Retailers try to lure shoppers into stores early with discounts, events
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Sidra McWhorter, owner of Sweet Peas at 941 Maple St. in Carrollton, said she believes her customers are tired of holding back when it comes to spending.
“I think people are tired of the same old same old,” McWhorter said. “We had a hard summer but our recent sales have been great and we expect to have a phenomenal holiday season.”
McWhorter emphasized that the holidays are a season for giving, and she doesn’t expect the economy to dampen that spirit.
“My philosophy is you can look at a cup half full or half empty,” she said.
Another local business owner, however, said she is concerned that optimism won’t be enough to get shoppers to spend.
“People are going wherever they can find a sale,” said Valerie Ayers, owner of Classy Cricket Too on Adamson Square. “I don’t expect it to be better than last year. I just look at it if the public doesn’t back businesses on the square, there won’t be any. We don’t have a franchise to keep us going.”
Despite her apprehension, Ayers said she is still coming up with incentives for customers.
“We are having an open house where we will give 25 percent off,” Ayers said.
The open house will be on Nov. 19 and the shop will be open until 8 p.m.
Similarly, Sweet Peas will host an open house this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.
“It’s the grand reveal of our remodel,” McWhorter said. “Our customer service is first and foremost and that’s why we are having these special events. We remodeled our store to make it more exciting.”
Merle Norman, at 114 City Hall Ave. in Bowdon, is hosting a similar one-day sale event on Nov. 27, when all Vera Bradley products will be 25 percent off.
“Every shopper is looking for a sale, including myself,” Merle Norman Manager Rena Noles said. “But we have had a lot of support from Bowdon shoppers and the last few months have been better.”
One way Noles said the company is reaching out to customers is through new gift sets and packaging.
“We do have new Christmas-stocking and tin sets,” Noles said. “The gift sets are also a great way for people to sample our goods. They include several items including a cleanser, moisturizer and toner. People seem to really like to buy them all together.”
Larger retailers are also changing the way they appeal to holiday shoppers in a tough economy.
“We definitely have bigger ads,” said Jeremy Krepps, store manager at Target in Carrollton. “We are doing a little more promotion and changing our signs.”
Other stores like Kmart and Sears have increased their promotions of layaway as an economical shopping option.
“Our layaway was a big hit last year but it’s even bigger this year,” Assistant Kmart Manager Teri Baker said. “People also started shopping earlier. We had customers come in as early as July and August.”
Baker said Kmart has always offered layaway, but Sears just started the service last year.
“I think it boosted our sales, especially on large ticket items,” Sears Manager Steve Ellison said.
Sears will also offer a new promotion this year which allows customers to get Black Friday discounts — before Black Friday.
“We will have door busters every Saturday, which normally starts the day after Thanksgiving,” Ellison said. “They are really trying to stimulate the shopping. This year, customers can go ahead and get items on a discount.”
Ellison also said he believes other factors are affecting the way people are spending their money.
“Since the government changed televisions to be digitally operated, our sales have really picked up on digital and plasma TVs,” Ellison said. “A lot of people still have old TV sets and most stores are not carrying converters anymore.”
The troubled housing market is also playing a role in the increase of appliance sales, according to Ellison.
“Most customers are buying new appliances to go in their homes,” Ellison said. “People are upgrading and fixing up what they have instead of actually buying a new home.”
Target, Kmart and Sears managers agreed that they expect to see higher sales this season over a year ago, which was one of the most dismal for retailers in many years.
“We’ve definitely got people shopping this year,” Krepps said. “So far we’ve seen a positive pick up compared with last year.”
“I think people are tired of the same old same old,” McWhorter said. “We had a hard summer but our recent sales have been great and we expect to have a phenomenal holiday season.”
McWhorter emphasized that the holidays are a season for giving, and she doesn’t expect the economy to dampen that spirit.
“My philosophy is you can look at a cup half full or half empty,” she said.
Another local business owner, however, said she is concerned that optimism won’t be enough to get shoppers to spend.
“People are going wherever they can find a sale,” said Valerie Ayers, owner of Classy Cricket Too on Adamson Square. “I don’t expect it to be better than last year. I just look at it if the public doesn’t back businesses on the square, there won’t be any. We don’t have a franchise to keep us going.”
Despite her apprehension, Ayers said she is still coming up with incentives for customers.
“We are having an open house where we will give 25 percent off,” Ayers said.
The open house will be on Nov. 19 and the shop will be open until 8 p.m.
Similarly, Sweet Peas will host an open house this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.
“It’s the grand reveal of our remodel,” McWhorter said. “Our customer service is first and foremost and that’s why we are having these special events. We remodeled our store to make it more exciting.”
Merle Norman, at 114 City Hall Ave. in Bowdon, is hosting a similar one-day sale event on Nov. 27, when all Vera Bradley products will be 25 percent off.
“Every shopper is looking for a sale, including myself,” Merle Norman Manager Rena Noles said. “But we have had a lot of support from Bowdon shoppers and the last few months have been better.”
One way Noles said the company is reaching out to customers is through new gift sets and packaging.
“We do have new Christmas-stocking and tin sets,” Noles said. “The gift sets are also a great way for people to sample our goods. They include several items including a cleanser, moisturizer and toner. People seem to really like to buy them all together.”
Larger retailers are also changing the way they appeal to holiday shoppers in a tough economy.
“We definitely have bigger ads,” said Jeremy Krepps, store manager at Target in Carrollton. “We are doing a little more promotion and changing our signs.”
Other stores like Kmart and Sears have increased their promotions of layaway as an economical shopping option.
“Our layaway was a big hit last year but it’s even bigger this year,” Assistant Kmart Manager Teri Baker said. “People also started shopping earlier. We had customers come in as early as July and August.”
Baker said Kmart has always offered layaway, but Sears just started the service last year.
“I think it boosted our sales, especially on large ticket items,” Sears Manager Steve Ellison said.
Sears will also offer a new promotion this year which allows customers to get Black Friday discounts — before Black Friday.
“We will have door busters every Saturday, which normally starts the day after Thanksgiving,” Ellison said. “They are really trying to stimulate the shopping. This year, customers can go ahead and get items on a discount.”
Ellison also said he believes other factors are affecting the way people are spending their money.
“Since the government changed televisions to be digitally operated, our sales have really picked up on digital and plasma TVs,” Ellison said. “A lot of people still have old TV sets and most stores are not carrying converters anymore.”
The troubled housing market is also playing a role in the increase of appliance sales, according to Ellison.
“Most customers are buying new appliances to go in their homes,” Ellison said. “People are upgrading and fixing up what they have instead of actually buying a new home.”
Target, Kmart and Sears managers agreed that they expect to see higher sales this season over a year ago, which was one of the most dismal for retailers in many years.
“We’ve definitely got people shopping this year,” Krepps said. “So far we’ve seen a positive pick up compared with last year.”
Then another person posted some of this crap about businesses not wanting to advertise the word Christ in Christmas because it wasn't Christs' birthday. And we should respect them for not putting Christ in Christmas. They said that many businesses do not even celebrate it all.
I was wondering if any of our local businesses would like to say anything to that. Or are they going to bow down to the very few that are against Christmas?
Have the guts to post something here and now. One way or the other. If you are a business against Christmas or if you want to take the word Christmas out of the holidays. Say it. I would like to know who you are. I am sure alot of other people would too. I dare you!