White out dampens shoppers’ outing
It’s less than a week until Christmas, a time when shoppers are wondering how low prices will go — and retailers are wondering how deep consumers will reach into their pockets.
Two-thirds of shoppers have yet to mark the last gift off their list — and one in four consumers will shop this week, including Christmas Eve, according to the first annual American Express Spending and Saving Tracker research report.
“I don’t feel pressed,” said Michelle Gill of Pennsauken. “There’s still some time and I don’t think the bargains are going away.”
The final push is crucial for retailers. The 10 days before Christmas can account for as much as 40 percent of total holiday sales, according to the Telsey Advisory Group, a New York-based retail analyst.
“If people are going to shop, it has got to be now,” said Lisa Wolstromer, senior marketing director at Cherry Hill Mall.
But the “Super Saturday” that retailers hoped for was snowed out in South Jersey and along most of the eastern U.S. Area malls closed by 7 p.m. Macy’s at Cherry Hill and Moorestown were the lone holdouts serving a few shoppers until after 11 p.m.
Strip centers, restaurants and many other small businesses throughout South Jersey closed up shop well before 9 p.m.
