Published: December 30, 2008 08:58 am      

Many happy returns for shoppers after Christmas in Kosciusko

A day of many “happy” returns and people bustling to make it home with their goodies from strategic shopping is what after Christmas sales are all about. Kosciusko businesses were seeing a mixed number of traffic volume on Friday, December 26.

Stores up and down Highway 12 and also around the Historic Court Square were open the day after Christmas offering potential customers deals in hopes of bringing in people and also entice those who came to return those “not quite perfect” items.

Vickie Ellington, owner and operator of Attala Discount Drugs and Gifts, reported that her store’s shelves were empty even before the business day started, “We had such a blowout before Christmas that now we have noting left. We did better this year than last. As a store owner I can’t complain.”

Hudson’s Dirt Cheap on Highway 12 had long lines at their checkouts Friday. Customers filled the store trying to find what bargains they could. Winnifred and Iris Boyd of Durant were shopping in the discount store and mentioned other places they had checked out, “Out at Wal-Mart some of the things you would think would’ve been on sale weren’t like the bath and body…it was only just Christmas items.” Winnifred said after they leave Hudson’s Dirt Cheap “We’re either going to Cato’s or Jackson.”

Leonard’s owner Shaun Blaylock, talked about how “average” their sales day was going, “People just coming back for returns and we have our fall merchandise on sale.”

Mixed sales signals are being read by many retailers both near and far according America’s Research Group. Chairman for the group, C. Britt Beemer, said that a new mantra of consumers is being adopted, “The new consumer mantra for this coming year is: If I don't need it, I won't buy it. America has gone from a consuming society to a planned-buying society. Everything is focused on saving more money.”

The retail industry could be looking at its biggest contraction in 35 years, according to Burt P. Flickinger, III, managing director of consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. He estimates that 160,000 stores will have closed in 2008 and predicts that an additional 200,000 will shutter next year. In March and April of 2009, Flickinger expects 2,000 to 3,000 malls to shutter.

A number of stores struggled just to make it to Christmas. Circuit City Stores filed for bankruptcy protection last month. It plans to keep operating, but KB Toys, which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month, has already begun to liquidate all of its stores and will shut down completely.

Nowadays, retailers that hope to bounce back financially from after Christmas sales and regain from the whole year shouldn’t hold high hopes.



The AP contributed to this story.