holiday shopping season

The holiday shopping rush is on in Michigan

Steve Carmody — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:41:27 +0000

Michigan retailers are optimistic they will have a very good holiday shopping season this year.

Nationally, sales are expected to be up by four percent over last year.

Tom Scott with the Michigan Retailers Association says this is a critical five-week stretch for many store owners.

“It’s probably 20 to 25% of a retailers’ business of the year…depending on what kind of retailer they are,” says Scott, “If they’re a toy store….it could be 50% or more.”

Online shoppers shifting focus

Steve Carmody — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:55:45 +0000

An Ann Arbor-based consumer research firm says there’s been a shift in people’s online shopping habits.

Ann Arbor-based ForeSee asked more than eight thousand online shoppers about their satisfaction levels with 40 of the nation’s top web retailers. ForeSee released its 7^th annual Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction Index today.

Many unhappy returns: Michigan businesses prepared for another Christmas tradition

Steve Carmody — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:01:01 +0000

The presents have all been opened and many will be heading back to the store.

Returning or exchanging gifts is part of the American holiday shopping season tradition.

But Patrick Bennett with the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Michigan warns if you plan to return a present you should know the store’s rules for returning or exchanging merchandise.

“It’s important that consumers retain the original packaging if they plan on returning items. Or if they receive something that they know in fact they are going to return it, don’t even open it. Take it back in its original condition," says Bennett.

Bennett also advises people returning presents to see if the business charges a restocking fee. He says restocking fees are common for businesses that sell electronics.

Bennett says many retailers have tightened their rules on accepting returned merchandise in recent years to crack down on fraud.

Michigan's holiday shopping season Part 2

Steve Carmody — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:01:00 +0000

The next phase of the holiday shopping season will start Monday with 'After Christmas' sales.

Tom Scott is with the Michigan Retailers Association. He says most retailers will offer some extra incentives to get customers into their stores, especially ones who got ‘gift cards’ as presents.

Twas the day before the day before Christmas (and Michigan retailers are happy)

Steve Carmody — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:44:51 +0000

This is turning into a very merry holiday shopping season for Michigan retailers.

The hard numbers are still coming in, but it appears early optimism for a strong Christmas shopping season is panning out.