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Young adult shoppers projected to make up biggest category of Black Friday shoppers
By DIANE TEZENO
With double digit unemployment figures, uncertainty in the stock market and the impact of negative economic conditions on the auto industry and other major employers, consumer spending on Black Friday will be a significant indicator of where the country is headed economically.
Many retailers are hoping for positive sales figures on Black Friday, a day considered the biggest holiday shopping day for retailers across the nation, but can only speculate on what consumers will do.
Results of a survey conducted by General Growth Properties, the management company of First Colony Mall, indicates that young people, ages 18-24, make up the largest category of shoppers on Black Friday.
The online survey of 3,000 shoppers, conducted by the company’s Consumer Research Department, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
If accurate, the survey places significant weight on the shopping habits of young adult shoppers on Nov. 28 in impacting retail sales across the country and helping to prevent a deepening economic downturn.
A number of retailers are not waiting to see who will turn out to stores; many are taking a proactive approach by offering big discounts on a range of items, including clothing and electronics and are offering free shipping for online purchases to motivate shoppers to spend their dollars.
A random survey of a number of local young adults on their plans for Black Friday shopping yielded mixed results.
Several respondents had no plans to hit the malls, while others expressed definite plans to join in the traditional kick off of holiday shopping.
Twenty-four-year-old Antonio Reyes, a Houston Community College student will not be among the projected throngs of holiday shoppers hitting the mall on Nov. 28.
“Sure there are going to be some good deals, but I don’t think it is worth waiting in line for two or three hours early in the morning,” Reyes said.
“I am going to shop, but on other days.”
The community college student said the prospect of large crowds of shoppers impacted his decision to wait it out.
Ruben Vasquez, 22, a fellow student, doesn’t have a specific game plan for shopping on Black Friday, but hopes to avoid long lines.
“I don’t look for anything in particular, just anything that catches my eye that I know is cheap I usually buy,” Vasquez said.
Brandi Davis, a student and local waitress at the Cheesecake Factory in the Galleria, said she has no plans to shop.
“I am more focused on making money than spending it,” 20-year-old Davis said.
“I used to get out and shop on Black Friday when I wasn’t spending my own money, but now I am at the point where I have to spend my own money,” Davis said, adding that the country’s current economic crisis is impacting her decision.
A few of the young adults surveyed expressed excitement about shopping plans on Black Friday.
Among them, college student Carla Medrano, who has plans to wait in early morning lines on Nov. 28.
“I am going out of town to New Jersey and will be shopping with my sister. We will be waking up early, at 5 o’clock,” Medrano said.
The 20-year-old plans to spend her shopping dollars on clothing and shoes and hopes to take advantage of some of the deep discounts some retailers are offering.
“I am looking for good sales and will be shopping for boots and mostly clothing,” Medrano said.
Quail Valley resident Jennifer Ware, a 24-year-old architectural engineer and recent graduate of Tennessee State University also plans to get out early to take advantage of bargains.
“A lot of people are closing their stores due to negative economic conditions, so I expect the bigger retailers to have significant markdowns and I want to take advantage of those,” Ware said.
Some young adults are looking at the flip side of Black Friday holiday shopping, as they prepare to serve the crowds of holiday shoppers.
Among them, 24-year-old Amita Carelia, a retail worker at a local mall perfume kiosk.
Carelia hopes the day spells good things for retail sales.
“I will be working and hope the sales will be really good.”
Many retailers nationwide share similar hopes.
Many retailers are hoping for positive sales figures on Black Friday, a day considered the biggest holiday shopping day for retailers across the nation, but can only speculate on what consumers will do.
Results of a survey conducted by General Growth Properties, the management company of First Colony Mall, indicates that young people, ages 18-24, make up the largest category of shoppers on Black Friday.
The online survey of 3,000 shoppers, conducted by the company’s Consumer Research Department, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
If accurate, the survey places significant weight on the shopping habits of young adult shoppers on Nov. 28 in impacting retail sales across the country and helping to prevent a deepening economic downturn.
A number of retailers are not waiting to see who will turn out to stores; many are taking a proactive approach by offering big discounts on a range of items, including clothing and electronics and are offering free shipping for online purchases to motivate shoppers to spend their dollars.
A random survey of a number of local young adults on their plans for Black Friday shopping yielded mixed results.
Several respondents had no plans to hit the malls, while others expressed definite plans to join in the traditional kick off of holiday shopping.
Twenty-four-year-old Antonio Reyes, a Houston Community College student will not be among the projected throngs of holiday shoppers hitting the mall on Nov. 28.
“Sure there are going to be some good deals, but I don’t think it is worth waiting in line for two or three hours early in the morning,” Reyes said.
“I am going to shop, but on other days.”
The community college student said the prospect of large crowds of shoppers impacted his decision to wait it out.
Ruben Vasquez, 22, a fellow student, doesn’t have a specific game plan for shopping on Black Friday, but hopes to avoid long lines.
“I don’t look for anything in particular, just anything that catches my eye that I know is cheap I usually buy,” Vasquez said.
Brandi Davis, a student and local waitress at the Cheesecake Factory in the Galleria, said she has no plans to shop.
“I am more focused on making money than spending it,” 20-year-old Davis said.
“I used to get out and shop on Black Friday when I wasn’t spending my own money, but now I am at the point where I have to spend my own money,” Davis said, adding that the country’s current economic crisis is impacting her decision.
A few of the young adults surveyed expressed excitement about shopping plans on Black Friday.
Among them, college student Carla Medrano, who has plans to wait in early morning lines on Nov. 28.
“I am going out of town to New Jersey and will be shopping with my sister. We will be waking up early, at 5 o’clock,” Medrano said.
The 20-year-old plans to spend her shopping dollars on clothing and shoes and hopes to take advantage of some of the deep discounts some retailers are offering.
“I am looking for good sales and will be shopping for boots and mostly clothing,” Medrano said.
Quail Valley resident Jennifer Ware, a 24-year-old architectural engineer and recent graduate of Tennessee State University also plans to get out early to take advantage of bargains.
“A lot of people are closing their stores due to negative economic conditions, so I expect the bigger retailers to have significant markdowns and I want to take advantage of those,” Ware said.
Some young adults are looking at the flip side of Black Friday holiday shopping, as they prepare to serve the crowds of holiday shoppers.
Among them, 24-year-old Amita Carelia, a retail worker at a local mall perfume kiosk.
Carelia hopes the day spells good things for retail sales.
“I will be working and hope the sales will be really good.”
Many retailers nationwide share similar hopes.
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