Retailers in Douglas County have been trending positive for the holiday season, but most not are doing a whole lot better than last year, based on an informal survey of local businesses.
The National Retail Federation has projected a 3.9 percent increase in sales this holiday over 2012. Additionally, more than 141 million shoppers purchased items at retail stores over Thanksgiving weekend, but shoppers spent an average of $407.02 during the weekend, down from $423.55.
Brittin Karaffa, marketing manager for Park Meadows Mall, said most of the retailers she’s talked to reported doing about the same in sales as they did last year. Karaffa said retailers sales also varied because some were open on Thanksgiving night, while others opened early the morning of Black Friday.
“If you take the ones that are up and the ones that are down, I’d say we’re about even for last year,” Karaffa said.
Lisa Zetah, marketing director at Castle Rock Outlets, said the shops in her shopping center did very well this Thanksgiving weekend and are expecting a positive holiday shopping season. She said overall the outlet concept is doing well across the country.
She said the Outlets have also had several additions over the past year, including the Crazy 8 children’s clothing store, the North Face, Micheal Kors and Mountain Hardware.
“Our center has been doing extremely well and we’ve really just been in a positive forward movement in the last four to five years, and we’re looking for that trend to continue in 2014 and beyond,” Zetah said.
JoDee Dean, owner of The Parker Shoppes, an eclectic store selling home decor, fashion, jewelry and gifts, said Small Business Saturday Nov. 30, brought $12,000, the biggest sales day she’s experienced since she opened 3-1/2 years ago.
“I think (people are) tired of scraping and they have a little more confidence in the economy and they’re spending this year,” Dean said.
Scott McQueen, who owns Pine Tree Jewelers in Castle Rock and Parker, said he thinks the cold weather slowed down business and that most of his holiday sales come in the 10 to 12 days before Christmas as many men tend to procrastinate on getting gifts.
Kathy Goodman, owner of Hottees Couture, a clothing retailer based out of Castle Rock, said sales online and through house parties were actually down for her this year, but only a little bit.
Clayton Woullard: 303-954-2953, cwoullard@denverpost.com or
