CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Making last push to lure buyers

Last-minute shoppers are expected to flood stores this weekend.
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
DALLAS -- Men usually dominate the crowds in the final days before Christmas, but look for large numbers of time-starved women to be in the procrastinating ranks this weekend because of this year's shorter shopping season.
Expectations are for weekend sales to be quite strong but not enough to salvage the season for many retailers.
An ongoing America's Research Group survey found that 45 percent of Americans said they're done or nearly done with their Christmas shopping as they head into the final week -- but 9.6 percent haven't even started.
Nearly one in four consumers (23 percent) said they will complete their shopping during the final week, while one in five (22 percent) said they would need to shop through Christmas Eve to get it all done, according to a recent American Express poll.
"Christmas has snuck up on many Americans this year," said Tracy Mullin, president and chief executive officer of the National Retail Federation. "Many people have quite a bit of shopping left to do," she said. There are six fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year than last.
Today is expected to be the biggest day of the season for the retail industry. Extended hours and more discounts are expected to pull gift buyers into the stores, and online retailers also are appealing to last-minute shoppers.
Online merchants will guarantee delivery of purchases for a higher shipping fee. Neimanmarcus.com promises Christmas Eve delivery for orders placed by noon Monday, JCPenney.com's deadline is 10 a.m. Monday, and Pier1.com is giving shoppers until 8 p.m. Monday to ensure Christmas Eve delivery.
The Internet's leading retailer, Amazon.com, advertises that even on Dec. 25 the site can offer a magazine subscription or an e-mailed gift certificate.
Lost strength
The holiday season started out strong as shoppers responded to early-bird specials and gifts-with-purchase promotions on the day after Thanksgiving.
But to date, retailers have been handed a mixed sales bag from Americans who are not as willing or able to significantly bump up holiday spending. Washington war talk, constant corporate layoffs and a weak economy have left Americans guarding their pocketbooks.
Even trendy Target Stores Inc.'s sales haven't pulled away from the pack, with the discounter saying its cash register receipts so far are "well below plan" for the month. And FAO Inc., operator of famed FAO Schwarz toy stores and kid-focused the Right Start and Zany Brainy chains, is asking its banks for a break or it will file for bankruptcy.
It's been a buyers' market as retailers present one promotion and discount after another trying to get people into the stores. Retailers can expect more of the same this weekend.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is expected to get its share of final-weekend business, giving it a 3.5 percent December increase -- on the low end, but still within the range forecast by the world's largest retailer.
Kmart troubles
It is an especially critical weekend for Kmart Corp., which has been reorganizing in Chapter 11 bankruptcy since right after holiday 2001 failed to meet expectations. The chain, based in Troy, Mich., kicked off a 110-hour sale Friday that will run through 8 p.m. Christmas Eve.
Kmart, which closed 238 stores last spring, is expected to shutter more than 500 locations, including dozens in Texas, after Christmas.
Department stores such as Sears Roebuck & amp; Co., Macy's parent Federated Department Stores, and Foley's parent May Department Stores Inc. have so far reported lower sales than last year and are expected to end the month with declines.
J.C. Penney Co.'s department stores have been among the season's best performers, with analysts expecting the chain to end the month with a 5 percent increase in same-store sales.