Holiday decor was on display Friday at the Sears in The Mall in Columbia, where the retailer is starting its "Black Friday Now" promotion today. Many stores already have or soon will launch holiday sales events for what is expected to be a slow shopping season. (Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. / October 30, 2009) |
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Today is a day for jack-o'-lanterns and candy corn, but some retailers would rather you think about Christmas trees and candy canes instead.
Sears will launch the holiday shopping season today by offering deep discounts normally reserved for the day after Thanksgiving. The department store chain is calling its promotion " Black Friday Now."
Other retailers have also announced they are starting holiday deals. Walmart has 100 toys for $10 and is selling soon-to-be released books for $8.99. Kohl's will have holiday bargains and leave stores open until midnight Nov. 6 and 7. Borders has greeting cards at a 50 percent discount. Stores that aren't advertising sales are already selling Christmas decorations and other holiday items.
They are trying to attract shoppers like Tenesha Dorsey, 32, a mother of three. She said she's watching her budget this year because of the economy. While shopping Friday in her hometown of Owings Mills, she said the earlier sales will help her save money.
"Based on the economy, we don't have as much to spend, so I say the sooner the better," Dorsey said about the early sales.
She said she would even consider shopping at stores she normally doesn't patronize if savings are good enough.
The move to have deals early is designed to lure budget-conscious customers for what is looking to be a dire holiday season for retailers. The National Retail Federation has predicted a 1 percent sales decrease, the second-weakest holiday season since the federation began tracking sales more than 40 years ago. Last year was the only other time the retail trade group has reported a decline in spending, with sales dropping 3.4 percent in November and December.
"We've all seen the forecasts, and it's not going to be one of our better holiday seasons, that's for sure," said David Herskovits, a partner in the retail division of Deloitte & Touche LLP, an auditing and consultancy firm. "Retailers are anxious to do everything they can do to get consumers into their stores."
Sears executives said this year will be the earliest it has ever offered steep holiday discounts.
"This is the lowest price these products will be at the entire season," said Tom Aiello, a Sears spokesman. "It truly is a doorbuster deal you see people line up for on the day after Thanksgiving."
Sears decided to offer sales earlier after customers began telling managers and sales clerks they wanted to be able to budget their spending over the entire holiday season. The retailer is also hoping more people will use their layaway system if they know the price won't go down later in the season.
Walmart managers had also heard from its customers that they are budgeting more, which prompted them to begin offering holiday specials in September, much like they did last year. The retailers sold 10 toys at a $10 price tag last year, and it expanded that to 100 this year because of the competitive retail environment. The retailer will begin rolling out periodic holiday bargains throughout the season beginning in mid-November, said E.R. Anderson, a spokeswoman for the retailer.
"Research shows Mom is planning ahead and budgeting, so we just have to have the best prices available for the longest period of time," Anderson said.
Retailers are also trying to spread the discounts out over time as they try to better manage their inventory, retail analysts and consultants said. They don't want to end up with a glut of merchandise at the end of the season and have to get rid of it with heavy clearance sales.
Price will be a major decision in consumers' holiday purchases as many are still fretting about the economy and concerned about their jobs.
"The retailer with the lowest price will win ultimately," said Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation. "Consumers are looking for bargains, and they're looking for the best price possible."
Retailers don't expect the early discounts to take away from the frenzy of Black Friday, when shoppers line up before the sun rises to take advantage of door busters. Grannis from the retail federation said deals on the bigger-ticket items, such as electronics, will still be found the day after Thanksgiving.
"The fact of the matter is we still have some incredible deals that are slated for the day after Thanksgiving," Aiello from Sears said. "People are still going to get in store and take advantage of those as well."
Black Friday shopping has become a tradition that many families aren't willing to give up, retail executives and analysts said.
"That holiday weekend is just a great shopping weekend," Herskovits from Deloitte said. "Families are together and people are off from work for the most part. They look forward to getting together for Thanksgiving dinner and they look forward to shopping Friday, Saturday and Sunday."
Other consumers at Owings Mills Mall this week said they might also consider the early bargains.
Brittany Hinton, 22, said she doesn't shop until late December so the deals don't mean much to her right now. Hinton said she's spending less this year because money is tight. She had three jobs last year and just one this year.
"I wait until the last minute so for me it wouldn't matter," said Hinton, who lives in Manchester and works in a day care center in Reisterstown.
But Hinton admits if the bargain is good enough it might tempt her.
"If there are Black Friday kinds of deals, I might," she said.
Sears will launch the holiday shopping season today by offering deep discounts normally reserved for the day after Thanksgiving. The department store chain is calling its promotion " Black Friday Now."
Other retailers have also announced they are starting holiday deals. Walmart has 100 toys for $10 and is selling soon-to-be released books for $8.99. Kohl's will have holiday bargains and leave stores open until midnight Nov. 6 and 7. Borders has greeting cards at a 50 percent discount. Stores that aren't advertising sales are already selling Christmas decorations and other holiday items.
They are trying to attract shoppers like Tenesha Dorsey, 32, a mother of three. She said she's watching her budget this year because of the economy. While shopping Friday in her hometown of Owings Mills, she said the earlier sales will help her save money.
"Based on the economy, we don't have as much to spend, so I say the sooner the better," Dorsey said about the early sales.
She said she would even consider shopping at stores she normally doesn't patronize if savings are good enough.
The move to have deals early is designed to lure budget-conscious customers for what is looking to be a dire holiday season for retailers. The National Retail Federation has predicted a 1 percent sales decrease, the second-weakest holiday season since the federation began tracking sales more than 40 years ago. Last year was the only other time the retail trade group has reported a decline in spending, with sales dropping 3.4 percent in November and December.
"We've all seen the forecasts, and it's not going to be one of our better holiday seasons, that's for sure," said David Herskovits, a partner in the retail division of Deloitte & Touche LLP, an auditing and consultancy firm. "Retailers are anxious to do everything they can do to get consumers into their stores."
Sears executives said this year will be the earliest it has ever offered steep holiday discounts.
"This is the lowest price these products will be at the entire season," said Tom Aiello, a Sears spokesman. "It truly is a doorbuster deal you see people line up for on the day after Thanksgiving."
Sears decided to offer sales earlier after customers began telling managers and sales clerks they wanted to be able to budget their spending over the entire holiday season. The retailer is also hoping more people will use their layaway system if they know the price won't go down later in the season.
Walmart managers had also heard from its customers that they are budgeting more, which prompted them to begin offering holiday specials in September, much like they did last year. The retailers sold 10 toys at a $10 price tag last year, and it expanded that to 100 this year because of the competitive retail environment. The retailer will begin rolling out periodic holiday bargains throughout the season beginning in mid-November, said E.R. Anderson, a spokeswoman for the retailer.
"Research shows Mom is planning ahead and budgeting, so we just have to have the best prices available for the longest period of time," Anderson said.
Retailers are also trying to spread the discounts out over time as they try to better manage their inventory, retail analysts and consultants said. They don't want to end up with a glut of merchandise at the end of the season and have to get rid of it with heavy clearance sales.
Price will be a major decision in consumers' holiday purchases as many are still fretting about the economy and concerned about their jobs.
"The retailer with the lowest price will win ultimately," said Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation. "Consumers are looking for bargains, and they're looking for the best price possible."
Retailers don't expect the early discounts to take away from the frenzy of Black Friday, when shoppers line up before the sun rises to take advantage of door busters. Grannis from the retail federation said deals on the bigger-ticket items, such as electronics, will still be found the day after Thanksgiving.
"The fact of the matter is we still have some incredible deals that are slated for the day after Thanksgiving," Aiello from Sears said. "People are still going to get in store and take advantage of those as well."
Black Friday shopping has become a tradition that many families aren't willing to give up, retail executives and analysts said.
"That holiday weekend is just a great shopping weekend," Herskovits from Deloitte said. "Families are together and people are off from work for the most part. They look forward to getting together for Thanksgiving dinner and they look forward to shopping Friday, Saturday and Sunday."
Other consumers at Owings Mills Mall this week said they might also consider the early bargains.
Brittany Hinton, 22, said she doesn't shop until late December so the deals don't mean much to her right now. Hinton said she's spending less this year because money is tight. She had three jobs last year and just one this year.
"I wait until the last minute so for me it wouldn't matter," said Hinton, who lives in Manchester and works in a day care center in Reisterstown.
But Hinton admits if the bargain is good enough it might tempt her.
"If there are Black Friday kinds of deals, I might," she said.
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A lot of online retailers are starting to promote their holiday deals as well. There has been a marked increase in the number of free shipping offers and discount coupons for major retailers and specialty stores. When you add those perks to the cash back you can get from reward sites like www.lilideals.com, it means that savvy shoppers can get a head start on holiday shopping without breaking the budget.
karenc09 (11/10/2009, 12:05 PM )