December 20, 2019 // Franchising.com // IRVING, TEXAS - With the holidays in full swing, there’s no time to waste – or wait – to shop for gifts. 7-Eleven® stores have lots of great gift ideas that can be picked up easily while grabbing coffee in the morning, before picking up the kids from school or late at night when many stores are closed.
Gifts for teens, tweens, kids, friends and family can include gift cards, toys, electronics, white elephant gifts, a bottle of bubbly, Santa hats and holiday headbands.
Other reasons for a holiday shopping trip to a nearby 7-Eleven store include picking up batteries for toys and electronics … wine and beer to take to a holiday party … missing ingredients for recipes … milk, eggs, bread and juice for breakfast … paper plates … firewood … ice … earbuds for an airline flight … a hot pizza for the kids who didn’t eat dinner … filling up the car … or even just to get out of the house for a while.
“Each year, people are surprised to find that 7-Eleven stores, though small in size, carry some of the biggest, hottest on-trend items,” said Jack Stout, 7-Eleven senior vice president of merchandising. “7-Eleven’s forward-looking product selection is curated by our merchandising team, who constantly track the latest movie and television releases, top social media fads, and emerging pop culture and flavor trends. Our goal is to surprise our customers every single time they walk in our store at just how many ways we answer a need or help them have a little fun.”
Here are just a few ways 7-Eleven stores can save the day or at least help shoppers check off a few things on their to-do lists:
Gift Cards Still No. 1
Gift cards continue to top wish lists, and 7-Eleven stores have expanded their selection to include more retailers, restaurants, general purpose, music, games and even Uber and Lyft cards. 7-Eleven stores’ selection includes the two cards tied for No. 1 most-wanted – Vanilla Visa and gaming cards such as Xbox and PlayStation. Other popular gift options include Google Play, Amazon, Netflix, iTunes, Apple App Store and iTunes, Home Depot, Lowe’s, AMC movie theaters, Outback Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse, Darden restaurants (Olive Garden, Yard House, Cheddars, Longhorn Steakhouse, Seasons 52 and Bahama Breeze) … and of course, 7-Eleven gift cards.
It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Pennywise
7-Eleven has THE “It” gift of the year, a Pennywise the Dancing Clown chia pet decorative planter. The oh-so-scary item is only available at 7-Eleven stores. Suggested retail price is $19.99. Other chia pets available include Yoda, Chewbacca and happy painter Bob Ross.
Toyland, Toyland
7-Eleven stores stand ready to help shoppers grab some of the country’s top-selling toys and licensed merchandise – Frozen, Hot Wheels, Barbie, Uno, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Mario Bros. Several items are priced under $10. Here’s a few of the toys available at select stores:
Give a Crap!
Last year, 7-Eleven stores carried Sticky the Poo to fling at walls. This year, the retailer’s poo gift is more tasteful – a 2.65-ounce giftable pile of milk chocolate in a decorative package complete with red bow on top. Perfect for poomoji fans you either love or hate. Give a Crap to family, friends and frenemies for just $4.99 and available exclusively at 7-Eleven stores.
Deck the Tree with Cups of Slurpee
Treat the tree to a fun, limited-edition Slurpee® cup ornament. Sold exclusively at 7-Eleven stores, this year’s Hallmark-created ornament is a replica of the swirl design cup filled to the dome with a Blue Raspberry Slurpee drink.
‘Batteries Not Included’ and Gadget-y Gift Solutions
The Elephant in the Room
For parties with a white elephant gift exchange or to swap with friends and co-workers, participating 7-Eleven stores have pre-wrapped $10 and $20 gifts. Go fun or funny with cat and dog butt magnet sets; squirrel, fix or cat wine glass markers; LED pineapple lights, ice cube trays shaped like brains and octopi; Moscow mule copper mug set; pug or cat tote bags; stash boxes resembling books; and a wine glass big enough to hold an entire 75 ml. bottle.
Stocking Stuffers: The More the Merrier
Customers can pick up stocking stuffers for all ages: TY Beanie Babies and Boos, Hot Wheels cars, Burt’s Bees and Chapstick gift sets, small electronics, gift cards, lottery tickets, holiday-themed candy and cookies – 7-Eleven stores have lots of choices to fill all the stockings, even charcoal!
Sweets & Treats
Cheers!
Jolly Holiday Wear /Have a Holly, Jolly Wardrobe
Ugly sweater party and nothing to wear? 7-Eleven has a do-it-yourself ugly sweater kit with baubles, bows, beads and more to temporarily transform any sweater to an ugly sweater. Other holiday accessories include headbands, hats, necklaces and LED holiday pins. The more, the uglier. Reversible Santa hats tell the world if the wearer has been naughty or nice, while plain Santa hats let the naughty stay incognito. And for extreme Christmas light viewing, grab some holiday 3D glasses.
Missing Ingredients
For those who find themselves one, or two, ingredients short while making a favorite family recipe, 7-Eleven stores stock up on holiday must-haves and staples. Run in for whipping cream, eggs, milk, chicken broth, flour, sugar, cranberry sauce, plastic cups, paper plates, foil, food storage containers and more.
Shop, Earn Points, Get Free Stuff
Shopping at 7-Eleven stores has other perks as well – like free stuff. 7-Eleven customers earn 7Rewards® points on almost every purchase. Points can be redeemed for favorite 7-Eleven drinks, fresh, hot and grilled food items, chips, candy, nutrition bars, bottled drinks and more. Even more points can be earned through bonus offers listed on the 7-Eleven mobile app. To sign up and earn points, customers can download the app from the Apple store or Google Play, visit the 7Rewards online mobile website at 7Rewards.com or chat with the 7-Eleven Bot on Messenger.
From Store to Door
The new 7NOW® delivery service can bring purchases directly to shoppers who don’t have time even to make a stop at a nearby 7-Eleven store or simply want the extra convenience. Available in more than 200 cities, items can be ordered from within the 7NOW app, and gifts, treats, drinks and eats will appear at the door in 30 minutes or less, on average.
Whether people are stopping by a 7-Eleven store for gifts or something to eat and drink during a marathon shopping spree … selecting gifts – or dinner – from the 7NOW app to be delivered directly to them … or ordering online and selecting to have their purchases shipped to a secured locker at a 7-Eleven store, 7-Eleven stores are open 24/7 to answer almost any holiday need.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 69,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee®, Big Bite® and Big Gulp®, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select™ brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards® loyalty program, place an order in the 7NOW® delivery app in 28 participating markets, or rely on 7-Eleven for bill payments, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards customer loyalty platform on the 7-Eleven mobile app, or on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
7-Eleven, Inc.
Corporate Communications
media@7-11.com
SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.