8 More Shopping Days 'Til Christmas!

And, yes... those are my grandchildren on the mall hangings!

If you were hoping to find massive clearance sales as you finish up your holiday shopping, prepare to be somewhat disappointed. It has been reported that major retailers are not concerned that it will take massive last minute discounts to lure shoppers into stores this holiday season and they are backing away from the panic button. Apparently, they planned a little better this year when stocking their merchandise and Americans are spending a little more than expected.

Last week, sales were up from the week before and a little more than last year. Because stores didn't load up on merchandise like they did last year before the recession, they have the luxury of sticking to their original plans for discounts. So, more than likely, they won't be slashing prices any further out of desperation as Christmas draws near.

The difference between this year and last year was planning. Retailers had time to plan, whereas last year they didn't. There are plenty of deals to be had and discounts will probably be a little deeper this last weekend before Christmas. However, people waiting for mounds of merchandise with 80% discounts will be left waiting. This will help profits and most stores will not have to drastically slash prices to clear out their stock.

Apparently, stores did a better job in matching supply with demand this year. The success of the holiday shopping season for retailers depends on the week before December 25th, which accounts for about 1/4 of holiday sales. In fact, the Saturday before Christmas usually rivals the day after Thanksgiving, which is the traditional start of holiday shopping with regard to sales volume. The last week is "where the rubber meets the road", so to speak.

Retailers are optimistic about this holiday season because shoppers don't seem as far along in their gift-buying as they were last year at this point. They have stuck to their lists and bought discounted practical items like socks, pajamas, microwaves, and some discounted electronics. Online shopping has been another bright spot. So, retailers are pinning their hopes on shoppers who are planning to do all of their holiday shopping during this week and next week. It was predicted that holiday sales would be flat (at best) this year. Last year sales were down and customer traffic is down this year as compared to last year. However, it was reported that online sales from November 1st through this past Sunday were up.

Stores had planned aggressive discounts well in advance for this holiday season. They knew that shoppers who are worried about tight credit and jobs would be scouring for deals. This strategy, combined with tight inventories indicates that discounting has been similar to what it was before the economy began to sour. For example, shoppers found that some clothing was discounted 40-50% over the Thanksgiving weekend, but those same deals were scaled back to 20-40% percent two weeks later. Stores are giving their top discounts on some items this weekend, but that's typical for the shopping calendar.

Because retailers were cautious about buying for this holiday season, shoppers found some hot items, particularly toys, in short supply a month ago. Toys "R" Us has been the one chain that has consistently received ample shipments of popular and hard-to-find items, but they sell out as soon as they're put on the shelf. So, if you haven't finished your Christmas shopping yet and you're still trying to find those "gotta have" toys for your little ones, you've only got 8 more days to get them. Good luck and happy hunting!

Note: The photo featuring The Booga Wooga & Little Sister Sophia was created by their "Grammy" at Loonapix.com