getting pepper sprayed!

Me, I’ll just shop online. Been doing it for years and I’m not about to change now. Especially when I can shop AND get commission for whatever it is I’m looking for. While Black Friday’s sales were good, Cyber Monday today should outshine Black Friday by a long shot. The best place to find all these deals in one place is our ZamZuu site. (Type in “Cyber Monday” in the search bar of our ZamZuu site for all the stores offering Cyber Monday specials!)

Below is a list sent out from the Home Office of just a few of the specials you’ll find today. Most are good for today only, but a few carry over into tomorrow. It’s worth checking out, and you’ll never know what you might find doing a search. It’s quick, it’s super easy, and pepper spray is NOT an option in the comfort of your own home.

AdditionElle: This Cyber Monday, get 25% off your order + Free Shipping online at AdditionElle! Use Promo Code: AECYBER2011 (Valid Nov 28th only)

Alloy: Free Shipping on All Orders online at Alloy! Use Code CYFS. Valid 11.28

Avenue: Online at Avenue Cyber Monday Offer 50% off 3 or more items + free shipping with code AV111322 valid 11/28 only!

Executive Essentials: Shop Cyber Monday- Save up to 75% on memorable gifts- Fine Pens, Globes, Wallets, Wine Carriers, more online at Executive Essentials! Free Shipping on $50+ orders. 11/28 and 11/29

Dell: Special door busters – today only online at Dell! Limited quantities. Plus Free Shipping on all PCs. Nobody does Cyber Monday like Dell!

IceJerseys: CyberMonday – 15% OFF Apparel & Accessories online at IceJerseys-
Promotion runs from 12:00 am EST on Monday Nov. 28, 2011 until 11:59 pm EST on Monday Nov. 28, 2011.

Jos. A Bank: Cyber Monday Special online at Jos. A Bank! 50% Off The Entire Site and FREE Shipping No Minimum! (11.28.11 ONLY!)

Maidenform: Cyber Monday Sale Take 50% OFF Sitewide Plus Free Shipping on all U.S. orders One Day Only Online at Maidenform!

Crocs: 25% Off Sitewide (some exclusions apply) Online at Crocs and Crocs Canada! 11/28

Life Uniform: Cyber Weekend Offer – 20% off site wide plus free shipping online at Life Uniform – No Code Required 11/28 to 11/29

Walgreens: $10 off $40 Sitewide online at Walgreens. 11/28

Kmart: Online at Kmart Cyber Monday Sale! Shop Thousands of Deals + FREE Shipping on $49 with code HOLIDAY

NunnBush: Cyber Monday! Take 30% off any purchase online at NunnBush using promo code Cyber11! 11/28

Florsheim: Cyber Monday! Take 50% off this select group of shoes online at Florsheim! Use code Cyber11

Penningtons: This Cyber Monday, get 25% off your order + Free Shipping online at Penningtons! Use Promo Code: PTX25 (Valid Nov 28 only)

Cesar’s Way: Cyber Monday deal – 10% off any size order online at Cesar’s Way. Use CESAR at checkout. Valid Cyber Monday only. 12:01 AM PST – 11:59 PM PST.

Famous Footwear: During the Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off Sale take an additional 20% off sitewide + Free Shipping with promo code CYBER11! Online at FamousFootwear Valid 11/28/2011. Exclusions apply.

Easy Spirit: Online at Easy Spirit Today Only! Save Up to 60% + Free Shipping On All Orders! Discount reflected at checkout.

Macy’s Canada: Find Huge Savings online at Macys Canada at the Cyber Monday Sale + $9.99CAD Flat rate shipping! 11/28/11 Only!

Macy’s U.S.: Cyber Monday Specials + Free Every Day Shipping Sitewide with $75 Purchase online at Macys (US)! Valid 11-28-2011 Only.

Target: Cyber Monday Only Deals at Target! Save Up to 80% on Entertainment!

Home Depot: Today only Cyber Monday savings Now at Home Depot! Up to 40% Off Appliances, 25% Off Dyson Vacuums, 20% Off Thousands of Area Rugs, 20% Off Select KOHLER Products, 10% Off Select Tile, 50% Off Select Patio Sets, 20% Off Select Artificial Christmas Trees, and More!

Kohl’s: Take an Extra 20% off your entire purchase today at Kohls. Enter promo code CYBER20 at checkout. AND get Free Shipping sitewide no minimum purchase required.

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If you’re like us, the Holiday Season is jam packed. (This year more than ever!)

If your like me, you want to avoid the malls at all costs. (LOL!)

We’ve saved both time and money over the last couple of years by shopping online and let the stores come to us. Shopping online these days is not only easy and secure, for someone like me who doesn’t have a lot of spare time (and hates shopping) this is a perfect solution.

That’s why we love ZamFest – which kicks off tonight. Not only will you find a great selection of deals, but you’ll find a lot of items you probably won’t have to fight over in the stores. Most of these deals expire on November 17, 2011 unless otherwise noted. Shop early and SAVE!

We got a sneak peak late last night at some of the deals you’ll be able to find and have listed them for you below.

Enjoy!

ZamTek Wireless — Black Friday Comes Early – Exclusive pricing on new and best sellers with Bluetooth headset & car charger. Jump start your gift list with these exclusive wireless deals without the wait. This is your chance to a get a Samsung Transform, Samsung Stratosphere or myTouch Q free with 2-year carrier agreement. Plus, for 3-days only get a Bluetooth® headset and car charger FREE on select devices. For this great deal and more visit ZamTek on a ZamZuu Shopping Site!

Pacific Sunwear: Men’s Hoodies, Fleece and Jackets: Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off. Ends 11/17

Personalize That!: Receive 20% off your order. Use discount code- Black Friday Comes Early!

Ghiada: 50% off in stock product! Limited availability! Email zamfest@zamzuu.com with your size, and we’ll let you know what we have in stock! Hurry! This is a close out Special!

Ganovia Coffee: Huge Savings! Purchase for only $16.99 per bag!

Samsonite: Limited Time Web-Only Special – $25 off every $125 you spend. Use Promo Code: 25OFF125. Ends Wednesday, November 23, 2011 11:59 PM PST. Some exclusions apply.

ZamZuu Nutrition: Get four boxes of your favorite product for the price of one!

pH perfect: Purchase an Alkaline Stick for only $35 or the home ionizer for only $750!

NBC Universal Store: Fans & Family, 20% Off Sitewide & 15% Off DVDs. Now through 11/17

Appliances Connection: Pre-Black Friday Sale 20% OFF select Appliances thru Nov 24th

Chaé Organics: Receive 25% off all open stock inventory, excluding collection, business builder kits and specials! Additional Specials: Four Holiday collections are available – Chaé Essentials, Tooth polish/sanitizer trio, body butter/salt scrub duo, and Oh Baby! Chaé Baby! Bonus! First 50 Qualified orders will receive a free lifesaver collection!

ReNew Life: Receive 10% on all products during ZamFest! Clear: Stock up on Clear Products and receive 20% off during ZamFest using promo code: Coach.

Nine West: Nine West Get Good Sale 30% – 50% Off Select Styles! Shop Now Through Nov 21.

Elizabeth Arden: 33-Piece Holiday Color Collection ($350 value) for JUST $27.50 from Elizabeth Arden. Now through 11/30.

Restaurant.com: Get $25 Restaurant Gift Certificates for $3 with code ZAMFEST! Now through 11/20 BONUS!

Mystery Product: Zamzuu be unveiling a brand new line during ZamFest! Be sure and tune in for the exciting reveal, and receive 25% savings on the entire line.

Tune in tonight beginning at 7:00 p.m. Central on http://www.ZamZuuTV.com. We’ll be rebroadcasting at the top of every hour until Midnight, November 17, 2011.

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Our family spent this past weekend in the mountains. The fall colors were magnificent. Every little mountain town was packed with people who were enjoying the fall festivals and fairs surrounded by gorgeous fall color and cooler temperatures.

Festivals and fairs are a huge part of the fall program. YTB is getting into the action starting tonight @ 8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 pm Central and runs through Midnight on Thursday, October 20, 2011. You can check it all out on ZamZuuTV.com.

This year we’ve got more than just e-commerce deals – we’re combining it with travel for some spectacular savings during CLIA’s World’s Largest Cruise Week. You can join a local party which are being held all over the county – or you can simply log into ZamZuuTV.com and check things out from the comfort of your own home. You can also text the word ‘ZamFest’ to 58203 for a chance to win great prizes.

New to ZamFest this year are travel deals. In years past, we’ve always separated the two events, and you may already know about CLIA’s World’s Largest Cruise Week. Just about all the cruise lines are offering great specials and attractive offers this week. YTB is highlighting two in particular with MSC Cruises and Holland America. You can find more information about CLIA’s World’s Largest Cruise Week and specific vendor promotions here. Information for Holland America’s sale can be found here.

Globus is also offering a really good deal this week, where you can save $800 per couple on all 2012 Europe air-inclusive vacations. More info can be found here.

Make sure you check out our Doll Jeanie Sharpless while on the webcast. Jeanie will offer up an incredible perspective and help you pick just the right cruise experience during the ZamFest webcast. And since we’re also talking Europe and Globus, YTB Founder Coach Tomer makes an appearance with his wife to share experiences from their recent travels in Europe. Both will be fantastic insider experiences.

If shopping is your pleasure – we have deals for you on that as well. Here’s a list of national companies we’ve been able to contract with for Zamfest this week.

Check this out…

Looking for a concert great theatre experience or sporting event this year? TicketsNow is your connection to all the fun and excitement of live music, theater and sports. TicketsNow is an event ticket resale marketplace where fans of live entertainment buy and sell tickets. The marketplace provides safe and convenient access to hard-to-find event tickets. This week, find the best tickets at a discount. Use the code ‘ZAMFEST’ when placing your next order for 10% off. With TicketsNow, it’s on. This special sale lasts through October 31.

Take advantage of huge savings for a limited time online at Brookstone. Use promo code ‘ZAMFEST2′ now through 10/22/11 and get 20% off site wide at Brookstone. (Some exclusions apply, see their site for details.)

Looking for lighting fast Internet speeds? Do you want the ability to roam with your Internet connection? Or how ‘bout making the leap to VoIP? We’ve been using Clear products for the last two years and LOVE it. It’s fast, reliable, and they’ve got fantastic customer service. Receive 15% off your order with code ‘coach’ October 18 – 20, 2011.

Try out a new restaurant this fall and save with Restaurant.com. Save 60% off most purchases with code ‘ZAMFEST’! October 18 – October 20.

InkGrabber: October 18 – 20th enter code ‘ZAMFEST’ and get 10% off your order!
(Excludes OEM Items)

And of course, we can’t forget our ZamZuu partners. These folks launched exclusively with ZamZuu and that’s how they got their business launched. Word of mouth advertising from thousands of ZamZuu faithful really help their bottom line. Ask any of these companies and they’ll tell you, you can’t find a better ROI than a company like ZamZuu.

Chaé Organics is making this Zamfest extraordinary by letting you have access to all open stock items at 50% off! Enjoy organic, ToxicFree® products for every aspect of your life. Choose from household cleaning supplies, a full pet care line, basics for babies, advanced high performance skin and body care as well as hair care for any texture and color! During ZamFest, when you order from Chaé Organics you will get a FREE gift. We’ll enclose a quarter ounce (0.25 oz) Vitality Serum and VitalEyes, a combined value of $18.00. Chaé Organics always covers your cost of freight with a free gift!

Personalize That: Receive 20% off your order! Use Code: Fall into Savings

Crystal Memories: Receive 20% off! No code required; order online through a ZamZuu
Shopping Site

pH Perfect: Ionizer – The best deal ever at only $750! Normal Retail Price: $949! While supplies last.

ZamZuu Nutrition: Receive four for the price of one! Stock up on the best daily nutrition product available through our ZamFest promotions.

Ganovia Coffee: Great Package! Get one bag of Ganovia Classic Black, one bag of Ganovia Arabica Black, and a pH perfect water stick for $49.99! (The pH perfect water stick retails for $69.99 alone!) Call in to order at 618-216-4322. Just ask for the Ganovia and pH perfect stick combo!

Tune in beginning tonight on www.ZamZuuTV.com @ 8:00 pm Eastern 7:00 pm Central. If you happen to miss it, no worries. We’ll be rebroadcasting every hour on the hour until October 20 @ Midnight Central time.

Enjoy your savings!

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Real quick – You know how much I’m lovin’ Best Buy right now.

BestBuy.com has just announced a very special Midnight Sale, Online Only, Starts Midnight Through 8 a.m. EST on Thursday (5/19).

This after-hours sale will feature hot deals on a variety of popular categories.

But hurry, these special sale prices will only be available for a short period of time, while supplies last!

Go check it out!

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I’ve seen a ton of upgrades and website enhancements during my tenure with YTB. Quite honestly, I’ve lost count how many times our sites have been updated with new looks, technology features, and a wider array of product offerings.

Not to diminish anything the company has done in the past, because at the time it was released it was big. However, what I saw yesterday afternoon with a new look, technology improvements, social connectivity and user friendly design of this site tops anything the company has ever released.

Welcome to the new ZamZuu.

See, this is a result of what happens when companies pay attention to current trends and hot features of the day. Technology, especially on the Internet, is constantly changing and evolving. What’s really cool about a site like ZamZuu, is that you can implement certain features and redesigns like this on a regular basis to keep customers engaged.

There are many new features with the new site. The new look is much easier to navigate, by redesigning categories, keeping everything is what’s known in site design as “above the fold”. Let’s face it, people are lazy and scrolling down a long page just doesn’t cut it. Now, just about everything can be found without the need of scrolling down a single inch. (Trust me, it’s a very important feature – more important than you think.)

Another new addition is the shopping cart within ZamZuu.com. Now, customers can shop and purchase products within the same shopping experience. This in turn will increase the average amount of cash back for customers. (The more they buy – the more they save.)

On a promotional front as either a Free Agent or Site Owner with Zamzuu there’s a very cool feature that personally I’ve been waiting for.

Twitter and Facebook integration.

Now Free Agents and Site Owners can link directly to hundreds of stores with a simple click of a button. See a special sale at Macy’s? Tell your Facebook family about it with a link directly to Macy’s through your ZamZuu site. They get cash back, and you get a commission.

How easy is that?

I’ve got about 1000 friends on Facebook, and a portion of them are also partners in YTB and ZamZuu. They’ve already gotten the hang of this feature, and they understand what a real game changer this is.

There’s still a bit of cleanup to be done, and more stores to add over the coming weeks. While the links are correct in the Facebook integration, the API pulls a generic description for ZamTek for example. (Easily changed manually at this point however.)

There are a couple bugs to be fixed – which is inevitable when a release like this is offered to the general public. Then the company will focus on the next upgrade.

Another upgrade you ask? Yes, another upgrade for the YTB Travel Network sites with much of the same functionality as our new ZamZuu sites.

Can you imagine?! The travel site upgrade was supposed to be released in two weeks during Funshine. However, with all the work being done with the ZamZuu sites, and the new partnership with Orbitz, Funshine has been postponed until the travel upgrade is ready for launch. If it’s anything like this ZamZuu launch – I can pretty much promise it will be worth the wait.

And to the folks at the Home Office who worked on this ZamZuu upgrade. Hot damn! This is a nice upgrade!

Many thanks to you for your hard work – and especially for implementing the features the field wanted most.

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You may or may not remember the Internet landscape in 2001. At the time travel was moving away from Brick and Mortar and moving toward Internet only sites like Travelocity, Orbitz, and Expedia. Last year, Expedia overtook the top spot in annual travel sales according to Travel Weekly’s annual Power List report. Expedia jumped up and over two previous power houses, American Express and Carlson Wagonlit to land firmly at number one. The big 4 (Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, and Expedia) have had a firm hold of the top ten for years.

Oddly enough, YTB Travel Network was also founded in 2001 and made its own mark over the last ten years in the travel industry. (Much to the chagrin of traditional agents – who lost business due to both models.) All signs were pointing toward this massive market shift as technology made things easier, faster, far more accessible, and with the increase in competition, better pricing for the consumer. Some embraced it – others ignored it – while others tried to fight it.

In 2009, the parent company of YTB Travel Network (YTB International, Inc.) considered, and tested the waters with online retail. What we found was not only a brand new revenue stream, but another untapped market that was poised for massive growth. Early in 2010, YTB launched ZamZuu and has been in the driver’s seat with hundreds of online retail stores that add value to an already massive client base.

And the timing couldn’t have been better.

Internet Retailer, a leading authority for e-commerce, is reporting that early data analysis for Internet Retailer’s forthcoming 2011 Top 500 Guide — web-only merchants took business away from the rest of the market in 2010.

Without Amazon, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide which grew sales year over year by 39.5% to $34.20 billion from $24.51 billion, the remaining 54 online-only merchants grew revenue 27.6% to $5.27 billion in 2010 from $4.13 billion in 2009.

Even combined revenue from merchants who have both a brick and mortar location and web presence show money moving to the internet. Web sales increased 32.9% compared to their total retail sales which grew year over year by only 3%.

Internet Retailer ranks the Top 500 business-to-consumer retailers based on online sales, including retail chains, catalogers, web-only merchants, brand manufacturers and digital content sellers. The list is literally a who’s who in retail. While the 2010 listing is still being collected and crunched, these early numbers show a significant shift in how people shop in the modern era.

What I really like about the publication is the snapshot it provides on just how well retailers doing on the internet. (Both web-only and combined B&M with web presence.) It’s not just sales numbers, but how retailers market on the internet to generate sales. What type of affiliate program they have, or which affiliate network they use. (Be it direct like Amazon, or through Commission Junction or Google like Staples.) It also provides demographics and shopper profiles to help affiliates match up stores with their core audience demographic.

Like the travel sales we’ve seen shift to the internet, it’s no accident that retail is also making significant strides on the World Wide Web. The growth is quite impressive.

Fight it – ignore it – even justify it if you want. Like travel, it’s a battle and opportunity you’re going to lose out on if you’re not in the game.

The smart ones, not only see, but seize the opportunities that show this kind of growth and promise.

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A couple weeks ago we kicked off the Christmas Shopping Season with ZamFest. In that report, we linked to a chart provided by ZippyCart.com that expected that almost half (49%) off all holiday shoppers plan to shop online. (Up from 42% a year ago.)

Online retailers are in FULL SWING this Holiday Season to capture the increase of online shoppers. I have two folders in Outlook that collect e-mails from retailers. One for retailers I’ve spent money with online – and one from retailers I’ve made money with online. If I didn’t corral the massive amount of promotional e-mails into these folders, they’d overtake my e-mail account. The massive amount of solicitations from retailers is overwhelming as they all try to convince you that they have the best deals this Holiday Season.

While I haven’t been able to read every single promotion, I’ve yet to see one that mentions standing in line at the store during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. In fact, many of them point out that the line connected to Internet is not only shorter, but offers a larger selection, and is cheaper to boot.

To take advantage of the increase of online shoppers ZamFest is back for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Now, shoppers can take part in all the fun by joining ZamZuu for a savings spectacular without the long lines. Wearing their pajamas while shopping for deals is actually encouraged during the event when it begins at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Friday, November 26. The company will begin posting amazing Black Friday Dealz on the ZamZuu Dealz Facebook page.

Personally, I hate shopping and this is a much better alternative for this annual frenzy. The thought of getting tangled up in the chaos of Black Friday is an event I’d rather avoid. Part of it comes from years of working in the retail industry with Gateway (before they closed their stores) and HiFi Buys (before they filed for bankruptcy.) The frenzy – the mess – the extended hours – and the attitudes of shoppers during this time of year did not make my Holiday all that cheerful or jolly.

I know there are shoppers who either camp out all night, or get up way too early to hit the stores before the sun comes up Black Friday to head out to stores. To me, that’s just nuts. Especially when you can shop online and get that same deal in just a few clicks and you’re done. No mad rush, no long lines, and no disappointment that you have to trek to another store when the display has been decimated by crazed shoppers who got there before you did.

No thanks.

Another big push I’m seeing in all these solicitations from retailers is “Cyber Monday”. A growing event over the years that’s designed specifically for Internet shoppers and everyone is getting on board to increase sales, making the most out of the Holiday shopping season. If there’s any doubt that online retailing hasn’t caught on or a significant part of a retailers overall strategy to increase revenue – you don’t need to look any further than annual event.

ZamZuu is also hosting a special Cyber Monday webcast beginning at 12:01 a.m Eastern, Monday, November 29 and rebroadcasting for a full 24 hours of unbelievable deals from ZamZuu. A great opportunity to pick up some great presents with special savings all from the comfort of home.

We did the MAJORITY of our shopping during the same weekend last year and never left the house. We found better inventory, better prices, and a much better atmosphere. (NO CROWDS) These online stores were also open 24/7 so we could shop and buy when at a time that suited us best.

Last year, we had all the kids presents drop shipped to Pittsburgh (Grandma and Grandpas) keeping the presents out of reach from prying eyes! A big plus for us as parents, and the kids where actually surprised last year. (LOL!)

Don’t miss it! These amazing deals are only a couple days away with Black Friday Dealz and the ZamZuu webcast on Cyber Monday!

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