Strong Finale Caps Successful Holiday Season for Retailers
Holiday Sales Watch – Report 3
ALBANY, NY (12/30/2010)(readMedia)-- Shoppers delivered robust sales the crucial week before Christmas, topping off a holiday season so successful it was awarded an "A" letter grade this week by members of the Retail Council of New York State.
Eighty-four percent of retailers polled by the Retail Council of New York State said their week-before-Christmas sales were better than or the same as their sales during the same week in 2009. After-Christmas shopping, however, was hampered by a major snow storm in eastern New York on Dec. 26, which closed stores and kept shoppers from redeeming gift cards – one the season's most popular presents.
Retailers throughout the state reported the results through the Retail Council's annual "Holiday Sales Watch," a periodic snapshot of sales activity in stores small and large. This third Holiday Sales Watch was conducted Dec. 28 and 29 and gauged retailers' perception of sales activity the week before and just after Christmas. This report concludes the Council's assessment of the holiday season.
"We anticipated this year's holiday sales would be better than 2009, but we were surprised by just how willing many consumers were to spend in the wake of the worst recession in decades," said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Sherin. "This exemplifies how difficult it is to predict consumer behavior. All bets are off once a consumer walks through the door of their favorite store."
The robust finale was the final chapter in the story of a season that had been strong from the start. Eighty percent of merchants surveyed by the Retail Council reported healthy sales activity following 2010's Black Friday weekend. The momentum continued through mid-December to the astonishment of many merchants who are accustomed to softer sales the first two weeks of the month before consumers return en masse to wrap up gift buying the critical week before Christmas. Eighty percent of surveyed merchants reported sales were the same as or better than 2009 sales through mid-December.
"During the survey process we heard members say over and over again they were 'pleasantly surprised' by the success of this holiday season," said Sherin. "With a long holiday weekend ahead of us we anticipate retailers will make up for time lost to bad weather and ring in 2011 on a strong note."
Hot Sellers - 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)
For Adults: Gift cards/certificates, electronics (televisions, mobile devices and e-readers), clothing (particularly cold weather apparel), jewelry, books and home goods (small home appliances and décor).
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 size and variety. 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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