'Super Saturday' Brings Surge In Shoppers
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (CBS) -- With seven days and counting until Christmas, the shoppers were out in search of some big bargains.
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On just about every corner of State street in Loop featured the sounds of Christmas and the site of shoppers.
And as CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, tens of thousands more shoppers spent the day at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, where they found an abundance of sales.
Retailers wanted to make sure they don't have any items left after the holidays that they'll have to reduce even more at clearance. So, with that in mind, shoppers were seeing deep discounts and lots of incentives at the stores on Saturday.
Thirty percent, 40 percent, even 50 percent – with an additional 20 percent off if you used your Macy's credit card. Those were the kinds of deals shoppers found at Woodfield Mall on Super Saturday.
"Absolutely amazing," shopper Brian Awad said. "Lot of good sales, lot of good sales; you can buy a lot for your money."
The savings were very enticing for a reason.
Woodfield Mall General Manager Marc Strich said that retailers are pricing very aggressively right now because they don't want to have additional inventory after Christmas and then really have to slash the prices more.
"Retailers have been having far more promotional activity, lower promotional prices all season, that way they'll be taking less clearance mark-downs, which is traditionally done post holiday," Strich said.
At JC Penney, shoppers not only got anywhere from $15 to $20 off a purchase with a coupon, but received special pricing on items during certain store hours. Jewelry was sold for as much as 70 percent off.
"There's some confidence with the economy turning around and wanting to spend money, but at the same time really looking for good deals at the same time," JC Penney Manager George Stuart said.
The Salgado family – brothers Ovie and Andy, and their sons – have made shopping on Super Saturday a tradition.
"We're looking for something for our wives, that will convey the love that we have for them," Ovie Salgado said.
Others were doing a little holiday shopping with someone else in mind.
"I must admit, it was for myself" Shopper Marilyn Coley said. "I'm spending my bonus!"
