Area malls are expecting big crowds and a surge in holiday sales Saturday as last-minute shoppers take advantage of the extra weekend before Christmas Day.
“We’re expecting it to be very busy,” said Jill Schlapkohl, director of mall marketing for the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. “Black Friday was very busy for us, but that’s more of a traditional [shopping] holiday. This is more last-minute shoppers. Since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, people have the opportunity to take the whole weekend to get ready.”
According to figures from the National Retail Federation, most consumers had only finished about half of their holiday shopping going into this weekend, and more than 15 percent hadn’t even started.
That should translate into big sales for local shopping malls, which have seen a rise in popularity this year, said Scott Krugman, a spokesman for the National Retail Federation.
Nearly half of those surveyed said they would head to a department store this weekend, while only 39 percent said they would go to a discount store such as Target or Wal-Mart — a significant drop from the 70 percent who planned to do last-minute shopping at discount stores in 2005.
“Clearly consumers are finding value with department stores and malls,” Krugman said. “Malls stepped up earlier [this year] by opening earlier and [offering better] promotions. Consumers really responded to that.”
For example, the Fashion Centre extended its holiday hours to compete with discount stores. On Black Friday, the mall opened at 5 a.m., a full two hours earlier than the previous year.
The strategy worked, said Schlapkohl.
“It gave our shoppers a choice to shop earlier at the mall, whereas in the past they’ve only had that choice at the big box stores,” she said.
The weather may also play a factor in getting more shoppers to stores this weekend. Unusually warm temperatures throughout December didn’t help put shoppers in the Christmas spirit, said Krugman, but Saturday’s cold weather might.
“With the weather being unseasonably warm, it certainly had some retailers nervous,” he said. “They’re happy to see the weather getting colder as we’re heading into the weekend.”
Rules of Returns
Consumer experts are warning shoppers and gift recipients to be wary this season as retailers further tighten return policies. Although more merchants are making their rules more apparent, policies are becoming more complicated, said Edgar Dworsky, a former Massachusetts assistant attorney general and founder of the consumer education Web site www.consumerworld.org. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., for instance, wants computers back within 15 days, cameras back within 30, computer accessories in 45 and all other items within 90 days. – AP
