Published: Nov. 16, 2016
Experts expect good holiday spending season
Who is open when?
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
Retail experts are expecting a high-spending holiday season, which is good news for retailers and the nation’s economy.
According to a consumer survey conducted in October by the National
Retail Federation, U.S. consumers will spend an average of $938.58
this holiday shopping season — the second- highest level in the 13year
history of the survey.
The highest level was last year at $952.58.
In addition, six out of 10 consumers surveyed said they plan to buy
for themselves at an average of $140, which is up 4 percent from 2015.
Spending has increased nearly 20 percent since 2009, the lowest point in the NRF’s survey.
“All of the fundamentals are in a good place, giving strength to
consumers and leading us to believe that this will be a very positive
season,” said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of NRF, in a news release.
NRF’s holiday sales forecast is based on several indicators, including
consumer credit, disposable income and previous monthly retail sales.
Retail sales, according to NRF, are a solid barometer for the state of
the nation’s economy, contributing more than $2.6 trillion annually.
In 2015, consumers spent more than $620 billion during the holiday
shopping season, which the NRF defines as starting in October. Nearly 20
percent (19.3) of annual sales in 2015 were during the holidays.
The NRF expects retail sales in November and December to increase 3.6
percent compared to 2015, and a 7- to- 10-percent increase in online
sales.
The so-called
“heavyweights” in retail, such as Walmart, Best Buy and Target, will be
open Thanksgiving Day, according to the website www.dealnews.com. The hours they’ll be open will vary.
Best Buy, for example, will be open 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and close at 1 a.m. Friday, then reopen several hours later.
Toys ‘R Us will open at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and close at 11 p.m. Friday.
Retailers with Washington County locations expected to be open Thanksgiving Day include Kohl’s, Boston Store, Dollar General, Shopko and Walgreens.
Dollar General in West Bend will be open 7 a.m.10 p.m. Thanksgiving
Day. However, Dollar General stores in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode
Island will be closed because state law prohibits retailers from being open.
Should others follow suit? It depends on who is asked.
“Operating stores on Thanksgiving Day provides Dollar General
customers with an everyday low-price retail option in their nearby
community with a selection of health items, overthe- counter
medications, housewares, seasonal items and a
grocery assortment including milk, bread, eggs, baking items and more,”
said Crystal Ghassemi from Dollar General’s corporate communications
office.
Ana Serafin
Smith, senior director of media relations for NRF, said each retailer
researches whether to be open Thanksgiving Day or not. She added each retailer has different customer demands.
“Consumers want to be in their stores,” Smith said.
Cabela’s, which has a store in Richfield, will be among the retailers with Washington County locations not open Thanksgiving Day.
“It’s a long history being closed on Thanksgiving Day,” said Nathan
Borowski, Cabela’s communications specialist. “It’s a tradition that
started years ago. We will continue it. We like to give the employees
the opportunity to spend time at home.”
Other retailers in Washington County expected to be closed
Thanksgiving Day include Hobby Lobby, Menards, Mills Fleet Farm and
Home Depot.
“We are set in our ways being closed on Thanksgiving Day,” Borowski said. “We do offer an online Thanksgiving Day sale.”
Cabela’s has remained closed on Thanksgiving Day because of customer feedback.
“Every year we have customers reaching out to us that they appreciate we’re closed on Thanksgiving,” Borowski said.
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