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Jingle, jingle: Holiday shopping season begins

Merchants encouraged by ‘Black Friday’ weekend

By Lauren Otis Business Editor
   Was it the many discounts on offer in the wee hours, a good local economic picture, or the nice weather?
   Whatever the factors, local foot traffic appeared to be strong on Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving and considered the start of the holiday season — as well as through Saturday and Sunday.
   Shoppers appeared to flock to shopping centers, malls and to downtown Princeton in heartening numbers over the post-Thanksgiving weekend, although those in the retail industry said it was too early to gauge whether sales were up from last year.
   ”I was at Quakerbridge Mall at 6 a.m. on Friday morning so I saw firsthand that there was a very healthy turnout, which was very encouraging,” said John Holub, president of the Trenton-based New Jersey Retail Merchants Association.
   It was too early to obtain firm numbers on shopper volume and sales in New Jersey, Mr. Holub said, but “we tend to trend the same way as the nation,” which he said saw an approximately 5 percent increase over last year. New Jersey retailers he had spoken to were pleased with the shopping volume, Mr. Holub added.
   ”It’s too early for sales statistics. Generally traffic was up,” said Lynda Benedetto, general manager of Quakerbridge Mall in Lawrence.
   ”It was packed down here on Friday night. The weather was perfect,” said Kathie Morolda, president of the Borough Merchants for Princeton and owner of Cranbury Station Gallery on Palmer Square. “I had a very good Saturday,” she added.
   ”Black Friday for us is a gift as an advertising day,” said Ms. Morolda, noting that customers love to go downtown with friends and family who are visiting over Thanksgiving just to have something to do. Although the traffic doesn’t necessarily translate into immediate sales, it bodes well for the season, she said.
   ”I think everyone’s pretty optimistic,” Ms. Morolda said.
   According to the National Retail Federation’s 2007 Black Friday weekend survey, over 147 million shoppers hit the stores on Black Friday weekend, up 4.8 percent from last year.
   Consumers spend an average of $347.44 over the weekend, the NRF survey estimated, down 3.5 percent from last year, but up 14.8 percent from 2005. The International Council of Shopping Centers estimated that Black Friday and Saturday sales beat last year, however, rising 7.2 percent.
   Shoppers opted for more smaller-priced items this year than last, according to the NRF.
   Given the economic bad news that consumers are experiencing, from housing and mortgage problems, to a general credit crunch, to high gas prices, Mr. Holub with the NJRMA said, “I think it is an encouraging kickoff to what could be a discouraging holiday season.”