Retailers Merry About Black Friday Sales

Holiday Sales Watch - Report 1

ALBANY, NY (12/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Battered by two years of soft sales, retailers got a hard-won reprieve over Black Friday weekend as shoppers turned out in force to snatch up bargains by the bagful. Eighty percent of merchants surveyed by the Retail Council of New York State early this week said their sales for the weekend were the same as or better than their sales for the same period of time in 2009.

"It's been three years since we've seen numbers this strong coming out of Black Friday weekend," said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Sherin. "Retailers have been studying their customers' buying habits and have a good handle on what to expect this holiday season. Still, we're thrilled to see so many members' expectations become reality."

Sixty-four percent of merchants were pleased with the sales activity in their stores over Black Friday weekend. Many merchants noted consumers remain budget conscious and conservative in their spending.

Still, top sellers for Black Friday weekend reveal a subtle shift in favor of discretionary items. Electronics and jewelry – among the items most heavily promoted – sold particularly well. Other staples like gift cards, clothing, books and toys were also popular.

Retailers throughout the state reported on their Black Friday weekend sales through the Retail Council of New York State's annual "Holiday Sales Watch," a periodic snapshot of sales activity in stores small and large between late November and early January.

In traditional Black Friday fashion, many survey participants confirmed they offered special promotions of anywhere from 10 to 60 percent off. Other merchants gave away merchandise or gift certificates with a minimum purchase, offered free shipping, tried buy-one-get-one promotions and "bundled" products (for example, buy a camera and receive a memory card). Participants with an online component to their business confirmed a strong increase in sales over the holiday weekend.

"Now comes the hardest work – continuing the momentum. In other years we've had a strong Black Friday weekend only to see sales wither in December," said Sherin. "The true test of shoppers' willingness to spend lay in the weeks to come, particularly the critical week before Christmas."

The Retail Council's next Holiday Sales Watch will gauge mid-season sales activity. The results of this survey will be released Dec. 15, 2010.

Hot Sellers for Kids - 2010 Holiday Season

For Girls: Barbie, dolls (generic), Dora the Explorer, video games, Disney Princess, Zhu Zhu Pets, American Girl, Disney Hannah Montana, Bratz

For Boys: Video Games, LEGO, Cars (generic), Disney Toy Story, Hot Wheels, Transformers, Xbox 360, Iron Man, Nintendo Wii, Trucks (generic)

About the Retail Council of New York State:

The "Voice of Retailing" in New York state, the Retail Council represents thousands of member stores of all sort and size. The Retail Council offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations expertise to its members. For more information, please visit www.retailcouncilnys.com.

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