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» Local shoppers search for bargains |
Local shoppers search for bargains By Ryan
Campbell This holiday season the question on many local retailer’s minds is “What do you want for Christmas?” Shoppers are spending less and aren’t following the traditional commercial spending that has come to be associated with the holidays. Such uncertainties have meant erratic sales for many Lodi retailers. Military toys and Harry Potter games seem to be flying off the shelves in many stores, while Play Station 2 has been the biggest video game seller, according to local retailers. Barbie dolls are always a hit with girls, Herald resident Tina Jackobsen said. “The girls always just seem to love them,” Jackobsen said while eyeing a $15 pop sensation Barbie in a local store, much to the delight of her 4-year-old daughter Courtney. But the classic pink Barbie Corvette will have to take a back seat this year. A purple plastic Volkswagen Beetle has taken the lead as the toy roadster of choice. Although many local shoppers interviewed planned to spend between $600 and $800 on holiday gifts and decorations, few will be splurging for last minute items this year. Most plan to spend about as much this year as last year. Other customers, like Teri Revier, of Galt, plan to avoid the holiday shopping season altogether by scanning the Internet for bargains. With more than a month to go before Christmas, Revier has finished buying gifts for her entire family from shopping Web sites like Amazon.com. “I don’t like the high pressure that comes before the holidays. Things are about the same price over the Internet and it’s much easier,” she said, while exiting the Wal-Mart store on Kettleman Lane carrying miscellaneous stocking stuffers and cloths. Still others say that the commercialism associated with the holidays has given way to a more family oriented season. Sharon Wilder, of Herald, had a lot to be thankful for while shopping for Christmas stockings with her mother, Genevieve Davis, also from Herald. The women’s grandson and great-grandson respectively recently returned from a six-month mission with the U.S. Army Rangers in Afghanistan and will be spending the holidays at home. “Christmas should be a real special time this year because of all the anxiety that’s happening in the world,” she said. Stores remain confidant that sales will get a boost from a traditional post-Thanksgiving shopping spree, according to Eddie Pastor, manager of the Big Kmart on Cherokee Lane. “I expect everything to go crazy right after Thanksgiving,” he said. It is becoming harder for merchants to figure out what trends shoppers will be attracted to this season. Corporate scandals, the prospect of a U.S.-led war on Iraq and job worries are all serving to push consumer confidence to nine-year lows. Clothing sales have been lower than expected. DVD players and digital cameras, however, remain popular with consumers this season. Retailers in Lodi and across the nation have watched their sales figures rise and fall throughout the year. October was far better than expected, but many retailers are left scratching their heads, wondering what the big sellers this year will be. |
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