Chicago Weekend Fun!

We all know that Labor Day is about 2 things.  It is about a day off for the working man (or woman) and it is about back to school sale shopping which includes great deals. I sometimes think that sale shopping is our national pastime in America because we excel at it. I have listed below the stores in Chicago and the Suburbs that have big deal Labor Day Sales going on this holiday weekend.

This Labor Day should be no exception in buying power even with a sluggish economy and high gas prices. I have seen stores discounting merchandise more than usual to give shoppers more for their money and cater to the needs we have right now in saving more money and spending less. Overall I think most people will spend less money shopping at Labor Day Sales and probably for Christmas later in the year too, but we still need stuff for families, kids and our homes. Just in smaller cheaper “on sale” quantities. Maybe it is a return to normal levels of spending and a more reasonable and sustainable lifestyle?  Some people actually use Labor Day as the time to start Christmas Shopping for Gifts. Yikes, is it that time already?

Big Deal Labor Day Sales

IKEA has a lot of furniture on sale for 3 days only (Saturday, Sunday and Monday)including a Poang Armchair for $59.00 rather than $89.00 and if you buy an Ektorp sofa for $599 you get an extra slipcover free and 0% interest. The slipcovers are washable and worth at least $300.00. Ikea has 2 locations in Chicago. One in Bolingbrook and one in Schaumburg by Woodfield Mall.

Harlem Furniture RoomPlace Stores have a special deal where everything is on sale for Labor Day plus there is a harlem furniture roomplace discount sale coupon here at http://cl.exct.net/?qs=110b2c600c311ac3937fd00be20eabbdd9bd5f25e71dc3785da5f832527ddf2c that has $1,500 dollars in extra coupons for furniture discounts. If you have a new home with no furniture, now might be a good time to buy because these stores are hurting for sales in this economic slowdown and they are willing to cut great deals. They also have 0% interest financing until 2013 which is 5 years. You can’t beat that.

Macy’s- State Street, Water Tower Place, Oak Brook, Woodfield and Old Orchard Malls. Stuff on Sale: Kids and Women’s clothing, furniture and Jewelry. Also if you use your Macy’s Charge Card you get an extra 15% off. There is also a Macy’s Labor Day Furniture sale goingon with a specific bedroom set on sale, matresss and some sofa and couches from the advertisements. Macy’s has higher prices than a lot of the discount furniture chains but they offer good overall quality furniture.

Old Navy- Labor Day Sale – Different specials each day Saturday, Sunday and Monday. It is always best to go to the Old Navy store and see the clothing in person and try it on for fit rather than order through the web site. Things seem to always look different in person than on the site and the merchandise is sometimes priced lower in the stores or on clearance there and they aren’t online. This weekend they have different items for $10. I know Polos and T-Shirts are on the list but in the store there may be even more. It is a great time to stock up on school clothes like jeans, sweaters and shirts for the kids at very low prices.

Banana Republic has a few choice fall items on sale for the Labor Day Weekend but they have 2 discount code deals available from their site and in the store. If you shop online use Discount Code LABORDAY for 15% off an order of $125 or more (before tax) and if you are shopping in the store use this labor day sale email discount code at http://kimptongroup.ip02.com/form/kimptongroup/viewhtml/9z1zjfd77fbhs84iin7emsl3vvr8kh0qqm5db7sib50 for a discount of $25.00 off an order of $100 or more from August 28 through September 7.

Darvin Furniture is also having a sale, but then what Furniture store isn’t? They have a no sales tax deal where you save the sales tax amount on your furniture OR get no interest financing until 2013. On furniture purchases that could be as much as a few hundred dollars. Darvin has stores in Orland Park and Chicago. They also offer same day delivery or same day pickup if you order early in the day and the pieces are in stock. This isn’t a huge discount on the furniture have a dealbreaker price in mind before you go to the store. If they don’t meet it, they don’t get the sale. Shop around and get the best deal for your dollar.

Carson’s Furniture Store has a sale on Mattresses. If you are in the market for one they have a lot of fancy ones and they are all on sale now. The only Carson’s furniture store I know of is behind Yorktown mall in Lombard.

Empire Carpets is having a wood and laminate floor sale with some select types and colors 60% off. That is a huge discount if you are looking to get wood floors (oak) put in your house. Sing along: 588-2300 Empire!

Sears – Appliances are on sale for labor day, of course. With the housing slump it will be hard to move huge energy sucking stainless steel fridges when most everyone has one already.

Kohl’s- Kohl’s is the king of Holiday Sales. They are all about getting you in the door with the Sunday paper flyer and listing some great deals. If your kids aren’t completely outfitted with their fall/winter wardrobe now is the time to get it at 15-30% off. If you have a kohl’s charge card and got a coupon in the mail for a discount, use that too and maximize your discounts.

Ashley Furniture- I am not sure where this company came from but they landed in Chicago about 2 years ago and have taken on the former Wickes furniture media buy on TV, Radio and Newspaper flyer advertising. For some reason Furniture stores work on the principle that every holiday no matter how big or small is worth celebrating with a sale. I think they have to get people in the door with certain teaser items in order to make sales or no one would ever venture into a furniture store in Chicago.  

Harlem Furniture – Don’t forget about the Chicago original if you really do need new furniture or a new mattress right now. You could save some money during the Labor Day sale.

Value City Furniture – has a confusing deal going on right now. They say the Labor Day sale is a 50% off sale (on select items) and then the ads also say 30-70% off on some items. I think they have just bought a bunch of media without a clear goal and if you go there you should have a price in mind first for whatever furniture you are looking for before you see what their prices are.

So, what if you already have all the furniture, clothes and housewares you could ever need, congratulations by saving your money, staying home and enjoying the day off as it was intended: Cleaning the house.

Have a Happy Labor Day!

Note: Check back again on Labor Day and I will keep updating this page with more specifics as I find them.