Individual spending during Black Friday weekend (the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving) was down 8 percent this year to $343.31, or about $29 less than last year, according to the National Retail Federation.

And that’s even though the number of shoppers increased for the three-day kick-start to the holiday shopping season — 195 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend, up from 172 million last year.

Shoppers appear to be diversifying their limited spending as purchases in most categories went up or stayed the same over last year. Toys, sporting goods, health/beauty items and gift cards were up over last year. The most popular purchases were clothing (50.9 percent), consumer electronics (36.9 percent) and books (40.3 percent), which remained nearly unchanged over last year.

The only categories to see a decline in purchases were home decor and “miscellaneous/other.” To see the full survey results, click here.

Here’s what NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin had to say: “While retailers are encouraged by the number of Americans who shopped over Black Friday weekend, they know they have their work cut out for them to keep people coming back through Christmas. Shoppers can continue to expect retailers to focus on low prices and bargains through the end of December.”

While Black Friday has typically NOT been the biggest sales day of the year (that has usually come during the first two weeks of December), the Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008 did end up being the top day of that year for retailers.

Considering how the rest of the season went (a total spending decline of about 3 percent), it seems retailers have every reason to be worried about what this year’s Black Friday weekend means for the rest of their season. And they had better be hoping that this year’s Black Friday isn’t yet again the biggest shopping day of the year.

Maybe some retailers can make up the difference with online sales. But that’s looking shaky too — 28 percent of shoppers during Black Friday weekend bought something online, according to the NRF. That’s down from 34 percent last year.

Stay tuned for another blog today on a Cyber Monday sales update from PriceGrabber.com’s president, Laura Conrad.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

The National Retail Federation is predicting up to 134 million people will shop this Friday, Saturday or Sunday — that’s higher than the 128 million people who planned to do so last year.

According to the survey, conducted by BIGresearch, 57 million people say they will definitely hit the stores while another 77 million are waiting to see what retailers are planning before heading out the door.

Here’s the breakdown:

* 66.3 percent plan to shop at discount stores
* 62.4 percent plan to shop at department stores
* 41 percent will shop at electronics stores
* 36.3 percent are going to a clothing/clothing accessories store
* 28.8 percent are shopping at a grocery store (this to me is most interesting)

Most people are heading out the door before 9 a.m. with a few (one in 10) braving the Midnight-to-3 a.m. hours, and about 28 percent each heading out from 4 to 6 a.m and 7 to 9 a.m.

Pamela Goodfellow, a senior analyst with BIGresearch noted in the news release that consumers are still expected to remain cautious. But “the anticipation of Black Friday deals seems to be coaxing shoppers out of hibernation, many arriving to stores early and with coupons in hand.”

We’ve also heard caution that inventory levels will be lower this year, as Lisa Bisenius, associate general manager at the White Marsh Mall, noted in my story last month: “…if people see something they want, they’d better get it because you may not get it at a later date.”

I wonder if that perception will drive Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) shopping this year, only to see a drop off in the week following. Do consumers feel they had better get their gifts now while there still in stock? Will we see that last-minute-shopper surge this year or will that be more subdued?

One thing’s for sure though, the bargains will again be hot this year. Shop.org’s CyberMonday.com, will feature a “Deal of the Hour” on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Retailers participating in the Black Friday Deal of the Hour include Overstock.com, Sears and American Eagle. (Click here for the full list of companies and times.) Offers include free shipping, discounts and free gifts with purchase.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

In no particular order some of my parking lot/garage pet peeves are:

1) Patiently waiting for a space only to have someone steal it from you.

2) Being stuck behind a car in a garage that YOU know will only have free spaces on the top floors…yet the person in front of you is delusional and inches along looking for that mythical free space on floors one through six.

3) Someone has pulled into their parking space with no regard for humanity and is hanging over into the space next to it, essentially taking two precious spaces while the rest of us are desperately driving around and hoping we’ll find a place to park before sundown.

So, yes — there are some holiday shopping stresses to be endured before we even set foot in the mall. AAA Mid-Atlantic has sent out a news release reminding us all to be nice to each other in the Land of No Civilization (otherwise known as the parking lot).

“Do not let trivial parking lot wars dim your holiday glow,” the release says. “Avoid petty confrontations that can result in additional holiday expenses, including fender-benders, personal injuries and a general Grinch-like attitude.”

Here are some of AAA’s tips:
1) Head for the side door. Many shoppers want to park near their favorite stores or near the mall entrance. Most malls have secondary entrances on the sides and those entrances usually have less traffic and additional convenient spaces.
2) Play the outfield. Outlying areas normally have more open spaces, lighter traffic and a lower risk of collision. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to walk off the holiday treats. In some cases, however, those spaces may not be as secure so be aware of the risks.
3) Wait until Cyber Monday. Many retailers, in fact 87 percent will have special online promotions on Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, according to an eHoliday survey for Shop.org.

For all the suggestions, click here.

Anyone putting on their game face for Black Friday? Have any parking lot horror stories or pet peeves you’d like to share?

Powered by Bookmarkify™

It’s hard to have thoughts of thanks (and giving) when you’re stuck in your cute little two-door, sandwiched between a minivan and a Suburban staring at traffic as far as the eye can see… Not that I’m being specific or anything.

But thanks to lower fuel prices this year, AAA Mid-Atlantic is predicting that 4.6 percent more Marylanders will hit the roads for the holiday this year compared with last year. (Although not me — the only road I’m hitting is the parking lot when we go out during halftime to toss the football around. I’ve learned my lesson, thank you.)

In total, approximately 794,000 Marylanders are expected to travel in one form or another for Thanksgiving. That’s up nearly 4 percent last year. Airlines also appear to be losing out to other transportation modes as just 6.5 percent of travelers (52,000) are expected to take to the skies — a 5.2 percent decline.

“It’s not surprising that Marylanders are foregoing the airport this year to reach their Thanksgiving destination,” said Regina Averella in a news release. “Given the hassles of airport security, reduced capacity, as well as added surcharges and fees, it seems Marylanders are seeking other modes of transportation that are less restrictive and perhaps more inexpensive.”

Speaking of which, anyone hear about the new Super Bowl surcharge this year? When will these guys stop?

At any rate, I’ve also noticed in my commute to work along I-95, the roads have already gotten more congested since Thursday. Seems as if the traffic madness is already upon us.

Are you going to brave the storm that’s alrady accumulating out there? So are you like me and hiding from traffic this year?

Powered by Bookmarkify™

With Cyber Monday coming up in less than two weeks, my inbox has started filling up with retail predictions, trends, spending forecasts — the works. But one release veered left where everyone else was going right: when “The Myth of Cyber Monday” popped up in my messages list I was immediately intrigued.

Compiled by Northern California-based Permuto Discoveries, the graphic (available here) outlines statistical reasons why Cyber Monday, billed as the busiest online shopping day of the year, is not and never has been the top dog of online shopping days.

The term Cyber Monday was originally coined in 2005 by Shop.org after a significant number of  retailers reported a sizable increase in online sales the Monday after Thanksgiving. Since then, sales have grown from $486 million on Cyber Monday in 2005 to $846 million last year.

But neither one of those days was the busiest online shopping day of the year, according to Permuto.

$556 million in online sales took place on Dec. 12, 2005 and $887 million in sales on Dec. 9 last year made those days the busiest online shopping days of their years.

But further on, the graphic notes Cyber Monday’s sales totals are getting closer to the top online day of the year. That could mean that consumers and retailers are buying (no pun intended) the hype anyway and creating a self fulfilling prophecy.

Last year, Cyber Monday was only about $41 million off from the true busiest online day of the year. Could this year be the year it actually lives up to its name?

Powered by Bookmarkify™

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling released a survey this week that found that nearly seven in 10 consumers plan to pay cash for their holiday purchases this year.

“Plan,” being the key word there. The federation’s Financial Literacy Survey conducted earlier this year revealed that one-third of all Americans have zero dollars in savings.

“Further, the holiday season has historically been a time when many consumers piled new debt on top of old, some still paying for holiday spending from the previous year,” the NFCC news release said.

So are these survey responders just delusional?

Here’s what the NFCC says: “The implications of the October survey could indicate that Americans are well-meaning, but those intentions may not translate into reality when they hit the stores. With no savings and a lack of preparation for holiday spending, consumers will likely revert back to charging their purchases…if charging privileges are still open to them.”

On the other hand, there have been reports this year of people focusing more on saving after the 2008 recession rocked financial statements.

But everyone’s definition of “saving” can be different. To some it’s opening up a saving’s account, to others it’s not spending as much money. But will that translate to more responsible spending this holiday season, as it appears many intend to do? Or will adding to debt be the way of 2009′s shopping season once again?

Or…(gasp!) will we be getting — and giving — smaller gifts this year?

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Keep those bright lights shining

Ah, the lights of the holidays!

Don’t you just love all those cheerful lights inside and outside houses? Don’t they cheer your spirit as you pass by on these dark winter lights?

And don’t you just hate when folks dismantle their lights after the holidays, leaving us depressed in the winter of our discontent?

So I have a suggestion: Why not leave those lights on for the next few months? Not the specifically Christmas-related lights: those that illuminate the Christmas trees, the crèches, the Santas, the reindeer and the candy canes. No, I’m talking about the bright lights that adorn windows and trees — the outdoor lights that guide us on our way and seem to say: “Cheer up. You’re not alone.”

Daylight saving time’s a-comin’. (Actually, DST starts on the first Sunday in March, that is, March 8.) Spring will be here soon. Meanwhile, keep those holiday lights burning. They really do help to lift our spirits and remind us that winter is not such a bad time of year, after all.

PAUL SAMUEL, Associate Editor

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Why would you want to take a winter vacation in crummy old Pasadena or stale old Miami when you could whisk away to Boise, Idaho for the weekend?

It sounds crazy, but that’s the tone (part tongue-and-cheek, part serious) of an e-mail I received this week promoting Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl, which pits the University of Maryland against the University of Nevada on Dec. 30.

It seems Idaho at the end of December is not first on a lot of people’s travel lists, something that the bowl committee is keenly aware of this year with the economy forcing many to be choosier about their expenses. According some media reports, Maryland has sold less than 30 tickets to the game and Nevada has sold even less, although a spokesman for Maryland’s athletics department said those numbers were not accurate.

Seeking to counteract the apparent lack of travel interest to the game (which will be televised on ESPN) the bowl’s promoters say there’s plenty of winter fun to be had in Idaho, from snowmobiling to tubing to seeing the Rocky Mountains.

It also notes that “many” athletes in Maryland’s Atlantic Coast Conference who come to the bowl each year get to experience snow for the first time. (I’m assuming they are talking about kids who play at the three ACC schools in Florida and Georgia.)
It even quotes an unnamed “veteran ACC bowl game attendee” saying after his first Humanitarian Bowl trip, “The whole town is awesome. My expectations weren’t that high. But this is the best bowl trip ever.”
I don’t know about you but my journalistic instincts have taught me not to trust any endorsement when I don’t know where it’s coming from.
I applaud the effort that implores fans to think “outside the icebox” but really — would anything short of free plane tickets get more Maryland folks to travel to the game?

LIZ FARMER, Business Writer

Powered by Bookmarkify™

A couple weeks ago I e-mailed my sister to ask her what she wanted for Christmas — almost immediately the response came back: “a gift certificate to Trader Joe’s.”

No, my sister is not a “foodie” nor is she boringly practical — she has just joined the growing number of people who agree that putting food on the table (in the figurative sense) is the hot ticket item this holiday season.

According to a Utah newspaper, the Harmons grocery store chain said there had a 68 percent increase in gift card sales from Nov. 1 through Dec. 10 of this year compared with the same period the year before. The number is representative of shoppers this year preferring to give gift cards for essentials such as gas or food, the article states.

One call to the Giant Food spokesman and I found out the same thing is happing here in Maryland. While Jamie Miller said he couldn’t give specific numbers for the Landover-based grocery store chain, he said that Giant gift card sales have seen a moderate increase “in the range of ten percent” from last year’s sales.

Miller attributed the increase to the popularity of practical gifts this year as well as better marketing efforts by Giant to sell the cards. He also noted Giant offers a discount to nonprofits on gift card purchases.

In addition, the gift cards to other retail outlets such as restaurants, Web sites, or clothing stores that Giant sells have also seen an uptick. Again, Miller was not specific but he did say those sales have seen a larger increase than Giant’s gift cards.

I guess a shiny new bauble is starting to look like a pretty frivolous present for most people this year when it’s becoming tougher to put food on the table or pay a mortgage.

How has the economy affected your gift-shopping this season?

LIZ FARMER, Business Writer

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Sometimes an even bigger treat than the office holiday party itself are the pictures afterward. You know, when you get to tease a coworker who imbibed a little too much holiday spirit? Or hang an embarrassing picture of your cube-mate for the new calendar year? Or maybe you truly enjoy spending time with your coworkers, and want to remember the good times.

This year, just about everyone needs to remember the good times – or know that some are out there, to begin with. That’s why we want to collect your photos from your office holiday to-do – big or small event, staged photos or candid – for a multimedia piece we’re putting together.

This invite’s extended to every business, law firm, health care facility, institute of higher learning or other applicable industry in the state. Send them in!

Attach the pictures in an email to tdrweb@gmail.com with the name of your company, the location of the festivities and your contact information for verification purposes.

Spread the holiday cheer. You know you want to see everyone else’s.

JACKIE SAUTER & RICHARD SIMON

Powered by Bookmarkify™