Holiday Sales Look Strong So Far — But At What Cost?
Posted in: Uncategorized
On the heels of the brisk last-minute shopping frenzy right before Christmas, shoppers were once again out in full force during the post-holiday sales rush, clearing retailer inventories by stocking up on items such as appliances, apparel and electronics.
In all, sales during the shortened holiday season appeared to have been decent, according to retail experts contacted last week, with big promotions during post-Christmas shopping helping retailers make way for spring merchandise. Like much of the pre-Christmas season, retailers had to “pound the sales button” after the holiday to get those clear shelves, said Paul Swinand, equity analyst at Morningstar.
However, “you shouldn’t take all the red out there as a complete disaster,” said Mr. Swinand. “It has been a very promotional and — as some sites and data points suggested — it’s been a tough holiday season. Everyone was banging the sale drum hard from very early on, but I’m not predicting any disasters really, despite a whole bunch of extenuating circumstances.”
Post a Comment