7-Eleven® Holiday Traditions Continue Year After Year

DALLAS, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year 7-Eleven® stores across the country provide a convenient destination for procrastinating shoppers and a solution for parents facing battery-less Christmas morning emergencies.  The red, green and orange lights of the 7-Eleven sign shine as a beacon for many – yes, mostly men – who need to fill some holiday need in the days leading up to and including Christmas day.

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Sure, the largest convenience retailer can serve up a desirable gift in a last-minute situation (such as one-size-fits-all gift cards, videogames, DVDs and CDs, wine, candy and this year, Snuggies and other As Seen on TV items), as well as provide 24/7 shopping convenience for those everyday necessities during the holidays.

"Just like many other retailers, the holidays are a busy time for 7-Eleven," said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, senior vice president of merchandising.  "While we offer several great last-minute gift options, we also provide convenient holiday solutions for consumers who are looking for items such as milk, groceries and batteries."

Here's what is hot for the holidays at 7-Eleven stores this year:

Last-minute Gifts

• Gift cards remain at the top of most people's Christmas lists.  7-Eleven's gift card selection offers a wide selection of prepaid online and video game cards and iTunes cards in a variety of denominations.  For political junkies who followed the Slurpee Summit, Glee TV show fans and other Slurpee-lovers, 7-Eleven carries branded Slurpee® gift cards that can be used to purchase Slurpee drinks, gas and any other merchandise.  Limited-edition Slurpee gift card tins are new this year and proving popular with shoppers.  Other gift card options include Vanilla Visa, Macy's and Chili's.
• Electronics – smart phones, videogame and music players, and accessories and games for all of the above continue to dominate the marketplace.  For traveling youngsters and their parents, 7-Eleven has stocked a selection of handheld videogames that are gift-wrapped with a bow and card and ready for giving.  Priced at just $14.99, these GiftXpress games are available in six variations including Casino, Trivia and Sports.  Smart phone accessories like cases, headphones and all-in-one chargers are priced under $20, and select stores are carrying pocket video cameras, value priced at $79.99.
• Bands on the Run – Power bands: all the cool kids and athletes are wearing them.  The silicone wristband with mylar hologram is supposed to improve the wearer's balance, flexibility and strength.  7-Eleven is also carrying Rubba-Time Bandz, glow-in-the-dark silicone wrist bands that display time, day and date.  Suggested retail price for the power band is $4.99, and for the time band, $3.99.

Big Bite Sales Boom

Christmas Day ranks near the top for Big Bite® hot dog sales at 7-Eleven.  One of few places open on Christmas Day where you can grab a quick meal, 7-Eleven offers not only its popular Big Bite dogs, but also spicy Go-Go Taquitos®, and in many areas hot pizza, chicken tenders and buffalo wings, along with fresh-made sandwiches and salads.  For these customers, it may just be a place to quickly get away from the holiday bustle or to curb hunger while waiting for the feast at home later in the day.

Pick a Winner

Lottery tickets are a great idea for stocking stuffers.

Does not Include ...

... batteries!  Luckily, 7-Eleven does.  7-Eleven stores carry eight sizes of batteries, ready to take a parent from zero to hero in one convenient stop.  The most popular batteries are commonly used in videogame controllers, cameras, electronic handheld games, small toys and personal music players.

I'll Drink to That

Family get-togethers can be a trip – a trip to 7-Eleven to grab a bottle of wine or 12-pack of beer.  December is an important wine month and when a significant amount of champagne is sold.  Top-sellers include 7-Eleven's value-priced proprietary wines, some of which have won awards at U.S. competitions.  Sonoma Crest, Thousand Oaks and the new Cherrywood Cellars are favorites with 7-Eleven customers.

Milk and Cookies

Milk, whipping cream, sour cream and butter sales also jump during the holidays, and 7-Eleven is there 24/7 to provide them ... along with a variety of 7-Select cookies for Santa and others with visions of sweets and sugar plums dancing in their heads.

Since 1963, 7-Eleven stores have kept round-the-clock hours, and today approximately 99 percent of the more than 6,000 U.S. stores stay open on Dec. 25.  For people who need to prepare a family recipe, wrap a last-minute present, shoot a baby's first Christmas picture or operate a new toy ... their neighborhood 7-Eleven store stands ready to come to the rescue.

"7-Eleven stores were created for people in a hurry ... a convenient place to shop for basics like milk and bread," Delgado-Jenkins said.  "During the last days before Christmas, many shoppers are looking for more than basics.  Perhaps at this time of year more than any other, our long-time slogan of 'Oh Thank Heaven' rings especially true with our customers."

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 8,300 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses close to 39,500 stores in 16 countries. During 2009, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of $58.9 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations.  Accolades include:  #3 spot on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list for 2009, #3 in Forbes magazine's Top 20 Franchises to Start, #3 among Top 100 Global Franchises by Franchise Direct, #3 in Store Growth by Convenience Store News, #2 in Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies and #29 among Top 100 Chains in Food Service. In addition, Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven in its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics.  7-Eleven was selected by three diversity publications as a company offering the best career and franchisee opportunities. 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S., and is expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. In addition, the company received the 2009 Shopper-Centric Marketing Innovation from Symphony IRI and the 2010 Retailer of the Year award from PL Buyer because of the company's private-label brand program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

SOURCE 7-Eleven