When Broomfield’s FlatIron Crossing mall opened at 6 a.m. Saturday, shoppers were already waiting in line.
Long lines continued to form at checkouts as shoppers took advantage of end-of-the-season sales and new promotions, according to Heather Drake, senior marketing director for the center.
“We have noticed that as the years go by, this day gets busier and busier,” Drake said.
Local shoppers joined thousands of others in America’s malls Saturday, many with gift cards in hand, hoping to snag after-Christmas discounts. They were greeted with big markdowns — in some cases topping 75 percent off — but often found limited selection.
“Everything’s been picked over,” said Donna Brown, a 52-year-old hairdresser from Seaford, Del., as she sorted through what was left of the fleece pajamas marked down 60 percent to $11.99 at a J.C. Penney store in Salisbury, Md.
Retailers are counting on the days after Christmas to perk up overall holiday sales in a season that looks like it’s been only modestly better than last year’s disaster.
The promise of the bigger and better deals has turned the day after Christmas into one of the busiest days of the year, Drake said. Many of the stores in the mall reported higher sales this year compared with last.
About 80 percent of shoppers at Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver were redeeming gift cards, said Nick LeMasters, mall general manager.
“Today blew away Black Friday,” LeMasters said in terms of the number of shoppers.
Cherry Creek opened two hours early, and at 4 p.m. more shoppers were arriving than leaving, LeMasters said.
The majority of the stores at Cherry Creek reported higher sales than last year, LeMasters said.
“We are definitely in a position to finish the year very strong,” LeMasters said.
Stores across the country made a push to woo gift-card-toting shoppers Saturday by opening early, slashing prices and advertising big sales.
Knowing holiday shoppers would likely spend less this year because of high unemployment, a move toward thrift and economic uncertainty, merchants carefully managed inventory for the season, buying less than a year ago when the economic meltdown surprised everyone and forced fire sales to get rid of excess goods.
That meant by Saturday, some store shelves were practically empty.
“There isn’t a tremendous amount to buy,” Lisa Walters, a consultant with Retail Eye Partners, said as she studied shoppers at a mall in upstate New York.
The full assessment of this year’s shopping season won’t be known until merchants report December sales Jan. 7.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
