Parker Chronicle > News
Retailers optimistic amid uncertainty
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| Caitlin Blasi, 19, of Burlington takes an ice cream break from a jaunt at the highly populated Park Meadows mall during the infamous Black Friday Nov. 28 in Lone Tree. Blasi was in town visiting her mother in the hospital. Photo by Benn Farrell |
Black Friday has local retail sales ‘looking good’
By Chris Michlewicz
Attempts to attract holiday shoppers and offer the best deals are at a fever pitch as business owners try to maintain steady sales numbers during an uncertain time.
Part of the reason for early successes could be the ingenuity in marketing ploys being tested on shoppers in the midst of a weakened economy. This year, more than ever, consumers are shopping for the most enticing values they can find while trying to keep within their fixed holiday budget.
On the local front, business owners are optimistic that they can overcome shaky projections and produce solid numbers through the end of the year. Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co., a Parker-based company that does a majority of its business during the holidays, is reporting favorable results as the shopping season moves into full gear.
The locally-owned candy manufacturer and distributor launched several new “value-added gift packs” that have been well received this year, said owner and founder Dave Conner.
“Price will always matter, but this year value is really important with tighter budgets,” he said.
In an effort to encourage residents to shop locally, the Parker Chamber of Commerce created a scavenger hunt in which shoppers collect 15 different puzzle pieces at various stores located in and around Parker. Once all 15 puzzle pieces are been collected, participants can pick up a limited edition porcelain ornament from the chamber and meet the Parker artist who created the watercolor painting on the face of the puzzle. The marketing idea, which was recognized last year by the International Festivals & Events Association as the best new promotion of 2007, runs through Dec. 19.
"The Christmas Puzzle is a fun, creative way for Parker-area residents to support the local economy and local businesses during this time of economic struggle,” said Pati Sawyer Boex, events coordinator for the Parker Chamber of Commerce. “The puzzle creates a win-win situation for both shoppers and local businesses this holiday season. Our goal is to remind shoppers of all of the fantastic businesses right here in their own backyard, while keeping holiday shopping dollars here in Parker.”
The Downtown Development Council, an organization made up of local business and property owners, is offering free carriage rides through downtown Parker in part to increase foot traffic for the holidays. Some owners are hoping to rebound from sluggish sales resulting from an eight-month road construction project that intermittently shut down portions of East Mainstreet.
Officials at major retail centers in the area were optimistic on “Black Friday.”
Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree opened at 6 a.m. Nov. 28, and within a short time, all 7,300 parking spaces were full, said Pam Schenck, mall general manager.
“It’s shaping up so nicely,” she said. “Even with slower traffic anticipated, retailers had so many specials. We were prepared to be busy.”
Parking lots at the Outlets at Castle Rock were full and retail sales were “looking good,” despite the struggling economy, said Lisa Yamaguchi, marketing director for the popular shopping destination west of Interstate 25 and Meadows Parkway.
Outlet customers got an early jump on their holiday shopping with the Moonlight Madness Event at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving.
Officials and store owners are not only cognizant of the possibility of weaker sales because of the poor economy, but also are wrestling with a shorter shopping season. There is one less weekend than normal between “Black Friday” and Christmas this year because of the late Thanksgiving holiday, so many retailers began their sales ahead of time.
“There is a sense of urgency. They are not waiting until ‘Black Friday,’” Yamaguchi said. “People know they need to get out there and get the deals. If they are organized, some of them might have it done already.”
Schenck agreed.
“It’s not only the shorter shopping season, but the pressure to provide sales results. It’s a nice thing for the customers.”
At Park Meadows, shoppers lined up early in the morning to take advantage of deep “Black Friday” discounts at stores like JCPenney, which opened at 4 a.m.
The stories at Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods were similar, where there were large crowds ahead of the 5 a.m. openings.
Many who waited patiently for the doors to open received circulars advertising special deals throughout the mall.
Although analysts don’t expect this year to be a record-breaking season for sales, they are nonetheless expecting a steady holiday season for most stores.
“The expectation is that it will be really low, so the numbers might actually surprise some people,” Schenck said.
If local numbers follow a nationwide trend, it means a good start to the holiday shopping season for area retailers.
Nationally, shoppers spent an average of $372.57 during the Thanksgiving weekend, up 7.2 percent over last year’s $347.55, according to the National Retail Federation.
Things are going well for many Parker businesses, but the revenue reports generated after the holiday shopping season will tell the full story.
“So far, we have been pleased with sales for Christmas,” Conner said. “Customers appear to be shopping a little earlier, but I'm sure we will have a rush at the end, as we have had every year for the last three decades.”
Part of the reason for early successes could be the ingenuity in marketing ploys being tested on shoppers in the midst of a weakened economy. This year, more than ever, consumers are shopping for the most enticing values they can find while trying to keep within their fixed holiday budget.
On the local front, business owners are optimistic that they can overcome shaky projections and produce solid numbers through the end of the year. Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co., a Parker-based company that does a majority of its business during the holidays, is reporting favorable results as the shopping season moves into full gear.
The locally-owned candy manufacturer and distributor launched several new “value-added gift packs” that have been well received this year, said owner and founder Dave Conner.
“Price will always matter, but this year value is really important with tighter budgets,” he said.
In an effort to encourage residents to shop locally, the Parker Chamber of Commerce created a scavenger hunt in which shoppers collect 15 different puzzle pieces at various stores located in and around Parker. Once all 15 puzzle pieces are been collected, participants can pick up a limited edition porcelain ornament from the chamber and meet the Parker artist who created the watercolor painting on the face of the puzzle. The marketing idea, which was recognized last year by the International Festivals & Events Association as the best new promotion of 2007, runs through Dec. 19.
"The Christmas Puzzle is a fun, creative way for Parker-area residents to support the local economy and local businesses during this time of economic struggle,” said Pati Sawyer Boex, events coordinator for the Parker Chamber of Commerce. “The puzzle creates a win-win situation for both shoppers and local businesses this holiday season. Our goal is to remind shoppers of all of the fantastic businesses right here in their own backyard, while keeping holiday shopping dollars here in Parker.”
The Downtown Development Council, an organization made up of local business and property owners, is offering free carriage rides through downtown Parker in part to increase foot traffic for the holidays. Some owners are hoping to rebound from sluggish sales resulting from an eight-month road construction project that intermittently shut down portions of East Mainstreet.
Officials at major retail centers in the area were optimistic on “Black Friday.”
Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree opened at 6 a.m. Nov. 28, and within a short time, all 7,300 parking spaces were full, said Pam Schenck, mall general manager.
“It’s shaping up so nicely,” she said. “Even with slower traffic anticipated, retailers had so many specials. We were prepared to be busy.”
Parking lots at the Outlets at Castle Rock were full and retail sales were “looking good,” despite the struggling economy, said Lisa Yamaguchi, marketing director for the popular shopping destination west of Interstate 25 and Meadows Parkway.
Outlet customers got an early jump on their holiday shopping with the Moonlight Madness Event at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving.
Officials and store owners are not only cognizant of the possibility of weaker sales because of the poor economy, but also are wrestling with a shorter shopping season. There is one less weekend than normal between “Black Friday” and Christmas this year because of the late Thanksgiving holiday, so many retailers began their sales ahead of time.
“There is a sense of urgency. They are not waiting until ‘Black Friday,’” Yamaguchi said. “People know they need to get out there and get the deals. If they are organized, some of them might have it done already.”
Schenck agreed.
“It’s not only the shorter shopping season, but the pressure to provide sales results. It’s a nice thing for the customers.”
At Park Meadows, shoppers lined up early in the morning to take advantage of deep “Black Friday” discounts at stores like JCPenney, which opened at 4 a.m.
The stories at Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods were similar, where there were large crowds ahead of the 5 a.m. openings.
Many who waited patiently for the doors to open received circulars advertising special deals throughout the mall.
Although analysts don’t expect this year to be a record-breaking season for sales, they are nonetheless expecting a steady holiday season for most stores.
“The expectation is that it will be really low, so the numbers might actually surprise some people,” Schenck said.
If local numbers follow a nationwide trend, it means a good start to the holiday shopping season for area retailers.
Nationally, shoppers spent an average of $372.57 during the Thanksgiving weekend, up 7.2 percent over last year’s $347.55, according to the National Retail Federation.
Things are going well for many Parker businesses, but the revenue reports generated after the holiday shopping season will tell the full story.
“So far, we have been pleased with sales for Christmas,” Conner said. “Customers appear to be shopping a little earlier, but I'm sure we will have a rush at the end, as we have had every year for the last three decades.”
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