DEPARTMENT STORE JOY THIS SEASON?Byline: JULIA M. SCOTT Staff Writer More Christmas shoppers will toss aside their catalogs this year and head to department stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. for a hands-on, holiday retail experience, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a survey released Monday. ``There seems to be a renewed interest in shopping at department stores,'' said Scott Krugman, spokesman at the National Retail Federation. All-in-one retailers like Macy's, Sears, and Bloomingdale's are expected to gain shoppers this season while discounters and catalogs lose them. Some 62 percent of shoppers will head to the department store to fulfill ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. their holiday shopping list, up from 53 percent in 2002, according to a survey by the federation. Hugo Rodriguez, 24, of Pacoima said he likes department stores because of the wide selection. ``They have it, from shoes to jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. ,'' Rodriguez said while shopping at the Northridge Fashion Center Northridge Fashion Center is a large shopping mall located in Northridge, California. It opened in 1971. It was severely damaged during the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, but renovated extensively in 1995 and 1998. . Rodriguez also likes department stores' prices. ``They have good stuff for cheaper,'' he said. Only 25 percent of shoppers said they would buy items from catalogs, which are fighting to gain back the 37 percent of shoppers who used them in 2002. Discounters will attract 70 percent of shoppers this holiday season -- a shade more than department stores -- but that is down from 77 percent four years ago. And the trend could last: Department stores are especially appealing to consumers between the ages of 18 and 25. Four out of five shoppers in this age group said they would shop at department stores during the holidays, according to the federation survey. If department stores can mold mold, name for certain multicellular organisms of the various classes of the kingdom Fungi, characteristically having bodies composed of a cottony mycelium. The colors of molds are caused by the spores, which are borne on the mycelium. these buyers into loyal customers, their numbers will blossom, according to retail expert Kurt Barnard. ``Department stores were dowdy dow·dy adj. dow·di·er, dow·di·est 1. Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby: a dowdy gray outfit. 2. Old-fashioned; antiquated. n. pl. and boring, to put it politely,'' Barnard said. ``That is in the process of changing and the change is not complete. It has a long way to go.'' Elizabeth Freire doesn't plan to step inside a department store for any of her holiday gifts. She will get everything on her list from outlets. ``They are cheaper than regular stores,'' said Freire, 25, of Granada Hills, as her three children played in the mall. Department stores offer a smattering of the gifts people want to receive: clothes, accessories, and gift cards. Books, tech toys, DVDs, and video games See video game console. also top the list of what people want to find under the tree. Buying everything on the average consumer's list will cost $791, according to the federation. Plus, more than half of shoppers plan to buy nongift items as they go on sale during the holidays, adding an additional $99 to their tab. Holiday sales are expected to increase a modest 5 percent this year, according to the federation. It's still too early to tell if dropping gas prices will boost holiday spending, Krugman said. ``It depends on where they are in November,'' he said. ``But if it's any indication this could provide a nice little boost for the holidays.'' julia.scott(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3735 POPULAR PLACES TO SHOP Where do you plan to purchase holiday items this year? Discount store: 70% Department store: 62% Grocery store/supermarket: 49% Specialty store Noun 1. specialty store - a store that sells only one kind of merchandise shop, store - a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services; "he bought it at a shop on Cape Cod" : 48% Online: 47% Catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C. : 25% The percentages add up to more than 100% because those polled could select multiple answers. Source: BIGresearch CAPTION(S): box Box: POPULAR PLACES TO SHOP (see text) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion