Free Shipping Day is December 17

More than 450 merchants have signed up to participate in the second annual Free Shipping Day, which is set for December 17.

December 7, 2009 – Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed for another year, retailers are searching for a way to extend the holiday shopping season, and procrastinating consumers are looking for options to find that last-minute gift. It's a perfect time for Free Shipping Day.

Set for December 17, Free Shipping Day is a one day shopping event when participating merchants offer free shipping to their customers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. More than 450 retailers have already signed up to participate, eclipsing last year’s final tally of 250. Free Shipping Day creator Luke Knowles expects the number to surpass 500. Participating merchants include Toys R Us, JCPenney, Apple Store, Nike, Sears, Babies R Us, Eddie Bauer, PacSun, PetSmart, and Ralph Lauren.

"Numbers show that online shopping dramatically slows after December 10th," Knowles said. "Free Shipping Day encourages people to continue buying items online later into the month of December, and obviously this is appealing for retailers."

Knowles - who created FreeShipping.org with his wife, Maisie, in 2007, hatched the idea for Free Shipping Day in just two weeks before the event last December. In an abrupt brainstorm, he thought that retailers would relish the opportunity to extend the online holiday shopping season, which typically peaks in early December because consumers are concerned about their gift orders arriving in time for Christmas.

Knowles expected a favorable response from retailers and consumers last year, but he didn't anticipate the overwhelming interest that the event actually received. Free Shipping Day attracted more than 250 merchants and the FreeShippingDay.com web site saw 250,000 unique visitors in a 10-day period, including 100,000 on the Free Shipping Day itself.

Free Shipping Day will be even more attractive for consumers because a higher number of retailers will be offering free shipping on all orders.

"Merchants asked how they could get better placement on the Free Shipping Day web site, and we are giving them a more prominent location if they offer free shipping on all orders," Knowles explained.

"We would like to reach point where the majority of retailers are offering free shipping on all orders," he added. "That will make a better experience for shoppers because there will be better deals."

Free Shipping Day is a one day online shopping event on Dec. 17, when participating merchants offer free shipping to their customers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas. Participating merchants include Toys R Us, JCPenney, Apple Store, Nike, Sears, Babies R Us, Eddie Bauer, PacSun, Ralph Lauren and Adidas. For more information, visit www.freeshippingday.com.

SOURCE FreeShipping.org