By Sherry Koonce
The News staff writer
Expanded Black Friday sales and the return of layaway are signs that this year’s Christmas shoppers will have less to spend on holiday gifts.
The National Retail Federation has forecast a continued slow-down among holiday shoppers. The trade group’s annual Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, indicates two-thirds of Americans, or 65.3 percent of those surveyed, say the economy will affect their holiday plans this year. The majority of those say they are adjusting to the tightened budget simply by spending less.
The National Retail Federation expects for one-fourth of holiday shoppers to use cash and 43 percent to use debit cards, a 2.5 percent increase from last year. The number of people who will rely on credit cards for holiday purchases will fall 10 percent, with 28.3 percent of people using credit this year compared to 31.5 percent a year ago.
Irene Reisnek, 42, of Port Arthur, is among those whittling down her Christmas shopping list. Not only is she spending less, she’s waiting longer this year to start.
“Usually, I’ve got a pretty good start by mid-November, but this year I’m running behind,” she said while shopping in Port Arthur.
Recent rains in October that made her husband lose several days’ work combined with a vow to not use the family’s credit cards factor into her late start, she said.
“These times are uncertain now, so we’re trying to use cash only,” she said.
Wise is not the only shopper getting a late start this year.
Jodie Galloway, marketing manager for Central Mall in Port Arthur, said shoppers are waiting this year, and retailers are responding with additional sales.
“What we are seeing is shoppers wanting to make their holiday dollars stretch this year,” Galloway said during a telephone interview. “We are seeing something new this year. Some stores are offering their Black Friday sales prior to Black Friday to bring shoppers into the store.”
Dollye Roberts, owner of Holland House gift store in Nederland, said she’s noticed a lot of customers coming in and browsing, but not yet ready to make their purchases.
“A lot of people are coming in to browse. They say they are just getting ideas for Christmas,” she said during a phone interview.
Roberts said she always reminds her customers the store has layaway — an easy way to shop early, avoid the hustle and bustle of Christmas crowds, get the best selection and pay a little at a time. “Layaway is just a handy thing to have,” she said.
At 83, Roberts is very familiar with the layaway plan, and is glad to see other retailers offering the service again.
After years of decline when layaway was replaced by credit card use, the old-fashioned way to purchase merchandise is making a comeback.
The premise is easy. The customer pays a deposit on their selected goods and the store sets the merchandise aside. When the balance is paid in full, usually within an allotted time frame, the customer gets to take their selections home.
Sears, K-Mart, Toys R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, and Marshall’s are among retailers bringing back layaway.
Toys R US introduced layaway for the first time Oct. 19.
“We understand people are watching their budgets and layaway provides people the convenience of paying a little at a time, plus provides a place to store the gift item” Katie Reczek, Toys R US spokesperson said during a phone interview.
Though Toys R Us limits layaway purchases to large items that must be picked up by Dec. 6, Reczek said many customers are utilizing layaway.
The company has not decided whether to extend layaway past Christmas, she said.
Vanessa Bell, Port Arthur Sears store manager, said this is the second year layaway has been offered. Customers using the service seem to have increased this holiday shopping season, she said.
“I’m not sure whether its the credit crunch, or whether people did not know about it last year, but there have been a lot of customers expressing interest in layaway,” Bell said during a phone interview.
skoonce@panews.com
