Shoppers looking for last-minute gifts online have been granted their Christmas wish: a day specially created for procrastinators.
Friday is “Free Shipping Day,” where retailers are waiving shipping fees and qualifying minimum purchases, and promising that any gifts ordered online today will arrive at your doorstep by Christmas Eve.
So far, 1,064 merchants are participating, according to FreeShippingDay.com. That includes major retailers such as Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), J.C. Penney (JCP), Nordstrom (JWN), and Bloomingdale’s (M), as well as a host of other fashion, household, and beauty outlets.
Started in 2008, Free Shipping Day has grown in popularity—by 2013, a study showed that around 92% of retailers offered free shipping in some form during the holiday season. Last year, Free Shipping Day generated around $926 million in online sales, and while that pales in comparison to other major shopping days, it has become an important part of the consumer spending calendar.