If you asked the universe for steep discounts on the items in your shopping wishlist, you’re in luck: Singles’ Day, the biggest shopping holiday in Asia, is coming up! Its popularity is still growing in the West, but past Singles’ Day events have already seen record-breaking sales figures that have far eclipsed major shopping events in the U.S. Here’s what you need to know about this holiday:
Singles’ Day was a holiday created by college students.
Singles’ Day was reportedly started in 1993 by four male dormers at Nanjing University who, in a bid to break the monotony of singlehood, agreed to hold events celebrating their relationship status (or lack thereof).
The Singles’ Day Shopping Festival started in 2009.
In 2009, the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba capitalized on Singles’ Day by offering massive promos. 27 merchants participated in its first year, generating around 50m yuan (around 7m USD) in sales.
It’s mainly an online shopping event.
Other Asian e-commerce companies have since joined the Singles’ Day bandwagon, launching their own Singles’ Day promotions. Online shopping discounts are combined with offline entertainment, such as televised events studded with Hollywood a-listers, to further stoke the shopping frenzy.
The sales generated from Singles’ Day is larger than the figures from Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday combined.
In 2018, over 180,000 brands participated in Singles’ Day, raking in an estimated $30.8 billion in sales over a 24-hour period. In contrast, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday only generated a combined $16.14 billion in gross merchandise volume.
It’s gradually spreading globally.
E-commerce retailers outside of Asia are slowly but surely adopting Singles’ Day, launching Singles’ Day campaigns of their own. Expect bigger discounts and better deals this year!
Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.
Who says you can’t have tons of fun from the comfort of your own home? Sure, going out can be exciting and provide you with a much-needed change of scenery, but given the current climate and safety precautions people are taking, staying in is becoming more and more common- especially among families. With all the adjustments taking place, such as students adapting to remote learning and parents getting used to working from home, it’s nice to have a night in to look forward to at the end of the week. With a little creativity, there are plenty of ways to make a family night in feel like a family night out. Keep reading to gather some ideas on how to make your next family fun night a success.
1. Camp Out, Living Room Style
Camping in the great outdoors is an old family tradition for many, but why not create a new one by bringing the campsite to your living room? Pull out those sleeping bags, pitch a tent and get your favorite scary stories ready to tell around the fireplace or a faux campfire. Speaking of campfires, is there even a point if you don’t have s’mores? With all the prep work you’ve been doing to make this family night in perfect, grabbing the ingredients to make these tasty treats may have slipped your mind. Have no fear, with an app like goPuff, you can order all the fixings needed to make the perfect s’more, and maybe even an adult beverage or two. You can even have them delivered to your living room so you don’t have to miss out on any of the fun! Not only is camping out living room-style a great way to spend quality time with your family, but it also guarantees you’ll avoid any stormy or rainy weather – as well as hungry bears ransacking your tent after you’ve fallen asleep!
2. Get Creative in the Kitchen
Going out to eat, especially if you have a larger family, can be quite costly. It may also be tough for everyone to agree on where they want to go based on different tastes. A family night is the perfect time to gather around your favorite cookbook and get creative in the kitchen with your crew. Whether it’s making an old family recipe like Grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies, or trying something completely new like sushi from scratch, the kitchen is a place where memories are made. Assigning each family member a task ensures everyone is included, as this makes the final product that much better. It’s likely you’ll have many laughs and may even make something totally inedible, which is why it’s important to keep a frozen pizza or two handy just in case! But however your culinary creation ends up, it’s still a bonding moment you’ll remember for years to come.
3. Take Game Night to the Next Level
Sure, board games and card games are fun and will keep your family entertained, but why not take things to the next level by creating a scavenger hunt?? This will take a little extra prep work but it’s sure to make a lasting impression on your family. It’s totally up to you when it comes to how creative you want to get, but the more thought you put into it, the more exciting it will be. Begin by creating clues based on areas in or around your home. Be sure these clues are tailored to the ages of your family members. For example, if you have little ones, you’ll want to make things more basic, but if you’ve got teens or adults participating, you’ll want your clues to be a bit trickier. You can break up into teams or make it every person for themselves. Either way, whatever prize you choose should provide the winner with bragging rights for a while, or at least until the next hunt! If you’re looking for inspiration on how to plan your family scavenger hunt, check out this article.
4. Have a Dance Party
When in doubt, dance it out! This idea may sound crazy, but you’d be surprised at how much fun you can have while dancing. Cutting a rug has many benefits that stem beyond breaking a sweat. Not only are you getting some cardio in, but you’re supporting your mental health as well. Dancing helps to boost your mood and is one of the most inclusive activities you can partake in. A dance party at home provides you with an opportunity to learn about other cultures as well. For example, you may want to explore the world of salsa dancing or learn the Viennese waltz. There’s also nothing wrong with getting down to a little hokey-pokey every now and then. Whatever your interest, moving your body to music is a great release for everyone in your family. If you want to invite a couple of friends over to include them in the fun, check out these social-distance approved dances on YouTube.
These ideas are just a few of the ways in which you can take advantage of this time together – and with a little creativity and some help from the internet, the possibilities are endless!
Want to make sure it’s a night to remember?
Regardless of the current climate and safety precautions, we’re taking to protect our families, staying home doesn’t have to mean being stuck at home. There are so many fun activities you can plan for family members of all ages and priceless memories to be made. Want to make sure these precious moments can be looked back on for years to come.? Don’t forget to get snap-happy with your camera when spending time with those who matter most. A few pictures and videos can make the world of difference when creating memories, and a Nixplay digital photo frame is the best way to savor them forever.
While this year’s Fourth of July celebrations will be different, it certainly doesn’t mean that it’ll be a dull holiday. Large gatherings are not advisable at the moment, but you can still have fun with your closest loved ones. Here are some ways to have a special Fourth of July while staying safe and healthy:
1. Watch Fourth of July shows
Can’t go out to watch fireworks? The internet might just be your savior: Several sites will be streaming fireworks shows, as well as concerts, plays, and other entertainment. We’ll be tuned in to PBS’ streaming of A Capitol Fourth!(watch it via this link), as well as the filmed-for-cinema version of the hit Broadway show Hamilton (watch it on Display Plus).
2. Decorate your home
You don’t get a lot of occasions to go all out with the stars and stripes-themed decor, so take advantage of the holiday! Dress up your home with Fourth of July-themed balloons and streamers, put up American flags, and fill vases with red and white blooms. You can get the kids to join in the fun by holding arts and crafts contests–they’ll have a blast decorating everything red, white, and blue.
3. Have a patriotic movie marathon
A movie marathon is a brilliant way to while away an afternoon. Set up your most comfortable cushions in front of your TV, prepare bowls of popcorn, chips, and other snacks, and get set for a few hours of Netflix (or Hulu, or Disney Plus) and Chill. Some of our picks: Glory, Top Gun, Forrest Gump, Air Force One, and Captain America: The Frist Avenger.
4. Have a barbecue in your lawn
It’s not a proper Fourth of July celebration without a barbecue! While we don’t recommend inviting your neighbors over, you can still celebrate by setting out your own grills on your respective lawns, where you can see each other and socialize from a safe distance. It’ll probably be a bit chaotic, sure, but it’s going to be a lot of fun!
Don’t forget to take pictures of your Fourth of July festivities! Share your photos directly with your friends and family using your Nixplay Frames. We have a Secret Sale going on until July 12–now’s your chance to score our bestselling digital photo frames at prices you can’t resist. Shop now!
Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.
Father’s Day is just around the corner! While our options for celebrating the holiday are more limited now, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make the day extra special for dad. Here are some ways to make the holiday fun.
1. Prepare his favorite lunch
The saying “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” certainly applies to dad. Father’s Day is the perfect occasion to serve him a juicy ribeye, cooked to his preferred doneness, or indulge in lobster or sea bass. Serve it with a nice glass of wine (it’s a special day, after all) and his favorite sides. Don’t forget dessert!
2. Watch his favorite movie with him
Since it’s not yet advisable to go to the theaters, bring the movies to dad instead! Set up a cozy movie nook, complete with dim lighting, comfortable seating, and lots of snacks, and stream dad’s favorite flicks. Some of our recommendations: The Godfather trilogy a classic pick, while the Indiana Jones and the Star Wars series are fail-safe options for the father who’s young at heart.
3. Have the young ones create greeting cards for him
Most fathers have a sentimental side, especially when it comes to their children and grandchildren. Tap into this by getting the kids in the family to create colorful greeting cards for him–the more colorful and expressive, the better. Trust us, dad will be treasuring these mementos forever.
If they live far from dad, have the kids take pictures of their creations and show them on a Nixplay Smart Photo Frame. They can also record a short but sweet Father’s Day video greeting, which can be displayed alongside the photographs of the cards. If Dad doesn’t have a Nixplay Frame yet, now’s the perfect time to get him one!
4. Be genuinely interested in his hobbies
Fathers usually feel a sense of pride when their kids or grandkids show interest in their passions–there’s no better feeling than knowing that the young ones take after him! So if your father is into woodworking, Father’s Day is the best time to help him out with his latest project. Does dad have a green thumb? Get him some seeds or a new plant and join him for an afternoon in the garden. You might even learn something new from this!
5. Plan a board game night
If your father is the brainy, competitive type, an evening spent playing board games should be right up his alley. You can go for classics such as Monopoly, Clue, and Scrabble, or opt for newer games like Pandemic (a very timely pick) and Spontuneous. Hours of fun, guaranteed–as long as nobody cheats!
Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.
Mother’s Day is coming up, and if you’re like us, you’re probably going to spend it at home, away from your loved ones. But you can still make it memorable for mom despite the distance! Here are some easy ways to do so.
Give her a call
Sometimes, it’s the simplest gestures that make the biggest difference. Pick up your phone and dial your mom to ask how she’s doing in these trying times. Tell her about your pup’s latest antics, ask for her special beef stew recipe so you can recreate it, and have the kids greet her a happy mother’s day over the phone. Think of it as a preview of your conversations when you get to see each other again in person!
Send her flowers
Flowers are a surefire way to brighten up someone’s day! A bouquet of mom’s favorite blooms should have her smiling from ear to ear in a jiffy. A houseplant would also be a good idea, while potted herbs would make a great present for the mom who enjoys cooking.
Set up an online party
Thanks to technology, you can easily celebrate with mom at the same time even if you’re miles away from each other. Simply set up a video call on a video conference program like Zoom, agree on a certain time, and dial in. You can even plan family activities, such as a cooking demo, as well as games, such as Pictionary and Charades, to make your call more fun!
Have her favorite food delivered
Yes, you can treat mom to a great dessert or meal even if you’re thousands of miles away! See if her favorite restaurant or bakery delivers and order a dish she loves in time for Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to request for food pictures! Speaking of which…
Send her photos
Delight mom with the most thoughtful gift: a trip down memory lane via a compilation of photos of her favorite moments! Gather as many photos as you can: snapshots of mom being a heartbreaker in her teens, her wedding photos, pictures with you and your siblings growing up, and images of her with her grandchildren.
Set up the photos on a Nixplay Frame so you and your family can keep adding to her album! Get up to 30 percent off on selected bestselling digital photo frames, only until May 10!
Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.
