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Log inBack-to-school shoppers get an early start
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Back-to-school shoppers get an early start
by Outspoken on Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:00 am
Back-to-school shoppers get an early start
BY ANN S. KIM
Blethen Maine Newspapers
SOUTH PORTLAND -- By mid-morning, Tom Walsh already had new shoes for his 5-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son in hand.
It was Walsh's first back-to-school shopping foray of the season with Isa and Thomas. There was plenty more that needed to be purchased before the children start school at Wayneflete School in Portland in the first week of September.
"There will be more. Today's just the start," Walsh said Monday at the Maine Mall. "The list of needs keeps growing."
They are keeping an eye open for more shoes, clothes and "bargains we can't do without," Walsh said.
While the Walshes have only started their shopping, most Americans began their back-to-school preparations earlier this summer than in previous years, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. A survey commissioned by the trade organization suggests that high gasoline prices and other economic worries have shoppers searching for bargains.
"Usually people shop earlier to save money. There are more sales earlier in the back-to-school shopping season," said Erin Hershkowitz, a spokeswoman for the council. "A lot of people are looking to get more value out of their purchases this year with the uncertainty of the economy, gasoline prices as high as they are."
Back-to-school shopping is getting under way earlier and earlier, with this season starting in early- to mid-July, Hershkowitz said.
The back-to-school shopping season is a distant second to the Christmas holiday season in the retail sector, but it is still an important time for merchants who rely on this time to boost sales, Hershkowitz said.
The council estimates that back-to-school shoppers will spend $38.5 billion between July and September this year, a 1 percent increase from the same period last year. U.S. households are expected to spend about $400 each on average.
In Maine, retailers are in the season following a sluggish June. Figures from Maine Revenue Services indicate general merchandise sales were down 1.6 percent from the previous year. The category includes products carried by large department and discounters, including clothing, shoes, televisions and furniture.
"You like to see something that's a little more than inflation," said Jerome Stanhope, a financial analyst in the economic research division. "You're not keeping up with inflation at these rates."
While it's not possible to know the precise reason behind the drop in sales, Stanhope said it seems that people are having to spend more on gasoline and heating costs - or at least are worried about those costs rising.
"You don't have that money to spend on restaurant meals, new shoes or school supplies," he said.
The Newcastle-based Renys chain started seeing back-to-school shoppers at the end of July, said John Reny, the company's president. He said sales at the company's 14 stores, which stretch from Wells to Ellsworth to Madison, were up in June and July and will likely be up in August as well.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5329013.html
BY ANN S. KIM
Blethen Maine Newspapers
SOUTH PORTLAND -- By mid-morning, Tom Walsh already had new shoes for his 5-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son in hand.
It was Walsh's first back-to-school shopping foray of the season with Isa and Thomas. There was plenty more that needed to be purchased before the children start school at Wayneflete School in Portland in the first week of September.
"There will be more. Today's just the start," Walsh said Monday at the Maine Mall. "The list of needs keeps growing."
They are keeping an eye open for more shoes, clothes and "bargains we can't do without," Walsh said.
While the Walshes have only started their shopping, most Americans began their back-to-school preparations earlier this summer than in previous years, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. A survey commissioned by the trade organization suggests that high gasoline prices and other economic worries have shoppers searching for bargains.
"Usually people shop earlier to save money. There are more sales earlier in the back-to-school shopping season," said Erin Hershkowitz, a spokeswoman for the council. "A lot of people are looking to get more value out of their purchases this year with the uncertainty of the economy, gasoline prices as high as they are."
Back-to-school shopping is getting under way earlier and earlier, with this season starting in early- to mid-July, Hershkowitz said.
The back-to-school shopping season is a distant second to the Christmas holiday season in the retail sector, but it is still an important time for merchants who rely on this time to boost sales, Hershkowitz said.
The council estimates that back-to-school shoppers will spend $38.5 billion between July and September this year, a 1 percent increase from the same period last year. U.S. households are expected to spend about $400 each on average.
In Maine, retailers are in the season following a sluggish June. Figures from Maine Revenue Services indicate general merchandise sales were down 1.6 percent from the previous year. The category includes products carried by large department and discounters, including clothing, shoes, televisions and furniture.
"You like to see something that's a little more than inflation," said Jerome Stanhope, a financial analyst in the economic research division. "You're not keeping up with inflation at these rates."
While it's not possible to know the precise reason behind the drop in sales, Stanhope said it seems that people are having to spend more on gasoline and heating costs - or at least are worried about those costs rising.
"You don't have that money to spend on restaurant meals, new shoes or school supplies," he said.
The Newcastle-based Renys chain started seeing back-to-school shoppers at the end of July, said John Reny, the company's president. He said sales at the company's 14 stores, which stretch from Wells to Ellsworth to Madison, were up in June and July and will likely be up in August as well.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5329013.html
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