Shoppers get headstart on season

On what is traditionally the busiest day of the year for shopping, most area stores contacted reported strong sales this morning.

"It's been great, people are really responding to the door busters," said Steve Loyd of JC Penny's. What was surprising to him was how popular home furnishings have sold he said, such as pillows, throws and blankets. Other top selling items have been women and men's leather coats, girls' velour hoodies and in all the departments, denim.

Although sales have been strong all year, the good turnout this morning was encouraging, he said. "We had about 20 at the door but the crowd built very quickly," he said.

Digital weather stations were flying off the shelves, said, Chad Arasmith, manager of Orscheln Farm and Home.

"We were thinking with the nice weather, people might go out of town to shop, but we're very pleased with the crowd we had," he said. Curio cabinets were selling well, as were insulated bib overalls. "It looked really busy this morning."

Donna Loop of Alco reported toys were the big sellers, especially the "V Smile Baby," an interaction computer toy for babies and toddlers. Other hot toys this season were The Kitchen Center and piano and keyboards. Strong sales were also seen in men's razors and tools.

"It's been really steady so far," Loop said.

The crowd seemed a little light this year compared to 2005, said Tom Lambing of Wal-Mart. He cited as possible factors the SuperCenter opening in Colby, Kan. this May and the early releases of PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii game console.

Still, the store sold out of the 10, 52-inch projection televisions within the first five minutes of the 5 a.m., sale, he said, at $474, apiece.

All 70 of the 20-inch flat screens TV, at $69 apiece, also sold out.

With the average shopper expected to spend nearly $800 this year on holiday merchandise, retailers may be jingling all the way ... to the bank. The National Retail Federation's 2006 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that the average consumer plans to spend $791.10 this holiday season, up from $738.11 last year. Furthermore, shoppers will take advantage of sales and discounts during the holiday season to spend an additional $99.22 on themselves.

"With gas prices coming down and consumer sentiment on the rise, shoppers want to celebrate the holidays in style," said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin. "Retailers will be sure to give consumers a reason to spend their extra disposable income in the stores with enticing incentives and special promotions."

Consumers this year will shop at a variety of destinations for holiday gifts. While discount stores (70.3 percent) continue to be the most popular holiday shopping location, many people will also be shopping at specialty stores (48.4 percent), grocery stores (49.3 percent), drug stores (21.0 percent), and crafts or fabrics stores (20.5 percent). Additionally, nearly half (47.1 percent) of consumers said they plan to shop online this year, up from 36.0 percent three years ago.

This holiday season is likely to bring good news for department stores, as 61.6 percent of shoppers plan to shop there for holiday items, up from 53.1 percent in 2003. Department stores are likely to see much of their traffic from young adults with a whopping 79.1 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds planning to shop at department stores for holiday merchandise, up from 72.9 percent last year and 65.9 percent in 2004.