Posted 1:41 am Sunday, December 23, 2007
Clock Ticking On Holiday Shopping Wrap-Up
By GREG JUNEK
Business Editor
For shoppers who have not finished getting presents for their loved ones this Christmas season, you have about two days left.
Shoppers say they delay shopping for many reasons, including trying to get bills paid first and seeing the activity of other shoppers as they frantically scramble for gifts at Christmas Eve.
Jennifer Sparrow, Broadway Square Mall director of marketing, said she expected to see traffic increase in the mall this weekend.
"I think typically any retail store sees a surge in last-minute shoppers," Ms. Sparrow said. "We are starting to see, this past weekend, the traffic grow a lot on Saturday and Sunday. This week has been a lot busier. I think people are tending to wait a little bit longer, but I think that's true every year."
According to an annual Discover Financial Services holiday shopping survey, 54 percent of shoppers said they had not started, or had barely started, looking for gifts by Dec. 12.
Kasi Starnes of Brownsboro, who was shopping last week at the Tyler mall, said she planned to shop up to Christmas Eve.
"I haven't gotten everything yet," she said.
Jeanette Wright of Tyler said she was a typically a last-minute shopper.
"I will be starting this Friday, actually," she said, adding she would probably finish shopping "probably the day before Christmas."
Ms. Wright said she had some bills to pay before she could begin shopping in earnest.
Bobbie Slayton of Jacksonville said she is a last-minute shopper, and agreed she works best under pressure.
"I'm starting shopping now, but I always go on Christmas Eve," she said Wednesday. "Not that I get many more bargains, but it seems more like Christmas just getting out and shopping on Christmas Eve."
And with a laugh she added, "And watching other people is a lot of fun, too."
She said she and many other people have had to curtail there shopping a bit, mainly because of the cost of fuel and an increased cost of living.
Her daughter, Elaine Tarrant, also of Jacksonville, said she preferred to get her shopping done early.
The Associated Press has reported that, nationwide, people may be dragging their feet to the mall, but Americans still intended to spend an average of nearly $900 on presents. That is about $50 less than the average amount they spent last year, the survey said.
Still, Ms. Sparrow said, activity in the Tyler mall has been strong.
"We don't get specifics from the retailers, but what I can say is that these past few weeks I've seen a lot of shopping bags," she said. "The mall has been really busy; the parking lot has been full."
The Commerce Department recently reported that retail sales increased by a better-than-expected 1.2 percent last month. It was the biggest sales advance in six months and evidence of widespread strength in a number of areas, from department stores to clothing shops and furniture stores.
The cost of living really has not affected Ms. Tarrant's shopping experience, she said, but she is spending less per family member this year because the family has grown.
Ms. Slayton said she believes the economy has weakened since last year, although her daughter disagreed.
"There are a lot of companies selling out and they're moving to other countries, and that has affected this whole area and it will continue and that's part of it," Ms. Slayton said. "A lot of people have lost good-paying jobs and they've had to go to less-pay jobs."
Ms. Tarrant said she believed the economy was good.
"The oil business is still booming," she said, "and there are a lot of jobs in the oilfield."
Business Editor
For shoppers who have not finished getting presents for their loved ones this Christmas season, you have about two days left.
Shoppers say they delay shopping for many reasons, including trying to get bills paid first and seeing the activity of other shoppers as they frantically scramble for gifts at Christmas Eve.
Jennifer Sparrow, Broadway Square Mall director of marketing, said she expected to see traffic increase in the mall this weekend.
"I think typically any retail store sees a surge in last-minute shoppers," Ms. Sparrow said. "We are starting to see, this past weekend, the traffic grow a lot on Saturday and Sunday. This week has been a lot busier. I think people are tending to wait a little bit longer, but I think that's true every year."
According to an annual Discover Financial Services holiday shopping survey, 54 percent of shoppers said they had not started, or had barely started, looking for gifts by Dec. 12.
Kasi Starnes of Brownsboro, who was shopping last week at the Tyler mall, said she planned to shop up to Christmas Eve.
"I haven't gotten everything yet," she said.
Jeanette Wright of Tyler said she was a typically a last-minute shopper.
"I will be starting this Friday, actually," she said, adding she would probably finish shopping "probably the day before Christmas."
Ms. Wright said she had some bills to pay before she could begin shopping in earnest.
Bobbie Slayton of Jacksonville said she is a last-minute shopper, and agreed she works best under pressure.
"I'm starting shopping now, but I always go on Christmas Eve," she said Wednesday. "Not that I get many more bargains, but it seems more like Christmas just getting out and shopping on Christmas Eve."
And with a laugh she added, "And watching other people is a lot of fun, too."
She said she and many other people have had to curtail there shopping a bit, mainly because of the cost of fuel and an increased cost of living.
Her daughter, Elaine Tarrant, also of Jacksonville, said she preferred to get her shopping done early.
The Associated Press has reported that, nationwide, people may be dragging their feet to the mall, but Americans still intended to spend an average of nearly $900 on presents. That is about $50 less than the average amount they spent last year, the survey said.
Still, Ms. Sparrow said, activity in the Tyler mall has been strong.
"We don't get specifics from the retailers, but what I can say is that these past few weeks I've seen a lot of shopping bags," she said. "The mall has been really busy; the parking lot has been full."
The Commerce Department recently reported that retail sales increased by a better-than-expected 1.2 percent last month. It was the biggest sales advance in six months and evidence of widespread strength in a number of areas, from department stores to clothing shops and furniture stores.
The cost of living really has not affected Ms. Tarrant's shopping experience, she said, but she is spending less per family member this year because the family has grown.
Ms. Slayton said she believes the economy has weakened since last year, although her daughter disagreed.
"There are a lot of companies selling out and they're moving to other countries, and that has affected this whole area and it will continue and that's part of it," Ms. Slayton said. "A lot of people have lost good-paying jobs and they've had to go to less-pay jobs."
Ms. Tarrant said she believed the economy was good.
"The oil business is still booming," she said, "and there are a lot of jobs in the oilfield."
