Latest news with #savetime
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Consumer Reports: Convenience comes at a cost with smart appliances
From vacuuming your floors to cleaning your grill, smart appliances can offer convenience and save time. Consumer Reports weighed in on if they really deliver. Consumer Reports' Dan Wroclawski says the products have their limitations. 'Most of these devices can be convenient and make less work for you, but they only usually get the job done about ninety percent of the time,' Wroclawski said. ALSO READ >> Consumer Reports: How to save on laptops ahead of the school year For example, a $5,000 refrigerator has an AI camera that's supposed to recognize the groceries inside. When Consumer Reports tested the feature, it worked only about half the time, and it struggled with packaged foods, like milk and soda. 'They tend to be pricier than their traditional counterparts, and they often have complicated setup processes and require extra tinkering to keep them working,' he said. A Consumer Reports evaluation of robotic lawn mowers found that before you can set the robot loose, you have to pre-mow your grass to a specific height with a traditional mower. On the other hand, some smart products, like robotic vacuums, have come a long way. Consumer Reports says they're better a dodging obstacles, navigating tight spaces, and pulling dirt from edges and corners. While it's not a true robot, Consumer Reports says a smart thermostat is a great investment. 'These will cut down on your heating and cooling bills, using AI to automatically adjust the temperature, especially when you're not home,' Wroclawski said. Smart thermostats also connect to demand response programs from your power company, which can give you discounts on your bill. With any of these smart home products, Consumer Reports says to be mindful of the security and privacy settings, and turn off data sharing if you can. VIDEO: Consumer Reports: Counterfeit knockoffs may pose safety risks
National Post
15-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Great Clips® Creates Honorary Chief Back-to-School Officer Position for One Lucky Kid Ahead of New School Year
Article content Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Article content New Campaign Features TikTok Stars 'Big Boom' A.J. & 'Big Justice' and Highlights How Great Clips Helps Parents Save Time and Money During Back-To-School Season Article content Article content MINNEAPOLIS — Great Clips, the world's largest salon brand, today launched its annual back-to-school marketing campaign to spotlight how Great Clips and the brand's mobile app can help alleviate stress for parents around one of the most hectic times of year. With parents constantly drowning in back-to-school to-dos, Great Clips is banding together with kids who bring calm, clarity and smarts – reminding parents they can save time and money by visiting their local Great Clips salon. In celebration of these kids with all the answers, Great Clips is launching a search for the first-ever, honorary Chief Back-to-School Officer, where one standout student will receive $10,000 for an education fund. Article content Great Clips Chief Back-to-School Officer Article content Have a child between the ages of 5 and 14 who's wise beyond their years and has been the unsung hero of back-to-school planning and chaos? Great Clips wants their help! Parents can apply on behalf of their child for the Chief Back-to-School Officer opportunity by submitting a story at that highlights how their child brought calm, creativity or clever solutions to the chaos of back-to-school season. Great Clips will judge applications based on a demonstrated passion for helping parents in a moment of chaos, creativity in problem-solving and a love of back-to-school haircuts and Great Clips. Parents will also receive a $2 off coupon after submitting their child's application to save on back-to-school haircuts. Article content One exceptional child will receive the honorary title of Great Clips' Chief Back-to-School Officer as well as $10,000 for an education fund and free haircuts for the school year from Great Clips. For complete contest rules and information, click here. Article content 'Making the transition from summer to back-to-school is tough for parents. Fortunately, this back-to-school season we're highlighting kids that are wise beyond their years to offer advice and encouragement to busy adults,' said Lisa Hake, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Great Clips, Inc. 'We're excited to recognize one child who has come to the rescue during back-to-school season and help alleviate one of the other biggest school-related stress points – the cost of continued education.' Article content 'Big Boom' A.J., 'Big Justice' & Influencer Families Visit Great Clips for Back-to-School Haircuts Article content Great Clips enlisted TikTok stars A.J. and Big Justice Befumo to bring the BOOM and share how families can get back-to-school ready by visiting their local Great Clips. They are also showcasing ways to make the haircut experience easier and more convenient by checking in on the Great Clips app. The father-son duo recently visited a local Great Clips salon in Minneapolis and will star in Great Clips' back-to-school marketing campaign across social and digital channels. To watch, click here ('Boom or Doom') and here ('We Bring the Boom'). Article content In addition to the Befumos, Great Clips partnered with several influencer families including The McCartys, The Younes Family, Brielle Cherie, Jenelle Nicole, Joanna + Ellis and Callie Miller. Recognizing how kids have all the answers this back-to-school season, influencer parents let their kids take the reins to showcase the benefits of going to Great Clips and using Online Check-In on the Great Clips app. Article content As families across the U.S. and Canada ramp up to go back to school, Great Clips provides a technology-led experience that focuses on quality, convenience and savings. Online Check-In, is available through the Great Clips website or the app, and lets customers reserve a spot in line and view estimated wait times. With ReadyNext ® text alerts, customers are notified once their estimated wait time reaches 15 minutes, so they can head to the salon when it's time for their service. And with Clip Notes ®, Great Clips keeps a record of haircut information, so kids (and their parents) can get the same great haircut no matter what salon or stylist they visit. Article content Visit for details on the Chief Back-to-School Officer search, discover back-to-school haircut and styling inspiration and view content featuring 'Big Boom' A.J. and 'Big Justice' at Great Clips. Article content About Great Clips, Inc. Article content Great Clips, Inc. was established in 1982 in Minneapolis. Today, Great Clips has over 4,400 salons throughout the United States and Canada, making it the world's largest salon brand. Great Clips is 100 percent franchised, and salons are owned locally by nearly 700 franchisees across the U.S. and Canada. Great Clips franchisees employ more than 30,000 stylists. Great Clips franchised salons provide value-priced, high-quality haircare for men, women and children. Getting a great haircut at a Great Clips salon is more convenient than ever with Online Check-In, ReadyNext® text alerts and Clip Notes ®. To check in online, visit or download the free app. For more information about Great Clips, Inc. or to find a location near you, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact: Article content Article content Great Clips, Inc. Article content Article content Brittany Trangsrud Article content Article content Article content
