Stores Desperately Seeking Shoppers On Super Saturday

[Purveyor]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. shoppers, come out, come out, wherever you are. "Super Saturday," the last Saturday before Christmas, is often the biggest shopping day of the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation.

This year, the day may be busier than ever as procrastinating shoppers seek deeper discounts closer to Christmas.

According to a survey last week for Discover Financial Services, 42 percent of those questioned said they had either not started their holiday shopping, or had completed some -- but not much -- gift buying.

Getting shoppers into stores for the final days of the season is crucial for retailers. According to ShopperTrak, December 21-24 last year accounted for 13.6 percent of holiday sales.

"Fasten your seat belt because it's going to be busy, it's going to be deep discounts, and it's going to be mayhem," said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at research firm NPD Group.

---EOE---

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN2057514820071221?feedType=nl&feedName=usbusinessafternoon

[msongs]

1. merry getmas - to hell with poor people? nt

[TommyO]

2. The only shopping that I'm doing tomorrow is for some wild mushrooms

I feel sorry for all of the retail workers who will have to put up with the unruly crowds tomorrow.

[Gman]

3. Is there a name now for every friggin' day before a Christmas

and after Thanksgiving? Cheezenrice!

[Missy Vixen]

4. The reason why people aren't shopping

is because they can't AFFORD IT. Nothing minus nothing is still nothing, and those who are tapped out by rising gas prices/food prices/mortgage rate adjustments, as well as job layoffs and various and sundry other items, must be skipping the holidays this year.

We've been watching an inordinate amount of TV lately due to the NFL, and we're both a little shocked at the barrage of electronics and jewelry ads. I'm not sure if this is more than in other years, but it seems omnipresent.

Julie

[ldf]

5. yes, it's also hard to know which drugs

to demand our doctors prescribe for us, when those Rx ads keep being interrupted by the ads for diamonds, gold and expensive cars as "gifts" for our loved ones...

who lives in THAT world???

oh, i forgot.. those wall street brokers who make millions in "bonuses" that are really nothing but fees charged, instead of salaries earned...

that is, when they are not buying multimilliondollar manhattan full floor luxury apartments...

at least we can rest assured that the needs of THAT niche market are being filled.

:shrug:

[Sugar Smack]

6. Heh. Good luck with that, y'all.

:hi:

The store I work for is a super-chain. I'd be surprised if it's standing 2 years from now.

[Hoof Hearted]

7. I saw an ad today for a "door-busters" sale tomorrow. I almost dropped my fork.

I don't remember seeing a "door-buster" sale for the Saturday before Christmas in years past. It must be scary bad for them. It's seems they've finally bled us all dry.

[Kat45]

8. I'm working at Macy's for the holidays, and I'll be working on

Sunday night and on Monday afternoon--yes, the day of Christmas Eve. I'll try to remember to report back on the busyness of the store.

[Diamond Dave]

9. Well now, so it is "SUPER SATURDAY"! What happened to the day after

Thanksgiving? It has all gone SOUTH! Good luck holiday shoppers. The absolute best thing for you all to do is stay home, don't shop and by all means, don't fly to Disneyland.

Let the corporations all wake up in January and see the GDP is gone. The shoppers have left the mall.