Shop Talk: Retailers pulling out the stops for procrastinators
Procrastination seems to be mixed in with the cold holiday air these days.
I have not yet determined what cookie I’m baking for my friend’s holiday party, cleaned my house so it will be presentable when my in-laws come for Christmas dinner, or mailed out any of the presents for family members who live on the other side of the country.
But procrastinators will play a big role for retailers who are pulling out discounts and other tactics to draw shoppers through their doors in the final days before Christmas.
Bundles and discounts
The average shopper completed 46.7 percent of his or her holiday shopping by the end of the second week of December, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation. That’s the lowest percentage reported for the survey since 2004.
The survey also noted that nearly one in five shoppers hadn’t even started shopping. And with that many shoppers still in the mix, local retailers are trying to capitalize on the opportunity.
Best Buy in Yakima has been offering bundles for all of its most popular products. A digital camera, for instance, will be sold with a bag, digital storage and batteries. That big screen television for the family may come with screen cleaner, cables and other accessories.
Store manager Monte Neumeyer said last-minute shoppers want to get in and out of the store, and the bundles are designed to quicken their shopping trip.
“It’s the complete solution for the customer so you don’t have to go to more than one place,” he said.
The bundle is also a key strategy for Fred Meyer. The store is stocking popular items such as fruit baskets and is running deals throughout this week for those last-minute shoppers.
“We’re running (ads) every day this week,” said Dennis Thompson, store director for the Fred Meyer store in Yakima.
Like other food retailers, Fred Meyer is working to appeal to shoppers who are cooking the holiday meal by heavily advertising markdowns on its food items.
Pork, in particular, has received more attention this year because the wholesale prices have declined greatly from past years, Thompson said.
