Shoppers Mob Malls For Deals
MIAMI (CBS4) - Just because Christmas is over doesn't mean the holiday spending has come to an end.
Local malls were packed with people Sunday for yet another big shopping day for retailers. At this point many businesses say they are offering special sales to continue to pad their pockets. Retail experts are calling this one of the highest spending holiday seasons since 2007.
Across South Florida the stores and malls were mobbed as thousands of people returned unwanted gifts and used gift cards to pick up items Santa may have missed. Retailers are doing their part with huge clearance sections and mark downs that will continue for at least a week.
"We are doing a lot of discounted things now," said Taliya Allende, a retailer at one of the many kiosks inside Dolphin Mall.
Retailers are counting on the days after Christmas to perk up overall holiday sales. The upcoming days are only 10 percent of the 61 shopping days leading up to the holidays, but can account for more than 15 percent of spending.
The day after Christmas was the second-highest revenue day for retailers last year with $7.9 billion spent, according to ShopperTrak.
This year is no different, attracting shoppers such as Roxie Bretzer, who stopped by to see what Allende had to offer.
"My husband is at the football game and we're shopping," Bretzer said, smiling. Her cart was full of items she had purchased during her day of shopping.
Meanwhile, Marcos Guerrero also was on a shopping mission "to return items gifts that you didn't want," he said. "Socks, I think that would be the worst thing I've gotten."
Guerrero should have been pleased with deals such as the one at discount chain Target Corp., which opened at 7 a.m., and offered $10 off video games such as "Just Dance 2," 50 percent off many DVD and Blu-ray movies and 30 percent or more off toys, including Lego sets.
Toys R Us has a $50 gift card with any $299.99 Xbox 360 250GB System and a $20 gift card with any $149.99 Nintendo DSi or $169.99 DSiXL.
J.C. Penney has 75 percent off gourmet candy, 60 percent off lambskin leather jackets, from $300 to $120 and 25 percent off kitchen gadgets.
Kohl's Inc., which opened at 5 a.m., offered specials until 1 p.m. including 50 percent to 60 percent off dress shirts for men.
Bargains on the most desirable merchandise, however, may be scarce.
"There will be good stuff on sale after Christmas, but what you really wanted will be sold out," Stifel Nicolas analyst Richard Jaffe said. "You wanted the sweater in blue, the prettiest color, and it's gone."
Strong sales in the coming week would build on the highest-spending holiday season since 2007, which was a record year.
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