Gloria Goodman will shop at the Westminster Mall this weekend in an effort to finish her Christmas shopping.
Working and a busy life got in the way of her shopping, and now she’s one of millions heading to stores on the final weekend before the holiday.
“I have some done. I shop throughout the year because I shop the sales,” she said. “I’m counting on good sales this weekend too.”
Retailers are eagerly awaiting shoppers like Goodman after a so-far lackluster holiday season, analysts say. Sales banners are going up, doorbusters are in stock, and some are extending hours into the night.
“For retailers, this last week is going to be make-it-or-break-it time,” said Ed Farrell, director of the Consumer Reports National Research Center.
Survey data show that nearly half of all shoppers are going into the weekend without having started shopping yet.
Retail research firm ShopperTrak expects Saturday to be the second-busiest holiday shopping day, behind the day after Thanksgiving.
“Because of this, procrastinating shoppers should have a wide array of good deals as retailers have extended sales and promotions to encourage folks to buy during this critical final weekend,” said Bill Martin, co-founder of ShopperTrak.
Historically, ShopperTrak finds that the final weekend of holiday shopping accounts for 11.5 percent of holiday sales.
In Lower Highland, on 15th Street, Mona Lu cero is hoping to see many last-minute shoppers in her boutique, Mona Lucero Designs.
Sales are down 50 percent this month, Lucero said. She’s offering 20 percent off clothing and 10 percent off jewelry this weekend.
“I get the impression people don’t have a lot of money and are holding back,” she said.
Shoppers are looking for deals, and many have reduced their holiday shopping budgets. Consumer Reports found that 69 percent of people are changing their gift-giving traditions.
Consumer Reports also found that 76 percent of people plan to shop mass merchandisers, 54 percent plan to shop at department stores and 48 percent will shop online. Of those who shop online, 50 percent said they have found their best deals online.
Claudia Chavez plans to shop Target, Gamestop and Old Navy over the weekend. It’s when her husband can watch their 8-month-old daughter, Melanie, and she isn’t babysitting.
She’s looking for good deals after already cutting her holiday budget in half.
In Cherry Creek North, shopping seems to be going well, said Christina Brickley, marketing and communications director for the shopping district.
“I think people want to shop locally,” she said. “That might be helping the smaller boutique shops.”
Brickley said some retailers are holding steady while others’ sales are slower than usual.
Hannah Butterworth, 3, and her mom, Cori, finished up their shopping Thursday with a scarf for her grandmother at J.C. Penney.
“The deals have been so good that they pulled me out again,” Cori Butterworth said. “But this is it for us.”
Elizabeth Aguilera: 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com
