holiday shopping

The holiday season often brings joy and celebration— but it also brings a rise in cybercrime. The FBI says 12,000 victims lost $73 million to online scams during the holiday season in 2022, including in Alabama. UAB is now offering a guide for residents to preserve their cybersecurity.

An indoor and outdoor weekend event in Tuscaloosa that highlights local artists is being billed as "perfect opportunity to find some one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list." The Kentuck Art Center's Art Market Holiday Extravaganza is set for Saturday, Dec. 14 at Kentuck at Queen City on Jack Warner Parkway.

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month. Alabamians are now being cautioned about potential risks associated with toys. Most toy-related deaths have been linked to choking on small balls or crayons, drownings associated with flotation toys and entrapment inside toy chests.

Governor Kay Ivey is calling on Alabamians to show their support for the backbone of the state’s economy through Small Business Saturday. This annual event highlights the vital role small businesses play in Alabama’s communities and economy, while encouraging residents to shop locally during the holiday season.

Retailers in Alabama are bracing themselves for what’s expected to be a flat holiday shopping season. The Target store chain reportedly operates twenty three outlets in the state. The retailer expects little or no bump in sales due to the holiday season.

Alabamians are predicted to open their wallets and bank accounts for $18.5 billion in holiday spending this year, according to the Alabama Retail Association. State economy experts suggest getting orders in as early as possible to give plenty of time for shipping, with an emphasis on shopping local.

U.S. ports from Maine to Texas shut down Tuesday when the union representing about 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for the first time since 1977. Those ports, like the one in Mobile, handle roughly half of the nations’ cargo from ships. A lengthy shutdown could raise prices on goods around the country and potentially cause shortages.

Tree farms in Alabama and across the country seem to be keeping steady, even with inflation. The National Christmas Tree Association says most businesses aren’t increasing their prices for live trees this year. That’s even with inflation going up three percent since last year.

Holiday shoppers can purchase local and regional art for the holidays in Tuscumbia. The Winter Art Market is taking place at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art. Organizers of the event say 60 artists have booths inside museum through Saturday, December 23.

Consumers are scouring the internet for online deals as they begin to cap off the five-day post-Thanksgiving shopping bonanza with Cyber Monday. The website of the City of Orange Beach is spotlighting local businesses offering deals, including the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo which is featuring discounts at its gift shop.