Desperate U.S. retailers seek holiday season rescue

[marmar]

Desperate retailers seek holiday season rescue
by Rob Lever


WASHINGTON (AFP) – US retailers are taking desperate measures to spark holiday sales in the face of what promises to be another troubled year-end shopping season.

Merchants are furiously working to ramp up consumer interest ahead of "Black Friday," on November 27, the day after the Thanksgiving Day holiday that marks the traditional kickoff of the holiday gift season.

Some are promising price cuts of 50 percent or more on some hot electronics, and planning for big events to bring out shoppers for big sales promotions.

Analysts say retailers are struggling to find the right balance of inventories and discounts while cautious consumers are hesitating about how much and when to buy.

Clothing retailer Gap has started early with 25 percent discounts, while Wal-Mart and Target are offering online shoppers free or discounted shipping on many items. JC Penney is boosting Black Friday promotions and will open its doors at 4 am for the best deals. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091122/bs_afp/useconomyfinanceretailholiday

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Stop selling cheap fall-apart merchandise would be a good start

Shopper are getting wiser these days.

[lonestarnot]

2. Woopsie. A forced refrain.

[endless october]

3. make shit here in the states and maybe people will have jobs

and money to buy your shit.

people without jobs don't buy a lot of shit.

[msongs]

4. now marked down 50%, huge half off sale on....Jesus? nt

[man4allcats]

5. Desperate U.S. consumers seek cash.

It doesn't make any difference how much they discount it. If you're broke, you're broke, and right now many of us, myself included, are broke.

[951-Riverside]

7. +1

[951-Riverside]

6. Umm no, I'm not getting up at 4AM but buy crap I can barely afford

BTW, I remember when stores used to open at 7,8 even 9 AM.