REGISTER BELLS Retailers Hope to Cash in on Holiday Sales
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THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF JOURNAL PUBLISHINGANDTHE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION NOVEMBER 2010 RINGING THE REGISTER BELLS Retailers hope to cash in on holiday sales. Document: E001CDF110510.eps;Page: 1;Format:(254.00 x 295.27 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Nov 02, 2010 16:39:36;JPC 72 DPI PAGE 2 BUSINESS JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2010 Retailers ramp up for holidays BY DENNIS SEID with a 3 percent to 3.5 percent Christmas season. Sales have to spend about the same or Business Journal increase, which is the biggest been strong throughout the less on gifts this year than last. UPELO – Polls and Discounts count climb in four years. In 2006, year and this year’s back-to- “The 2010 holiday shopping surveys don’t mean a ■ An Accenture survey indicated holiday sales in November school season was strong, too.” season will be spectacularly thing before elections; 93 percent of consumers find and December jumped 4.4 Through the end of Sep- unspectacular for many con- T discounts important or very im- what matters is what percent. tember, overall sales at the sumers, but that will suit re- happens in the voting booth. portant for their holiday pur- Michael P. Niemira, ICSC’s mall were up 4.5 percent tailers who remember well With that in mind, retailers chases. Only 13 percent said chief economist, said, “The compared to a year earlier. the turbulence of Holiday hope that consumer surveys they were willing to pay full price key story is that the retail re- “At the end of the day, what ’08,” said Janet Hoffman, suggesting shoppers are will- for specific gifts this year. covery continues, and that matters most to shoppers is managing director of Accen- ing to spend a little more this bodes well for the upcoming finding the selection they de- ture’s retail practice. holiday season will translate holiday shopping season.” sire, and we have that,” said Of those who are spending to more sales at the registers. But with the economy still In Northeast Mississippi, re- mall General Manager Jeff the same or less this year, And with the holiday selling in a state of flux, the shopping tailers are gearing up for what Snyder. about half of those surveyed season about to begin at mood of U.S. consumers is they hope is a holiday boost. by Accenture said it was be- malls, shopping centers and still hard to gauge. Since its opening in 1990, cause they have less discre- shops across the country, The National Retail Federa- The Mall at Barnes Crossing Optimism – and caution tionary income this year. A nervous anticipation has tion, though, forecasts holiday has posted year-over-year in- In an informal survey of a third said they have concerns gripped store owners, man- sales will rise 2.3 percent this creases during the holidays, dozen shoppers in Northeast about the economy. agers and employees. year to $447 billion. even through a couple of eco- Mississippi, half said they National Retail Federation Black Friday arrives in three Last year, holiday sales rose nomic downturns. planned to spend about the President and CEO Matthew weeks, the traditional start to a meager 0.4 percent. But it This year doesn’t look any same this year as last, four Shay said although retailers what is the busiest time of the was far better than the 3.9 different, according to mall said they would likely spend feel more optimistic this year, year for retailers. percent drop in 2008 as the management. less and two said they would there are erratic indications You know the storyline – recession sank its claws deep- The back-to-school selling spend more. from still-elevated unemploy- half or more of a retailer’s er into the economy. season is a good indicator for That’s in line with a survey ment figures and shifting con- sales and profits happen dur- The International Council the holidays. Mall Marketing by New York-based consulting sumer confidence. ing the last two months of the of Shopping Centers projects Director Cindy Childs said, firm Accenture, which found year for many stores. an even rosier holiday season, “We’re expecting a really good 83 percent of consumers plan Turn to HOLIDAYSon Page 21 Business Owner? COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Visit the business directory on NEMS360.com. ☎ (662) 842-8283 (662) 842-4117 If your business is not listed, call your advertising www.trirealestate.net consultant or for more information call 842-2614. ©Journal Publishing ‘10 Document: E002CDF110510.eps;Page: 1;Format:(254.00 x 295.27 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Nov 02, 2010 16:39:34;JPC 72 DPI NOVEMBER 2010 BUSINESS JOURNAL PAGE 3 Today’s wish lists aren’t so simple anymore ack in the day, as the saying “You’ll always thankfully, including a drum set – er, percentage. goes, Christmas wish lists be around either a which our neighbors may not be so A story six months earlier showed were much, much simpler. teacher or an thankful for. 17 percent of kids age 5 to 8 “would B Getting a new bike, BB adult like me or It’s a wonder that toy companies be using pester power to get their hands on something Apple-y.” gun, remote control car or train set Daddy, so you are still around in the digital age. But Naturally, as kids got older, the per- was easy enough. If Santa and his won’t need to call the shelves at retail stores still have us,” Lee’s told dolls and action figures, board games centage of those wanting an Apple workshop didn’t have them available, product grew. you could always visit one of Santa’s him. and stuff to throw around. That seems to There’s still that “hot toy” that And you wonder why Apple shares helpers – otherwise known as a retail- have worked for everybody wants, too. In the past, it’s are trading at more than $300 each? er –and find what you needed. now. been something like Tickle Me Elmo. Savvy marketing, together with As long as you didn’t wait too long. Dennis Last year, we Or the Zhu Zhu Pet from last year. savvy technology, have helped propel Today’s kids, however, have far gave in to the This year, one hot list includes mostly Apple’s fortunes. more sophisticated and upscale SEID Nintendo DSI electronic toys – and all under $60 or A visit to an Apple store, I’m told, is tastes. craze. That old less. almost like having an out-of-body ex- For example, my 8-year-old has al- Leapster was just too “kiddie,” you But how many of your Christmas perience. ready informed Mom and Dad that know. The year before, we got a Wii, lists include an Apple product? As kids say so often say these days, getting a new bike “just isn’t my ostensibly because it was something Now THAT is the “toy” of the times. “whatever.” For retailers without an Apple thing.” the whole family could enjoy. And we In an amusing column in Fast product of some kind, fear not. There At least he’s honest. have. Company, writer Addy Dugdale has a are some consumers still around who So, what does he want? He also has a netbook, thanks to story called “How Steve Jobs stole don’t care to get too wrapped up in While he hasn’t said he wants Santa his uncle. He uses it to visit a few ed- Christmas – Apple products top every all things electronic. to drop off a cell phone under the ucational websites, and OK, maybe kid’s wish list.” Too bad there seem to be fewer tree, he has mentioned since third something Star Wars-related. But no The story cites a recent survey in these days. grade started this year that he “really online gaming for him. And no Face- the United Kingdom that shows near- needs” one. book, which puzzles him since some ly a quarter of UK children have put We’ve informed him that he does- of his friends apparently already have an Apple product of some kind (iPad, Contact Dennis Seid at (662) 678-1578 n’t. their own page. Yes, we’re astounded, iPhone, iPod) at the top of their or [email protected]. You can follow “But what if I need to get in touch too. Christmas list. I’m sure a poll in the him at twitter.com/dennisseid and with you or Mommy?” he’s asked. He’s asked for a few traditional toys, U.S. would have a similar, if not high- at nems360.com/pages/bizbuzz. Document: E003CDF110510.eps;Page: 1;Format:(254.00 x 295.27 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Nov 02, 2010 14:23:52;JPC 72 DPI PAGE 4 BUSINESS JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2010 Retailers hiring for the holidays ■ Many Northeast Mississippi sonal employees. Eventually, week before Christmas, her stores are employing the same the number will grow to 12 to Tips for getting a seasonal job total employee count will be 15. ■ To get ahead of other applicants, SnagAJob.com recommends having a posi- about 115. number of seasonal It’s an increase from last year tive attitude when you apply and when you interview. For three years running, But this year, she’s getting more applications for the 30 jobs. She when she hired nine temporary hiring managers in the online job site’s survey have said the best attribute a employees as last year. workers. credits the sheer number of job- seasonal applicant can possess is a good attitude.