Bargain-hunting shoppers snapped up deals in the days after Thanksgiving but have since slowed their purchases, leaving retailers hoping for a strong sales surge in the days before Christmas.
Aurora resident Barbara Johnson said she made most of her big purchases on the Friday after Thanksgiving and was buying only smaller stocking stuffers on a shopping trip downtown last week.
She had hoped to go shopping last weekend but the snowstorm kept her home, and last year’s blizzards, which closed many malls in the crucial few days before Christmas, taught her a lesson.
“I’m taking advantage of the good weather,” she said on a sunny day at the Denver Pavilions.
Economic strains including high gas prices and a weak real estate market have pressured many shoppers to limit their holiday spending this year.
But after earlier dim forecasts for the holiday shopping season, retailers were cheered by a report last week showing that November retail sales increased 1.2 percent from the previous month, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The strongest growth was in sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores, according to the National Retail Federation. Electronics and clothing also saw big gains.
Other strong sellers for the holidays are gift cards and entertainment-related toys featuring Guitar Hero and Hannah Montana, said Park Meadows marketing manager Stephanie Jackson.
Some people hadn’t even started their holiday shopping as of last week.
“I guess I always put it off until the last minute,” said Sunny Flynn, who lives in Denver. She said her family decided to buy gifts only for children in the family, not for adults, partly because of the economy.
Denver shopper Todd Malcolm said the economy probably has an effect, but “I try not to worry about it.”
Jeanne Gabres said one example of the effect of the economy this year is that many of the people on her list have asked for money or gift cards. “They just want to take advantage of the sales after Christmas this year,” said Gabres, who was shopping at Cherry Creek mall.
Denver Pavilions marketing director Jean Gordon said many stores in the downtown center reported excellent numbers for Black Friday, followed by a slight decline.
The first snow “hit us kind of hard,” but some shoppers are combining shopping with dinner or a show downtown, and most retailers are on target or ahead of their projections, she said.
Southlands in its second season
At Southlands at E-470 and Smoky Hill Road, traffic and sales are up significantly since last year, said Karen Gilkey, marketing manager. Last season was the first holiday season for the new center.
“There has definitely been a steady stream of shoppers, but we are looking at the two final weekends to really build on the momentum,” Gilkey said.
To boost that, the center is holding a drawing for an $8,500 shopping spree. Those eligible to enter must spend a total of $500 in three or more stores.
Park Meadows mall is offering a promotion for spending with a Discover Card to draw in shoppers. Park Meadows is also trying to free up parking spots for shoppers in their crowded lots by encouraging employees to use light rail with free passes, shuttle service and a raffle.
Growing retail competition is motivating shopping centers and stores to offer incentives to shoppers and find ways to make their locations more convenient.
“All of Denver and all of the metro area has seen tremendous increases in retail development with lifestyle centers,” including Southlands and Northfield Stapleton, said Westminster Mall general manager Kenton Anderson.
“There isn’t anybody that seems to be absolutely setting the world on fire in sales. We’re all just competing for a dollar amount that really hasn’t increased with the Colorado economy, so it’s very competitive out there,” Anderson said. “Sometimes that’s good for consumers — they get some tremendous bargains out there.”
The aging Westminster mall struggles to compete against the newer FlatIron Crossing in nearby Broomfield.
“We’re expecting things to be on the slower side,” Anderson said. Sales are “very important in getting the public out,” Anderson said. Shoppers “seem to be very price-conscious.”
With no Broncos game today, “that gives shoppers more of a chance to go out and do shopping,” he said. “From here on out, that’s our bread-and-butter time.”
Elizabeth Aguilera contributed to this report.
Kelly Yamanouchi: 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com
