4 Shopping Tips for the Holiday Season

It’s that time of year again, holiday shopping has begun! Everyone is looking for those unique gifts, hot toys, and cool electronics. Whether it is a hard-to-find toy for kids or the latest 4K smart TV. Black Friday sales seldom fail to pique the interests of even the most casual shoppers. Yet even after the chaos of Black Friday lies both Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. While it’s clear that businesses are after your dollars during the holidays, you should be aware that cybercriminals are on the lookout, too.

When it comes to holiday shopping, you need to be careful that you don’t fall prey to these criminals. Here are some tips to following for your holiday shopping:

Online Shopping Tips

1. Do not use public Wi-Fi for any shopping activity.

Public Wi-Fi networks can be very dangerous, especially during the holiday season. Public Wi-Fi can potentially grant hackers' access to your usernames, passwords, texts and emails. For instance, before you join a public Wi-Fi titled "Apple__Store," make sure you first look around to see if there's actually an Apple Store in your vicinity, and thus, confirm that it is a legitimate network. To help stay secure, you should always be on the lookout for the lock symbol on your webpage.

 2. Look for the lock symbol on websites.

When visiting a website look for the “lock” symbol before entering any personal and/or credit card information. The lock may appear in the URL bar, or elsewhere in your browser. Additionally, check that the URL for the website has “https” in the beginning. These both indicate that the site uses encryption to protect your data.

 3. Know what the product should cost.

If the deal is too good to be true, then it may be a scam. Check out the company on “ResellerRatings.com”. This site allows users to review online companies to share their experiences purchasing from those companies. This will give you an indication of what to expect when purchasing from them.

4.    One-time use credit card numbers.

Many banks are now offering a single use credit card number for online shopping. This one-time number is associated with your account and can be used in place of your credit card number. This way, if the credit card number becomes exposed, it cannot be used again. Check with your credit card company to see if they have this option available.

5 Most Expensive Jewellery Pieces in the World

5. Chopard’s Blue Diamond Ring

The Chopard’s Blue Diamond Ring is an absolutely exquisite ornament. It is one of the most expensive jewellery pieces in the world. The main reason is the blue diamond. Since this kind of gem is hugely coveted and costly, because of its exclusivity. The ring by Chopard features an oval-shaped blue diamond weighing 9 carats, which is set in white gold of 18 carats, along with triangular clear diamonds on the sides. Together, the ring is definitely one that can make any woman’s heart swoon. The rare and beautiful piece is currently valued at $16.26 million.

4. Heart of the Ocean

The Heart of the Ocean is one of the most recognizable pieces of jewellery in the world. It is the original replica of the exquisite necklace featured in the movie, Titanic. Gloria Stuart, who portrayed the elderly Rose in the movie, wore this replica to the 1998 Academy Awards. It was created by the well-known jeweller Harry Winston, with a real blue diamond of 15 carats. Priced at $20 million, the necklace is one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery worn to the Oscars. And among the world’s costliest necklaces. Even its imitations sell for $3.5 million at auctions, due to its history of love.

3. The Perfect Pink

There’s enough reason for The Pink Perfect ring to be one of the most expensive jewellery pieces in the world. Priced at $23.2 million. It has a 14.23 carat intense pink diamond, which is rare, due to the singular tinge, and perfect colour, cut and clarity, as well as the fact that less than 10% of pink diamonds are of over 0.20 carats. Besides, in 244 years of auction history, only 18 diamonds were of 10 carats or more. It is flanked on either side by two colourless diamonds, weighing 1.73 and 1.67 carats. The three rectangular diamonds are set a charming rose and white gold ring of 18 carats.

2. The Graff Pink

Private collector Laurence Graff purchased the $46.2 million worth of The Graff Pink. Priced at $1.85 million per carat, from its famous creator, American jeweller Harry Winston, in 2010. This stunning ring, one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery in the world. It has a pink diamond of 24.78 carats, a rare type II colour diamond with the finest rating, designated as one of the greatest diamonds found. The pink has a perfect rectangular step cut, with delicately rounded corners, and is set between two shield-shaped diamonds. The three diamonds are mounted on a platinum ring.

1. L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace

The L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace has the World Record as the most valuable necklace in the world. This diamond piece, weighs 637 carats, with the world’s largest internally flawless diamond as its centre-piece. The Incomparable diamond is yellow in shade. And it weighs 407.48 carats. It was discovered over 30 years ago by a young girl, when it was a massive 890 carat by-product of a diamond mining. In addition, it took the Mouawad Jewelry over four years to polish it and craft it into a necklace of $55 million with 91 diamonds of various cuts, including 229.52 carat white diamonds, set in 18 carat rose gold.

These are some extremely rare, beautiful and flawless jewellery piece, studded with exceptional gems. While there are individual gems like the Pink Star Diamond which is the most valuable diamond in the world. Or the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond which is another expensive piece with a high price and rich history, owned by Laurence Graff. The pieces featuring in this list are ornaments that only some lucky women have been able to wear or own, while the rest of the world gaze at them in awe and desire.

Top 5 Supermarket Chains in the World

5. Lidl

Country: Germany

Locations: 10,000

Number of Employees: 315,000

In 1973, the first modern Lidl grocery store opened in Ludwigshafen, about 25 miles south of Frankfurt. A staff of three offered approximately 500 products. Expansion during the 90s saw branches outside of Germany and eventually all across Europe. By the 2000s, Lidl had established itself as a leading retailer in the UK.

With their recent expansion into the United States in 2017, Lidl now operates in 27 countries, with revenue of $28.2 billion. Around 90 per cent of the products Lidl offers in its supermarkets are of their own private label brands.

4. Carrefour

Country: France

Locations: 10,103

Number of Employees: 378,923 

Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, the Carrefour supermarket company was established by the Fournier, Badin and Defforey families in 1959. Carrefour (crossroads) became the largest retailer in Europe after a merger with the Promodès retail group in 1999. Paul-Louis Halley had founded and run Promodès until his death in 2003. The Halley family later divested their controlling share of the business in 2008.

Today, Carrefour operates stores in 30 countries and is largely credited with innovating the concept of the “hypermarket” (known as a Superstore in North America) in 1969. The company ranks 68 on the Fortune Global 500 list, with 2017 revenue of $91.2 billion.

3. ALDI

Country: Germany

Locations: 10,366

Number of Employees: 162,579

The discount supermarket chain was founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946 after they took over their mother’s store, which had been operating since 1919. The company split into two parts in 1960, later named ALDI Nord and ALDI Süd. The company began expanding internationally in 1967 with the acquisition of Austrian grocery chain Hofer. ALDI Nord would continue growth into the Netherlands in 1973.

Now with locations in 20 countries, ALDI boasts 40 million customer visits monthly, 90 per cent of their products exclusive ALDI brands and 2017 revenue of $34.8 billion. Well-known American supermarket chain Trader Joe’s operates as a subsidiary of ALDI Nord.

2. Walmart

Country: United States

Locations: 11,088

Number of Employees: 2,300,000

Ranked the largest company in the world based on revenue, Walmart began its operations in 1962, when Sam Walton opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas. Expansion followed, and after 24 more locations, the company incorporated in 1969 as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Walmart became publicly traded in 1970, with its stock selling at $16.50 per share. In 1988, the first Sam’s supercentre would open in Missouri, and the company would go global in 1991 through a joint venture with Mexican retail company Cifra. Today, Walmart operates in 27 countries.

Walmart remains family-controlled, with Sam Walmart’s three children the largest shareholders. Walmart reported 2017 revenue of $500.3 billion under 55 different banners including its eCommerce business, which operates websites in 10 countries.

In 2018, the company changed its name to Walmart Inc.

1. SPAR

Country: Netherlands

Locations: 12,777

Number of Employees: 350,000

Adriaan van Well launched the first SPAR store in the Netherlands as DESPAR in 1932. DESPAR was an acronym for a slogan that van Well had created: Door Eendrachtig Samenwerken Profiteren Allen Regelmatig(all benefit from joint co-operation). In 1947, the company expanded internationally into Belgium through a group of wholesalers, eventually leading to the establishment of SPAR International in 1953. The next several decades saw SPAR expand into numerous international marketplaces over the world, including Russia, China, India, Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. 

Headquartered in Amsterdam, SPAR is the world’s largest supermarket chain based on the number of locations, with 12,777 serving 13.5 million customers a day in 48 countries. The company’s 2017 revenue totalled $40 billion.

Top 5 Baby Products Brands

1. Pampers

 

The Pampers diapers are the brainchild of Victor Mills, an American chemical engineer.

In the 1970s, Pampers introduced diapers with adhesive belts.

It also came up with thin diapers that had an absorbent gel material.

They introduced diapers that come with a protective layer of lotion to keep your baby’s bottom soft and smooth.

Their diaper range includes Pampers Diapers, Pampers Active Baby Diapers, Pampers New Baby Diapers and Pampers Baby Dry Diapers. This is one of the most well known among the many baby care products brands.

2. Mee Mee

 

Mee Mee is a popular brand in baby care products these days.

Their bath-time range consists of baby towels, napkins, baby bathtub, potty trainer seat, bath sponge, shampoo hat, bubble bath and bathrobe.

Their bedtime range consists of blankets, bed sets, carry nest, mats, mosquito nets, pillows, quilts, and shawls.

Their baby care range consists of cream, lotion, oil, shampoo, brush and comb sets, cotton buds, diapers, finger toothbrush, height chart, knee pads, and laundry detergent. It also offers liquid cleansers, nappy liners, nail clippers, medicine dispensers, safety pins, tongue cleaners, toothpaste, wipes and more.

They also have a complete nursing and feeding range, in addition to baby clothes, baby toys and playtime accessories, baby furniture, and travel gear.

3. Lotus Herbals baby+

 

Lotus Herbals baby+ is another brand that features products made with natural and safe ingredients. Their range includes products for cleansing, moisturizing, grooming and hygiene of the baby’s delicate and sensitive skin.

Wrap your baby with the goodness of nature because  Lotus Herbals Baby + product is made with extracts derived from plants, herbs and natural butters. Affordable and having negligible side effects, these products are quite popular with mommies.

4. Pigeon

 

Pigeon is a global baby and mother care brand that is now available in India.

Their nursing range consists of nursing bottles, nipples, and nursing accessories.

Their skin care range consists of products like baby wash, shampoo, diaper rash cream, etc.

Their baby health care products and grooming accessories include toothbrushes and toothpaste, nail clipper, nail scissors, nose cleaner, comb and brush, digital thermometer, wipes, and tissues.

They also have a complete range of cleaning and sterilizing accessories, diaper, and laundry care, weaning accessories, pacifiers and teethers and baby outdoor gear.

5. Himalaya Herbal Babycare

 

The brand offers Ayurvedic products for your little one.

For their baby care section, they mostly focus on bath-time products.

Their bath range consists of shampoo, baby bath, soaps, baby cream, lotion, and prickly heat powder. It also offers products like diaper rash cream, baby wipes, and diapers.