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‘Black Friday’: Retailers optimistic
  
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Conroe Courier
By T.L. Hamilton
Local retailers are optimistic they’ll see sales growth this holiday season – and a healthy increase of Black Friday shoppers – despite an overall bleak outlook for national consumer spending.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Commerce Department reported that national consumer spending plunged by 1 percent in October, even worse than the 0.9 percent decline that had been expected. Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of total economic activity.
However, Montgomery County has not experienced mass layoffs or drooping home prices like other parts of the nation, both of which have contributed to a robust job market and healthier local economy, according to economists and local business officials.
“The Conroe Best Buy is thriving,” agreed Rodney Craddock, the store’s sales manager. “We are doing good. The whole Houston market is doing outstanding compared to the rest of the nation.”
Craddock said Best Buy stores in other markets have seen sales slip in recent months.
“But we’re doing really solid here,” he said.
Nationally, big box retailers and discount stores are expected to do better than higher-priced department stores and malls.
But John Pew, general manager of The Woodlands Mall, doesn’t think that will be the case here.
“I think our market is pretty much the same as last year,” he said. “Houston has been stronger than the nation and The Woodlands is one of the stronger parts of the Houston market so I don’t know if there will be any major changes or shifts in shopping patterns.”
One national trend that local retailers are following with zeal is slashing prices up to 50 percent for Black Friday, so named because it is traditionally the biggest retail day of the year and has sent retailers’ sales into the black.
“I know the discounts are a lot better this year,” said Jessica Tiger, marketing and special events manager for The Conroe Outlet Mall. “Since we’re an outlet mall our prices are lower to start off with, but some stores are adding 40 percent off to that.”
Best Buy in Conroe will have a GPS system that normally costs $199 at $99 this year.
Kohl’s in The Woodlands and Conroe are cutting all toy prices by 50 percent on Black Friday, and will have a GPS system that normally retails at $179 slashed to $79.
Jason Walton, assistant store manager at The Woodlands store, said in addition to its Black Friday deals he’s noticed the chain doing substantially more promotions in recent months.
“We’ve been running a lot more ads and a lot more coupons,” he said. “That’s something we used to do a couple times a month and now we’ve been doing it almost every week. But the economy hasn’t seemed to hurt us up to this point.”
Craddock said Best Buy’s prices are “definitely” lower than last year’s.
“But that’s pretty much true for all retailers right now,” he said.
Crystal Brown, store manager for Kohl’s in Conroe, said she thinks it’s possible that the big box retailer might get more customers this year as people look for bargains outside of the mall.
“Basically everyone just wants the best deal they can get,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll find it here.”
The record numbers of shoppers last year might be hard to beat.
Brown said last year the line at 4 a.m. stretched past the store’s doors and the doors of its neighbor, Ashley Furniture.
Kohl’s in The Woodlands had about 400,000 shoppers squeeze through its doors on Black Friday last year, Walton said.
“This year we’re expecting about the same number of people,” he said. “We’ve hired about 25 extra employees to help with the rush.”
Craddock said Best Buy in Conroe also had hundreds of visitors during last year’s Black Friday.
“We’ve been preparing for a couple of weeks – getting people trained and working on an efficient method to take care of customers,” he said. “Of course there will be long lines, and each year we try to reflect on what happened last year and how we can make it better this time.”
Tiger said last year the outlet mall had about 78 percent more shoppers than on a normal day, while Pew said with a laugh that The Woodlands Mall had “lots and lots and lots of shoppers” on that day.
Craddock said he expects scores of digital photo frames, gaming consoles, laptops and cameras to sell, while Walton, of the Kohl’s in The Woodlands, expects iPod sales to remain strong this year.
“Any electronics will be popular, and I think we’ll see a lot of Wii game system sales this year,” Pew said.
The Conroe Outlet Mall will open at 11 tonight and remain open through 9 p.m. Friday. Kohl’s stores in Conroe and The Woodlands will open at 4 a.m. Friday. Best Buy in Conroe will open at 5 a.m. Friday, and The Woodlands Mall will open at 6 a.m. Friday.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Commerce Department reported that national consumer spending plunged by 1 percent in October, even worse than the 0.9 percent decline that had been expected. Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of total economic activity.
However, Montgomery County has not experienced mass layoffs or drooping home prices like other parts of the nation, both of which have contributed to a robust job market and healthier local economy, according to economists and local business officials.
“The Conroe Best Buy is thriving,” agreed Rodney Craddock, the store’s sales manager. “We are doing good. The whole Houston market is doing outstanding compared to the rest of the nation.”
Craddock said Best Buy stores in other markets have seen sales slip in recent months.
“But we’re doing really solid here,” he said.
Nationally, big box retailers and discount stores are expected to do better than higher-priced department stores and malls.
But John Pew, general manager of The Woodlands Mall, doesn’t think that will be the case here.
“I think our market is pretty much the same as last year,” he said. “Houston has been stronger than the nation and The Woodlands is one of the stronger parts of the Houston market so I don’t know if there will be any major changes or shifts in shopping patterns.”
One national trend that local retailers are following with zeal is slashing prices up to 50 percent for Black Friday, so named because it is traditionally the biggest retail day of the year and has sent retailers’ sales into the black.
“I know the discounts are a lot better this year,” said Jessica Tiger, marketing and special events manager for The Conroe Outlet Mall. “Since we’re an outlet mall our prices are lower to start off with, but some stores are adding 40 percent off to that.”
Best Buy in Conroe will have a GPS system that normally costs $199 at $99 this year.
Kohl’s in The Woodlands and Conroe are cutting all toy prices by 50 percent on Black Friday, and will have a GPS system that normally retails at $179 slashed to $79.
Jason Walton, assistant store manager at The Woodlands store, said in addition to its Black Friday deals he’s noticed the chain doing substantially more promotions in recent months.
“We’ve been running a lot more ads and a lot more coupons,” he said. “That’s something we used to do a couple times a month and now we’ve been doing it almost every week. But the economy hasn’t seemed to hurt us up to this point.”
Craddock said Best Buy’s prices are “definitely” lower than last year’s.
“But that’s pretty much true for all retailers right now,” he said.
Crystal Brown, store manager for Kohl’s in Conroe, said she thinks it’s possible that the big box retailer might get more customers this year as people look for bargains outside of the mall.
“Basically everyone just wants the best deal they can get,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll find it here.”
The record numbers of shoppers last year might be hard to beat.
Brown said last year the line at 4 a.m. stretched past the store’s doors and the doors of its neighbor, Ashley Furniture.
Kohl’s in The Woodlands had about 400,000 shoppers squeeze through its doors on Black Friday last year, Walton said.
“This year we’re expecting about the same number of people,” he said. “We’ve hired about 25 extra employees to help with the rush.”
Craddock said Best Buy in Conroe also had hundreds of visitors during last year’s Black Friday.
“We’ve been preparing for a couple of weeks – getting people trained and working on an efficient method to take care of customers,” he said. “Of course there will be long lines, and each year we try to reflect on what happened last year and how we can make it better this time.”
Tiger said last year the outlet mall had about 78 percent more shoppers than on a normal day, while Pew said with a laugh that The Woodlands Mall had “lots and lots and lots of shoppers” on that day.
Craddock said he expects scores of digital photo frames, gaming consoles, laptops and cameras to sell, while Walton, of the Kohl’s in The Woodlands, expects iPod sales to remain strong this year.
“Any electronics will be popular, and I think we’ll see a lot of Wii game system sales this year,” Pew said.
The Conroe Outlet Mall will open at 11 tonight and remain open through 9 p.m. Friday. Kohl’s stores in Conroe and The Woodlands will open at 4 a.m. Friday. Best Buy in Conroe will open at 5 a.m. Friday, and The Woodlands Mall will open at 6 a.m. Friday.
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Reader Comments
mcresident wrote on Nov 27, 2008 9:55 AM:
" No personal contact, whatsoever, on-line shopping was created just for you, Whiskyecho. "
Whiskyecho wrote on Nov 27, 2008 12:05 PM:
" as much as I hate crowds, one would think so, wouldn't one ?
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, mcresidentperson "
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, mcresidentperson "
mcresident wrote on Nov 27, 2008 6:35 PM:
" Yes, I get that about you Whiskyecho. Back at you, Happy Thanksgiving :-) "
Boadicea wrote on Nov 27, 2008 7:35 PM:
" Channel 3 news (Bryan/College Station) was reporting at 1700 (5:00 pm for civies) shoppers were already lining up with tents at a Best Buy store. Not sure where this particular store was...a slice of pumpkin pie was calling me :-p Personally I think it's crazy...but hey, whatever floats your boat right? I wait a good hour or two to let frenzy die down and then head to the store. "
drivermom wrote on Nov 28, 2008 6:49 AM:
" Went to Kohl's! Lots of people but the line to pay was over an hour long! This was a first and last time that I will ever do this! Saved over $200.00 on my purchases and the good thing is I have completed my shopping. "
pprwrtr wrote on Nov 28, 2008 11:47 AM:
" One time years ago, I went to an opening of Tuesday Morning. I would not have believed the experience if someone else had described it to me. Never again will I get into something like that. There were well-dressed, middle-class women (clearly not people who were hurting or who hadn't eaten for a week, etc) who were pushing, shoving, cutting in line, arguing, grabbing, etc. A total nightmare! I never went back until it had been open for a week or two (it opens and closes periodically). I thought how absurd it is that the more people have, the more they want. I saw really shocking things that day. If you get out on Black Friday, be safe. And--guard your purse. "
Whiskyecho wrote on Nov 28, 2008 2:05 PM:
" Here's what "optimism" can do for ya:
"A Wal-Mart employee in suburban New York died after being trampled by a crush of shoppers who tore down the front doors and thronged into the store early Friday morning, turning the annual rite of post-Thanksgiving bargain hunting into a frenzy.."
Shopping over the internet is a good thing "
"A Wal-Mart employee in suburban New York died after being trampled by a crush of shoppers who tore down the front doors and thronged into the store early Friday morning, turning the annual rite of post-Thanksgiving bargain hunting into a frenzy.."
Shopping over the internet is a good thing "
Whiskyecho wrote on Nov 27, 2008 7:31 AM:
Are they trying to punish people who want to get a "good deal" by making them get up and out so early ? (and I'd bet the employees REALLY like having to get to work so early..)
Sorry retailers, I'll pass - I do all my gift and big item shopping on-line - no crowds, no putting miles on my vehicles, no hunting for parking spots, no sales tax and no shipping costs "