Local retailers report good Christmas sales
By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason, FCT staff writer
Retailers nationwide reported their sales volume down this holiday season, and are counting on this week's sales to ring out the year on target. Locally, however, retail stores reported strong Christmas sales and are now focusing on the new year without worry.
Peebles department store reported good sales this holiday season. The store's first Christmas season in Russellville proved to be a good one, thanks to shoppers who decided to shop at home instead of venturing out to the larger shopping centers, Shona Mele, store manager said.
"I had several customers tell me that they purchased all their Christmas gifts in our store," Mele said. "We have had great community support."
Peebles Red Dot sale will start today. Customers will find items throughout the store reduced, Mele said.
Next door to Peebles, Burke's Outlet also reported good holiday revenue. While other retailers are focusing on selling overstocked items, Burke's is focusing on reorganizing the store and adding new items, Carol Swinney, store manager, said.
"We are pleased with our Christmas sales, and are now focusing on getting our departments in order for customers," Swinney said.
Russellville's Factory Connection met their holiday goals as well. The last two shopping days brought in last minute shoppers to the store, and management was relieved to have enough staff on hand to handle the crowds, Diane Alverson, store manager, said.
"We were extremely busy on Christmas Eve but we had enough staff here," Alverson said.
Nationwide, Black Friday proved to be the busiest shopping days of the season.
Many retailers did not meet their Christmas sales goals, and slashed prices yesterday in order to finish out the season strong, according to news reports.
According to Shopper Trak RCT Corp, sales for last Friday and Saturday totaled $16.2 billion, with Saturday's sales contributing to about half that amount.
According to Big Research, who conducts a national poll, consumers were expected to spend almost $25 billion on gift cards, which is a big reason why store sales were down this holiday season.
"We pushed gift cards hard here [at Peebles] this year," Mele said. "But, gift cards sales are not counted in the sales amount until they are redeemed."
