Post-holiday shopping slower on Montana
CITYWIDE — The day after Christmas this year won’t be documented as a “Black Tuesday” in the retail accounting books, but parts of the city were definitely swarming with shoppers eager to indulge themselves in winter sales and clearances.
It’s the time of year when people flock to the malls to cash in on gift cards, purchase Christmas cards and giftwrapping paper on clearance, and to exchange or return that oversized tacky sweater.
Nationwide, retail sales the week following Christmas are expected to drop marginally from the same period last year when the holiday fell on a Sunday and the federal observance was on a Monday. Last year, the period of Dec. 25-31 accounted for 15.6 percent of total holiday sales, said Patrice Duker, spokeswoman for the International Council of Shopping Centers.
“The potential of how many customers versus last year may be down a bit, but it will go up during the rest of the week,” Duker said on Tuesday.
With rain forecasted in Santa Monica on Tuesday night and Wednesday, bargain hunters took advantage of the dry and relatively warm weather, going in out of stores along the Third Street Promenade and exiting with more bags than when they entered.
Store windows were decked out in sale signs, screaming mark downs and clearances, from The Gap’s “Really Big Sale” to United Colors of Benetton advertising savings of up to 30 percent off the entire inventory.
Clara Gama was visiting her family in Santa Monica from her hometown of Mexico City and decided to venture out to the promenade on Tuesday to find some post-Christmas bargains. She predicted that each member of her shopping clan will have spent about $500 by the end of the day.
“It’s much cheaper to come today [than during the rest of the year],” Gama said.
Shopping on Tuesday seemed to be a family event for many people.
Carol Chacon of Los Angeles spent the day at the promenade tagging along with her mother, a hardcore bargain hunter who had hit about 15 stores by 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Chacon on the other hand was low on energy after a busy Christmas and decided to sit on the benches outside with her two pugs — Pogi and Punum — while her mother was shopping away. The mother and daughter come out to the stores every year on Dec. 26 to exchange gifts and do some shopping of their own.
“If you wait [to return gifts], you’ll never get to it and you’ll eventually have to re-gift,” Chacon said, sitting next to a pile of bags.
One of the main reasons why the malls are packed on Dec. 26 is because people are eager to return or exchange gifts.
What’s the rush? “Some fear they won’t get the item in a different size or style and want to make sure the inventory is there for them,” Duker said.
The promenade was a mad house compared to Montana Avenue and Main Street business districts where the mood was much more subdued and the locals were enjoying the quiet.
Harari on Montana Avenue kicked off its after Christmas sale, marking down selected items — many of which were winter apparel — at 50 percent off regular price.
Around noon on Tuesday, a few customers were scattered throughout the store, but the scene in the boutique was mild compared to some of the busier days before Christmas, said Manager Sasha Abrashkova. She expected business to pick up later in the day.
The malls receive the most shopping traffic on Dec. 26, a day that is more family-oriented, Abrashkova said. Though Montana Avenue is considered to be a pretty safe area, it does not have the same level of security as a shopping mall where the stores aren’t separated by a large street.
It was a similar story at Alexander Zar, a Montana Avenue boutique that specializes in designer label shoes. The entire store was on sale with items ranging from 30-70 percent off regular price. Owner Maryam Zar was planning to slash prices even more on select items for the post-Christmas shopping crowd.
“People are still spending time with family today,” Zar said on Tuesday. “I expect to see more people in the next week.”
The day was even longer for businesses in non-destination parts of the city.
The day after Christmas is sleepy at Brat, a novelty gift store on 14th Street across from Woodlawn Cemetery. Business tends to be slow this time of year at Brat where most of the customers are regulars from the area.
“A lot of people are out of town and recovering from the holiday,” said Owner Nancy Kaufman.” “We always hope that people come in after the holidays, but they do the major shopping at department stores.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 27, 2006. Read the original PDF.