Deals Already Hitting Stores To Make Up For Shortened Holiday Shopping Season
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - We've only just crossed Halloween of the calendar, so that means the holiday shopping season is just around the corner.
But this year, there are six fewer days to shop between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
That math is bad for retailers but good news for shoppers, as sales have already started.
As CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan reported, this will be the shortest holiday shopping period in 11 years.
"What I hope happens is that they give you much better options and deals to lure you in," Garden City shopper Aleida Harris said.
According to experts, a fluke in the calendar is translating into killer sales.
"They're going to have a lot of choices and they shouldn't buy on full price," Hofstra School of Business Professor Joel Evans told McLogan.
This season, Thanksgiving falls on the latest possible date while Chanukah will be ushered in historically early - on Thanksgiving Eve!
"There are a lot of great discounts going on now because of the fact that Chanukah does fall before Thanksgiving," Roosevelt Field Mall General Manager Nadine Parnell told McLogan.
Retailers need to get that jump because the fourth quarter brings in 30 to 50 percent of a year's revenue. Every pre-Christmas day is tremendously competitive.
"Well, you know children rule the market, so they're going to bring their families here, they're going to make sure they get their families into the mall," shopper Elliot Young said.
Losing six days means early promotions of deals and discounts. There are four full shopping weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, compared with five last year.
"Because of Sandy last season, we really - I don't feel we got to enjoy it much. So I think this season, it's time to kick it into high gear," a shopper told McLogan.
"Oh yes, I found some sales," another shopper said.
The National Retail Federation expects an increase of 3.9 percent for in-store sales and a 15 percent hike in online sales this holiday season.
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