Despite industry forecasts that predicted a lackluster holiday shopping season for retailers, merchants big and small are off to a strong start.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Terry Colella, left, helps her friend Kris Martin shop for Christmas Elf gifts at Kohl's Friday evening.
Terry Colella, left, helps her friend Kris Martin shop for Christmas Elf gifts at Kohl's Friday evening.
The National Retail Federation and Retail Council of New York both reported strong sales and foot traffic that began the day after Thanksgiving, which traditionally kicks off Christmas shopping for many. A Retail Council surveyed mirrored observations of crowds on both sides of the city of Auburn throughout last weekend.
Nearly 80 percent of merchants surveyed by the Retail Council reported sales at or above last year's figures. Consumer electronics, apparel, books, DVDs and jewelry were popular gift items, according to surveys.
Retailers in Auburn's commercial corridor of Routes 5 and 20 in Aurelius, experienced strong early morning crowds last week. Kohls, which opened in March, had a positive experience during its inaugural holiday shopping weekend.
“While we do not disclose the exact number of people who shopped the store on Black Friday, we opened our doors at 4 a.m. to a large crowd,” Kohls spokeswoman Elizabeth DeLuca said. “Electronics, cookware, apparel and jewelry are favorites year after year. We believe we are well-positioned for a great holiday season,” she said in an e-mail.
Fellow market newcomer A.C. Moore enjoyed a good shopping weekend on the east side of town. The arts and crafts retailer opened in the Auburn Plaza off of Grant Avenue this fall.
“We had a good day, a brisk day,” A.C. Moore General Manager Dan Newton said of Black Friday. “I'm happy. We had a lot of customers coming in telling us how thankful they are we're here and that the parking lot's repaved,” he said.
The Retail Council noted accounts of steady foot traffic straight through the weekend to Sunday, when crowds traditionally fade. Fingerlakes Mall Manager Diane Jurczak-Prue said she was pleasantly surprised by the long-lasting crowds the shopping center had.
“Sales were up and the traffic all weekend long was strong,” Jurczak-Prue said. “It was a great entire weekend.
“I was kind of shocked,” she said. “But then, actually when we think about it, the high gas prices probably helped us get more local shoppers.”
Nationwide, more than 147 million shoppers headed out for Black Friday weekend, according to the NRF survey. That figure represents a 4.8 percent increase over the same time frame in 2006.
A greater number of Americans also shopped online this year on what has been dubbed Cyber Monday. About 72 million people logged on to get Monday-after-Thanksgiving deals, up 17.3 percent over last year, according to the NRF.
The season is off to a healthy start all around, including in Skaneateles, where smaller retailers were seeing bigger crowds.
“We're ahead of last year which is good because last year was pretty strong,” said Sally Mason, co-owner of cate&sally clothing store in Skaneateles.
The shop depends on a steady flow of regulars throughout the season. Smaller retailers sustain without the attention of Black Friday door-buster specials and the like.
“I hope it's more of the same, but you never really know,” Mason said of the weeks ahead.
The Dickens' Christmas weekends certainly provide a bevy of extra traffic for merchants in the village, she said.
“It's been a great boon with the (Dickens) crowds,” said Karen Foltz of Pomoduro, an East Genesee Street gift shop. “It's a fun shopping thing, it's different and it's free.”
She said holiday sales were off to a good start.
“I wasn't sure what to expect this year with the gas prices,” Foltz said. “So far it's been going well, so we're optimistic.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
Nearly 80 percent of merchants surveyed by the Retail Council reported sales at or above last year's figures. Consumer electronics, apparel, books, DVDs and jewelry were popular gift items, according to surveys.
Retailers in Auburn's commercial corridor of Routes 5 and 20 in Aurelius, experienced strong early morning crowds last week. Kohls, which opened in March, had a positive experience during its inaugural holiday shopping weekend.
“While we do not disclose the exact number of people who shopped the store on Black Friday, we opened our doors at 4 a.m. to a large crowd,” Kohls spokeswoman Elizabeth DeLuca said. “Electronics, cookware, apparel and jewelry are favorites year after year. We believe we are well-positioned for a great holiday season,” she said in an e-mail.
Fellow market newcomer A.C. Moore enjoyed a good shopping weekend on the east side of town. The arts and crafts retailer opened in the Auburn Plaza off of Grant Avenue this fall.
“We had a good day, a brisk day,” A.C. Moore General Manager Dan Newton said of Black Friday. “I'm happy. We had a lot of customers coming in telling us how thankful they are we're here and that the parking lot's repaved,” he said.
The Retail Council noted accounts of steady foot traffic straight through the weekend to Sunday, when crowds traditionally fade. Fingerlakes Mall Manager Diane Jurczak-Prue said she was pleasantly surprised by the long-lasting crowds the shopping center had.
“Sales were up and the traffic all weekend long was strong,” Jurczak-Prue said. “It was a great entire weekend.
“I was kind of shocked,” she said. “But then, actually when we think about it, the high gas prices probably helped us get more local shoppers.”
Nationwide, more than 147 million shoppers headed out for Black Friday weekend, according to the NRF survey. That figure represents a 4.8 percent increase over the same time frame in 2006.
A greater number of Americans also shopped online this year on what has been dubbed Cyber Monday. About 72 million people logged on to get Monday-after-Thanksgiving deals, up 17.3 percent over last year, according to the NRF.
The season is off to a healthy start all around, including in Skaneateles, where smaller retailers were seeing bigger crowds.
“We're ahead of last year which is good because last year was pretty strong,” said Sally Mason, co-owner of cate&sally clothing store in Skaneateles.
The shop depends on a steady flow of regulars throughout the season. Smaller retailers sustain without the attention of Black Friday door-buster specials and the like.
“I hope it's more of the same, but you never really know,” Mason said of the weeks ahead.
The Dickens' Christmas weekends certainly provide a bevy of extra traffic for merchants in the village, she said.
“It's been a great boon with the (Dickens) crowds,” said Karen Foltz of Pomoduro, an East Genesee Street gift shop. “It's a fun shopping thing, it's different and it's free.”
She said holiday sales were off to a good start.
“I wasn't sure what to expect this year with the gas prices,” Foltz said. “So far it's been going well, so we're optimistic.”
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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