DALLAS — Countdown clocks are ticking all over the Internet with deeply discounted 24-hour deals this year.
JCPenney Co. has added a “daily deal” to jcp.com, and Target.com has one-day-only “daily deals.” Penney created screenbusters, playing off the brick-and-mortar world’s doorbusters.
Walmart.com calls its urgent deal the “value of the day” and offers several online-only specials “while supplies last.”
Plano, Texas-based Dealtaker.com, an online coupon site, recently launched Newatnoon.com to feature 24-hour specials from retailers looking for more of a multi-channel reach. It recently featured 24-hour deals from Gordon’s Jewelry, Overstock.com, Kohl’s, Penney, Aeropostale, buy.com and others that have Web sites but want a bigger reach online.
The 24-hour concept is similar to that popularized by Dallas-based Woot.com, a Web site that offers one-day deals. But Woot also has branched out to offer limited-time discounts from other retailers. On Friday, it featured a $15 men’s waterproof, quilted puffer vest from Macy’s.
Knowing shoppers are particularly attuned to frugality this year, DealTaker president Kevin Strawbridge said, even online merchants are looking for ways to reach more customers.
“We’re featuring a daily electronics deal, but we also have a daily deal in apparel, home, jewelry and shoes,” he said.
It’s about to start advertising Newatnoon.com in time for holiday shopping. DealTaker is one of those rare companies that have grown during the recession as more shoppers looked for discount coupons and free shipping offers. It had a 50 percent increase in traffic last year.
In 2008, the company’s 230,000 registered users made $110 million worth of online purchases, he said. “It was a big growth year for us.”
Founded in 2005, Dealtaker.com has 17 employees, seven hired in the last year.
Luxury is doing it, too. Neiman Marcus holds online-only sales called the “Midday Dash” and “Evening Dash” with two-hour specials that begin at 7 p.m. It also had special online gift card giveaways.
Stocking stuffer alert
The $10 DVD is this week’s stocking stuffer.
Wal-Mart said last week that it’s offering $10 movie titles, including “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “Angels & Demons” and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” Target quickly matched, making new-release DVDs another bargain this holiday season.
Email Story
Printer Friendly 
Quick Job Search
@Nyx.replyAnswerText@