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H&M, known for its cheap-chic, is opening in Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall in the spring if everything goes as planned, writes the News & Observer's Sue Stock.

"It will be the first H&M in the Carolinas, and it's expected to draw shoppers from across the state," Sue writes.

Do you agree? Do you live in the Triad, and, if so, will you be going out of your way to shop there?

Big box stores promise steep discounts. Online shopping? Pretty convenient, right?

But wait. Members of Buy Triad First, which was formed by locally owned businesses over the summer, say their top-notch customer service and better quality products are values you won't find elsewhere.

Merchants also stress a greater portion of your hard-earned dollar is pumped back into the local economy, which benefits all of us.

Read more about the group in my Savvy Shopper column.

So are you buying what they're selling? Do you go out of your way to shop local?
 

Target will sell hot book titles online this holiday season for $8.99 with free shipping.

That applies to preorders on Target.com regarding books including Dean Koontz's "Breathless" and Stephen King's "Under the Dome."

The battle started when Walmart said its Web site would charge just $10 with free shipping for various upcoming hardcover releases, the LA Times writes.

Amazon.com then matched that move.

Although short on details, Walmart plans to cut prices on toys, groceries and other popular items as the holidays draw closer, The Wall Street Journal writes.

The company referred to ongoing promotions including a 27 percent discount on the RipStik skateboard. It's now $49.

Surprised? You shouldn't be.

"Every holiday season, there is this level of price competition — we expect it and we prepare for it," a Toys "R" Us spokesman told the Wall Street Journal. "We will once again be very competitively priced."

Let the holiday price wars begin.

Designer Home Warehouse in Burlington is having a big tent sale featuring rugs, pictures, window, bedding and bath that begins Oct. 30.

Prices start at 99 cents.

Croscill Home bed and bath closeouts and irregulars will be featured.

Sale ends Nov. 7. Hours are 10 to 6 weekdays (closed on Tuesdays) and 12:30 to 6 on Sundays.

It will be at the Burlington Outlet Village, 2371 Corporation Parkway, (Exit 145 off Interstate 40/85).
 

How about seeing some green without spending any?

Get a free and reusable lime green shopping bag from several downtown merchants as part of a new shopping campaign.

Downtown Greensboro Inc. is providing the bags, made of strong and recyclable polypropylene material, after you complete a voucher at participating merchants.

It's part of efforts to market downtown Greensboro as the place to shop by highlighting what it has to offer: 36 specialty shops, nine antique stores, and nine art galleries within one mile of each other. (Click this link for interactive directory.)

The bags are available until Dec. 18 at Burton’s Pharmacy (120 E. Lindsay St.), Jules Antiques & Fine Art (530 South Elm St.), Mack and Mack (220 S. Elm St.), and Simple Kneads Bakery (227 S. Elm St.).

You can also pick one up at DGI's office at 122 N. Elm St., Suite 609, on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

A new outlet center is heading this way.

Greensboro-based Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. said Wednesday it's building a shopping center on a 52-acre parcel in Mebane.

It's expected to open in late 2010.

Highlights: About 80 brand name and designer outlet stores, including: Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, Banana Republic Factory Store, Coach Factory, Gap Outlet, J. Crew, Michael Kors, BCBG/Girls, Nike Factory Store and Tommy Hilfiger.

It will be Tanger's third outlet shopping center in North Carolina.

There are Tanger Outlets in Blowing Rock along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Tanger Outlet Center in Nags Head.
 

Pineapples for 99 cents? I love pineapple.

One of the best deals of the week at the grocery store.

Here are some others:

(Deals end Tuesday, except for those at Aldi, which expire Monday.)

* Rotisserie chickens are $5.99 at Lowes Foods, which is doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Foot-long subs are $3.99 at Harris Teeter, which is also doubling manufacturers' coupons up to 99 cents (limit 20).

* Pineapples are 99 cents each at Aldi.

* Buy one, get one free bags of Mars candy bars at Food Lion.

* T-bone steak is $5.99 a pound at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one 24-pack of Deer Park bottled water, get one free at Harris Teeter.

* Red grapes are 79 cents a pound at Aldi.

* 10 32-ounce Gatorades for $10 at Food Lion.

* Buy one Breyers ice cream, get one free at Lowes Foods.

* Buy one pound of 21-30 count shrimp, get two free at Harris Teeter (limit six bags).

* Bananas are 39 cents a pound at Aldi.

* Buy a 128-ounce Tropicana orange juice and get a dozen eggs for free at Food Lion.

Dillard's converted its Oak Hollow Mall location into a clearance center store.

That means stuff will be generally marked down 50 to 75 percent off, according to this story.

Some people are so sick and tired of being frugal in tough economic tough times that they're ready to let loose.

That could be good news for retailers this holiday season.

So are you planning any binge shopping?