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Dark cloud over Black Friday

Published online on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008

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How will the economy's slump affect holiday-season sales? The National Retail Federation predicts the slowest sales growth in six years. Another organization, America's Research Group, is predicting a drop in sales -- the first in 23 years.

That increases the pressure on retailers to score heavily on Black Friday -- the day after Thanksgiving -- and the following Cyber Monday, when deals are unleashed online. Find out what some retailers with Valley stores are offering.

The Bee's Bethany Clough found some trends bubbling up for this year's holiday gift spree:

• Easier on returns: A recent retail federation survey of 82 large retailers found holiday return policies are looser than in years past. “Retailers are trying to provide good customer service in a down economy,” said Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman for the retail federation. “This year, a retailer’s return policy might make the difference in shopping at one store over a competitor.”
• A shift toward modesty: Shoppers are also changing the type of gifts they are buying this year, and retailers are responding. More practical, personalized and homemade gifts will be popular this year, Davis said. Consumers also will trade down — buying a cotton sweater instead of an expensive cashmere sweater that needs to be dry cleaned, for example, she said.

Getting personal: Shoppers can expect to see retailers promoting more personal items. For instance, Horn Photo, in the Villaggio shopping center in north Fresno, is offering photobooks for the first time.

Hot sellers may go fast: When shoppers scale back, retailers follow, buying less merchandise instead of letting it go unsold. Unexpectedly popular items may run out as many retailers do their holiday ordering during the summer, Davis said.

Black Friday deals

Target: The big-box store is offering discounts on home items, clothing, toys, movies, video games and electronics. (see Black Friday ads)

Best Buy: There are 50-inch plasma TVs for less than $1,000, laptops for less than $500, digital cameras less than $100, as well as package deals on game systems. (see Black Friday ads)

Radio Shack: The electronics outlet has deals on a slew of GPS navigation systems, as well as offering a half-dozen digital cameras for less than $200. (see Black Friday ads)

Sports Authority: There is a buy-one-get-half-off deal on shoes, as well as discounts on exercise equipment, billiards tables and dumbbell sets. (see Black Friday ads)

JC Penney: The department store is offering 50% deals on entire stocks of sheets, towels, dresses, outerwear, handbags, luggage, diamond jewelry, pillows and blankets. (see Black Friday ads)

Lowe’s: The hardware store is offering discounts on tools, as well as deals on items for the home and kitchen. (see Black Friday ads)

The Home Depot: The hardware store has an abundance of seasonal decorations on sale, not to mention deals for home items and tools. (see Black Friday ads)

Sears: The departments store has deals on digital cameras, DVD players and dresses. (http://www.blackfriday.info/sales/sears-black-friday-ad.html)

Toys R Us: The place where you don't have to grow up is offering discounts on MP3 players, drum sets and toys of all kinds, as well as offering video games in value packs. (see Black Friday ads)