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Retailers maintain holiday cheer
Despite this week's confirmation that the country is indeed in a recession, and the gloom-and-doom predictions about massive cutbacks in consumer spending, area retailers are holding onto their holiday spirit.Black Friday weekend spending was actually up about 7 percent nationwide over last year, according to a National Retail Federation survey, and local businesses say they haven't seen the projected decline in spending yet, although it is too early to tell for sure.
"If the first weekend of sales is any indication of the season, we think it is going to be a very successful holiday selling season," said Chris Poleto, general manager of Fair Oaks Mall.
The retail federation said that aggressive sales and pent-up demand for electronics and clothing made the weekend successful, although the group is not predicting an all-out success for the season.
"There were lots of very, very, very compelling door-buster deals," Poleto said, noting that stores like Macy's are continuing to offer single-day discounts this coming weekend.
Like Fair Oaks, the halls of Tysons Corner Center were packed with shoppers Friday. Some said they do plan to cut back on holiday spending this year.
Chris McCulloh, of Potomac Falls, said she will definitely spend less than last year and is shopping online for the first time to find better deals.
"I think as a country, we've probably been excessive for a number of years," McCulloh said. "This economic thing is probably a wake-up call for everybody."
But Uzo Nnabue, of Brookville, Md., said she typically saves up throughout the year to purchase Christmas gifts, and expects to spend about the same as last year. She traveled to Tysons to hit the early-bird sales and for the "variety of stores all in one spot."
Smaller retailers are also feeling generally positive.
"The business we are in is the business of love," said Ruben Cruz, manager of M Beem Jewelers, on the first floor of a Plaza America office building in Reston.
He said people still want to buy jewelry to commemorate events like anniversaries, birthdays and graduations.
"No matter what the economy is, people are still buying for those occasions," he said.
The holiday shopping season "makes or breaks the year," and this year's sales will also be affected by Thanksgiving and Hanukkah being later than normal this year, said Carol Zimmerman, owner of The Toy Corner, which has operated in the Oakton Shopping Center for 23 years. Her November sales were fine, so she is "cautiously optimistic," despite the first two days of December being slow.
"All the retailers are saying flat is the new up," Zimmerman said. "We're seeing a later season this year. It's too early yet to know."
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