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Black Friday: Deep discounts expected as economy continues to struggle toward recovery
By Kim Nguyen, knguyen@acnpapers.com
Black Friday is upon us, marking the unofficial start to the holiday season, as Christmas is less than a month away.
Retailers have been advertising deep discounts to draw shoppers into stores after more than a year of subdued spending. With the flurry of promotions, Plano shoppers may be tempted to visit shopping centers in neighboring communities, but city leaders say resist the temptation and shop Plano first.
The Plano Chamber of Commerce’s campaign -- Plano First: It Makes Cents! -- asks Plano residents to do their part to help boost the city’s declining sales tax revenues by spending their dollars in Plano as much as possible.
Sales tax dollars are the second largest contribution to the city’s operating budget. If Plano residents consistently shop outside of the city’s limits, city leaders will eventually have to raise taxes and/or cut city services to stay afloat, Shanklin said.
“The entire city budget is made up by 23 percent sales tax-- that’s a pretty good chunk of the budget,” he said. “The more we shop in Plano, the better for our city services because the city wouldn’t have to make cuts in the budget. Spending in the city limits is really to the benefit of the entire Plano community.”
The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts a 1 percent decline in holiday sales over the same period last year due to the worsening unemployment situation. If the forecast is correct, 2009 will be the second down year in a row for retailers. Last year, holiday sales fell almost 6 percent from the same period in 2007, the steepest drop in 40 years.
While several retailers use the classic approach to advertise Black Friday specials, in an effort to get more creative with marketing ploys, some retailers are making greater use this year of social media such as Twitter and Facebook to tell people about their store sales and offer subscribers special discounts. Other stores have even advertised extending discount opportunities through the weekend.
Collin Creek Mall will be offering free gift deals for mall-goers throughout Black Friday. The shopping center has planned a calendar full of exclusive shopping events, retailer sales and giveaways. In the MerryGiving spirit, from 6 a.m. to noon, while supplies last, shoppers can take advantage of the following: a $10 GGP Gift Card with purchases of $100 or more; a bonus one-year subscription to “Martha Stewart Living” magazine for shoppers spending $100 or more; and a free holiday ‘Mistle-tote’ full of retailer goodies for shoppers while supplies last.
Through the rest of the holiday season, Collin Creek Mall-goers can visit with Santa and receive a free coloring and autograph book, “The Very Best Gift in the World is You,” while supplies last, and an offer worth 20 percent off your entire purchase at Gymboree.
Visits to Santa can be made in the lower level of the center court near Dillard’s on Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Cookie breaks will be made from 2-3 p.m. daily.
The Shops at Willow Bend will give away iPod Touch media players to 13 people who had pre-registered. The mall opens at 8 a.m. and from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., one iPod Touch will be given away every hour on the hour.
Willow Bend shoppers are also encouraged to take a break from shopping and enjoy a test drive of the latest models of Park Place Lexus automobiles. Park Place experts will be at the mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every person who takes a spin in a Lexus will be entered to win the overnight use of a Lexus, four tickets to the opening night of Lexus Broadway Series hit, “August: Osage County,” and a $500 shopping spree at The Shops at Willow Bend.
Throughout the holiday season, visitors are invited to enjoy The Snow Globes, featuring The Polar Express, inspired by the Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. At the end of the journey through The Snow Globes, Santa Claus is waiting to visit with children and listen to their wish lists. Photo packages are available for purchase, beginning at $17.
Santa Claus is in The Snow Globes, in Grand Court near Neiman Marcus, daily. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with breaks from 1-2 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.; Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., with a break from 3-4 p.m. Admission to The Snow Globes and visits with Santa Claus are complimentary.
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