Three weeks from today is the official start of the Holiday Shopping season. Black Friday, or the Friday after Thanksgiving, is when most retailers start turning a profit for the year…or see their ledgers go from red to black. But many retailers want your holiday business now. The Christmas decorations are up and prices are being slashed fifty percent on some merchandise at JC Penny. If not a deep discount, buy one pair of jeans for regular price, get a second pair for 99-cents.
The store is opening its’ doors at six a-m tomorrow morning. Why the push to jump-start Holiday sales now? Illinois Central College Business & Information Department’s David Keys said, “I think retailers are a little bit worried about what you might call a luke-warm retail season for Christmas. So I think they are trying to be pro-active in the way they manage their business.” JS Penney’s Lana Anderson said, “It helps us get a good gage on what people are looking for in Peoria, Illinois.
So we have the right thing in the store for the day after Thanksgiving when they are really expecting it here in the store.” Whatever the reason, retailers are already fighting for customers like Kay Johnson. She’s a grandmother who is deciding how much money she’ll spend on Christmas 2007 compared to 2006. “Not quite as much as I did last year.” The housing slump, the credit crunch, with gas prices going up and increased food costs.
There is a worry that there is going to be less disposable income for gifts. A fear by retailers of less spending can translate into more aggressive discounts at the cash register… which in the end is good news for consumers. And JC Penney is not stopping its early courtship of your dollar this weekend. It plans to open at 4:00 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, two hours ahead of the competition.