Market Watch reports that Black Friday and weekend sales were up 8.3% over last year, "despite rising oil prices and other economic pressures." CNN is also reporting steady sales. While ACO offered none of the electronics that seemed to drawn the more intense shoppers we did have a 20% everything in the store (except Merrills) sale. By the time I left ACO at 6 pm on Saturday our bottom line was even with last year, traffic was consistent, and the shoppers still in relatively good moods. My own personal observation is that they stuck to clothes more than usual and were there for the discounts.
The staff was flagging a bit. I'd just finished working 16 of the last 26 hours and could feel a case of mall leg coming on. During the course of those 16 hours the ACO staff had removed 750 sizing collars from 750 hangers, stocked out 900 assorted jackets, pants, sweaters, fleeces, etc, consumed two carry out boxes of mini donuts, not sold 145 pairs of UGG boots (we were out of stock), turned away 15 people for the women's small black denali fleeces (we ran out on Saturday at 4:13), visited with 3 ACO alumni, advised 245 people on the use of the various weights of long underwear, spoke on why we don't temperature rate our clothing, and listened to more Christmas songs than is natural.
All in all much the same as previous years. But you've got to wonder...with the cost of living going up, home values going down, and the economy looking for a slowdown...where's the money coming from...or...are the early discount shoppers going to be the highlight of the season.
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