For the past week sales have picked up signifigantly

[TwixVoy]

The past week has seen a MASSIVE increase in sales volume at the retailer I work at. We are still double digit negative when it comes to sales maturity for the same days last year, however sales have definitely picked up all of a sudden. I mean night and day sudden.

I am just interested to see what happens the week after christmas and as we go in to the first quarter....

[uppityperson]

1. What sort of business? And what part of country/world?

[TwixVoy]

2. General merchandise retail

GM retail (i.e. walmart, target, kmart). In the united states of course.

We are actually making our sales goals this past week. (although they have been adjusted down twice this year)

[uppityperson]

3. Chocolate rations have been increased? (1984)

You are selling/shipping stuff to big "mart" stores and last wk was a good one? I wonder why? X-mas stuff/seasonal? People spending more at budget stores and less elsewhere? Or have any ideas as to why?

My business is dropping off, as is most in my community.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. The upscale gift store was doing a land office business yesterday

The only other place I had seen so many customers is the thrift store. The upscale gift shop has gourmet cooking supplies, coffee, nice toiletries/clothes, etc. It seems that people are going for quality--those who can afford it.

[Nay]

5. An acquaintance is a mgr at an Aeropostale clothing store, and they are

doing even better than last year.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. What kind of sales?

Big ticket items or small stuff? Hell, I've cut way back on my Christmas expenditures this year, and I'm in pretty good financial shape for an unemployed person.

[TwixVoy]

7. Pretty much typical of most years

the regular mix between the big/small ticket this past week. Nothing is really over balanced. Most of the year consumables was sky rocketing compared to every other department. This week though every department has picked up.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. Consumer fatalism perhaps?

I've reduced my expenditures, but in some ways I've been spending money like it's going out of style. Because it is going out of style, possibly forever.

[Fumesucker]

9. I did all my Christmas shopping at Big Lots..

Most items I paid 30% or more off BL's usual prices and didn't pay more than $8.00 for any item.

$53.00 total and I only bought for the grandkids, everybody else gets either something I made (DVD of school functions they couldn't get to which I always video) or my best wishes.

[lamp_shade]

12. "Big Lots" rocks. n/t

[KoKo]

10. I ventured out yesterday and it was crowds...except for K-Mart which was pleasant

...because for the first time they had all registers manned...yet there were few shoppers. Went to my "Borders" book store next door and long lines but not as long as last year. Went to SteinMart today and there were lines at the registers but shoppers looked sort of "out of it" and the merchandise had that peculiar "odor" that all things from those "foreign parts" seem to have these days. I had an allergy attack in their shoe department. And, $39.00 plus tax for shoes that are "man made" or "simulated leather" (Liz Clayborn and other name brands) sort of left me wondering.

Our large Mall, today had many folks there...but small bags and it seemed compared to other years that the purchases and atmosphere seemed "small."

That's my take...of these last days for the 2 day Express Mail has to go out or folks who have to travel would be in a "panic" trying to get their shopping finished.

[blue_onyx]

11. Most of the stores near me have been busy

Even stores I didn't think would be, like Kmart.