CHICAGO, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- While big discounts kept cash registers ringing over the Thanksgiving weekend, cautious U.S. retailers remain hopeful about continued strong holiday sales.
DVDs, CDs and affordable electronics like video games were hot items for men, retailers said, but there apparently is no "gotta have" toy to drive children's sales this season. Apparel was the top seller for women, with 45.3 percent of shoppers choosing clothing and clothing accessories as gifts.
"Examining how men and women shop during the holiday season usually yields interesting results," said Phil Rist, vice president of strategy for BIGreseach, which conducts surveys for the National Retail Federation. "Taking a look at shopping patterns, we see that consumers are either taking advantage of bargains to purchase items for themselves or perhaps they are subconsciously buying items for others that they would like to receive themselves."
Retail sales were forecast to grow about 4 percent over 2001, the smallest increase in 5 years, but with people worried about job security, a gloomy economy and possible war with Iraq, merchants were glad to see consumers open their wallets and whip out their credit cards.
Overall holiday sales were expected to top $209 billion this season, with consumers shelling out an average $650 on gifts, decorations, cards, candy and food -- $18 more than last year.
A survey of 6,926 consumers by the National Retail Federation released Monday found that 75.6 percent of consumers went shopping during the so-called "Black Friday" weekend, beginning the day after Thanksgiving when retailers traditionally go from operating in the red to making a profit "in the black."
The poll was conducted Nov. 28-30 and had a 1 percent margin of error.
"It appears consumers were out in full force on Black Friday and the weekend after Thanksgiving and that's fabulous for retailers," said NRF spokesman Scott Krugman. The survey estimated that the average consumer had completed about 38.7 percent of their shopping, up from 24.3 percent in mid-November.
Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer with 1,567 stores and 1,243 Supercenters, reported $1.43 billion in sales for Friday, a single-day sales record.
"People are value shopping," Wal-Mart spokesman Tom Williams told United Press International. He said customers gobbled up 'blitz sales' items and specials like a $5 coffeemaker, an electric knife or small crock pot. Discounted home electronics were hot, including a 27" Symphonic stereo color television for $149 and a $48 Apex DVD player.
Bargain-hunters lined up outside malls and discount stores before dawn on Friday to grab the early-bird deals. Some Chicago-area malls opened their doors early so shoppers would not have to wait in the cold.
Laurel Sibert, regional marketing director for Simon Property Group, manager of 19 malls in New England, said there was a "steady business throughout the weekend," particularly in the clothing sector.
"Many apparel stores are doing really well," Sibert said, adding that KB Toys "did gangbusters."
In Miami, merchants said the solid weekend of shopping was helped along by sales, specials and extended hours.
"The stores have really had aggressive sales spurring people to come in," said Annette Alvarez, marketing director of Dadeland Mall in Miami-Dade County. The Limited was giving out $25 coupons valid for this week in an attempt to keep sales going.
Malls also tried to make themselves more shopper-friendly. At Dadeland Mall south of Miami, greeters were stationed at doors and parking lot attendants were sent out into the fray to try to help motorists find a place to park.
Other south Florida malls inaugurated a package-carryout service and direct mail coupons. Free coffee and gift bags were available at some locations and one mall held a raffle for a free cruise.
A Target store in North Miami Beach was packed with shoppers all weekend.
"It's a madhouse. It's way better than last year," store manager Bruce Bicio said.
"I see everyone with a bag. I don't see lookers. They're buying," said Julie Goldman, marketing director at The Falls shopping center in southwest Miami-Dade County.
"Stores have been packed, and I saw lots and lots of Macy's bags so people were buying not just looking, but it's too early for any numbers on how well we did or how different it was from last year," said Elina Kazan, spokeswoman for Macy's in New York City.
A Gallup poll found 19 percent of shoppers planned to spend more than last year, 24 percent spend less and 56 percent about the same.
"Shoppers did not waste any time this weekend looking for great deals in the wee hours of the morning," said NRF President and Chief Operating Officer Tracy Mullin. "We attribute this to a combination of factors including six fewer shopping days pushing consumers to shop early, retailers doing an excellent job of advertising great values for consumers, and an early Hanukah."
CDs, DVDs, videos and video games were the most purchased gifts accounting for 41 percent of gifts purchased during the weekend, followed by clothing and clothing accessories; 40.4 percent, toys, 36.6 percent, and home décor or home-related furnishings, 23.7 percent.
Consumers started buying gift certificates before Thanksgiving and only 19 percent of shoppers bought gift cards during the weekend.
Online sales skyrocketed last month as more and more Americans opted for the convenience of shopping via computer on the Internet. According to the eSpending Report from Goldman Sachs & Co., Harris Interactive and Nielsen/NetRatings, consumers spent more than $29 billion online in the first three weeks of November, up 29 percent over 2001.
That breaks down to nearly $88 per shopper for the week ending Nov. 22.
"Despite the continued economic instability, holiday shoppers have opened up their pocketbooks online, said Lisa Strand, Nielsen/NetRatings director and chief commerce analyst. "We're seeing consumers shift their budgets this year, with more shoppers planning to increase their online spending while reducing catalog and offline store spending."
(Thanks to Alex Cukan in New York, Dave Haskell in Boston, Les Kjos in Miami and Phil Magers in Dallas)
