Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Online sites were courting customers with free shipping deals.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Armed with gift cards and a zeal for bargains, shoppers returned to the nation's malls and stores Monday for a second round of the holiday shopping season as retailers hoped for a post-Christmas sales blitz.
Many stores -- stymied by shoppers' procrastinating even longer than last year -- are relying even more on the post-holiday business to meet their modest sales goals, and wooed customers with deeper discounts, expanded shopping hours and fresh regular-price merchandise.
Target audience
They're largely aiming their efforts at the growing numbers of gift card holders who are expected to spend their newfound money more generously. Gift cards are recorded as sales only when they're redeemed.
"Retailers have recognized that December has 31 days," said Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at NPD Group Inc., a market research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y.
In fact, in an effort to prop up profits, a growing number of stores such as Coach Inc., Target Corp., and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. rolled out some spring merchandise while KB Toys Inc. was pushing new versions of Barbie and the funky Bratz dolls.
Consumer electronic chains such as Best Buy Co. Inc. were highlighting CDs, DVDs and video games in their advertising, counting on shoppers to feed the gadgets they received for the holiday.
Online sites such as overstock.com and buy.com were courting customers with free shipping deals and deeper discounts Monday, though online shopping has been a bright spot in the season.
"I'm looking for new merchandise," said James Coffey, who was among the early shoppers at Town Center Mall in Charleston, W.Va. He was bearing gift cards including one from Sears, Roebuck and Co. and another for the mall, aiming to spend as much as $300.
Seeking a deal
Still, most shoppers were clamoring for a deal.
"I wouldn't pay full price today for anything," said Misty Watters, who snapped up discounted Nike sweat pants and T-shirts at McCain Mall in North Little Rock, Ark.
"We're looking for anything on sale," said Jennifer Westfall, of Charleston, W.Va., who brought her mother and 7-year-old daughter to the local Charleston Mall. "Only cheap-o markdowns."
Westfall found several deals, including a $130 cocktail dress for $20 and children's clothes discounted 90 percent.
Long lines
Meanwhile, at the Robinsons-May store in suburban Canoga Park, Calif., hundreds of people were standing outside in the rain before the 6 a.m. opening.
"I'm just here to see if there's a bargain," said Pamela Porterfield, who bought discounted bowling ball coffee mugs.
Some shoppers were finishing their own Christmas shopping.
"You get good bargains," said Gloria Mendez of New York City, who left a Filene's Basement store in Manhattan with two loaded bags.
James Johnson, a driver for FedEx Corp., bought a last-minute gift at a Wal-Mart store in Bowie, Md. "I just didn't have time before Christmas. I was too busy working," Johnson said.
Scarce supply
Some shoppers were able to nab the season's hottest gifts, which have been in scarce supply.
Kimberlee Wiley of New Bedford, Mass., went hunting a $300 iPod digital music player Monday at the local Filene's department store, using all the gift cards she received for Christmas. She discovered they were sold out, and later bought the player online.
Though this week should be busy for retailers, Cohen of NPD expects that retailers will wind up with a modest sales increase of a little more than 3 percent for the November-December period.
The estimate is based on same-store sales, which are sales at stores opened at least a year.
Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers, expects that 20 percent of gift card holders will redeem their cards this week. According to a survey conducted by Accenture, 44 percent of shoppers polled said they spend their gift card within a month of receiving it. And more than half said they will spend more than the value of the card.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.