While there was a lot of hype about Black Friday sales this year, sales rose a modest 0.3% vs. the same day in 2009, ShopperTrak reported.
That is a smaller increase than the 0.5% rise recorded for Black Friday 2009 vs. 2008.
Shoppers spent a cumulative $10.7 billion this Friday, according to ShopperTrak, a company that measures traffic at malls.
However, some of the sales likely shifted to earlier in November when retailers began offering promotions, ShopperTrak believes. Sales in the first two weeks of November rose 6.1% vs. the same weeks in 2009, the group said.
The company also said some sales shifted online.
Separately, the National Retail Federation said results of its survey showed 212 million shoppers visited stores and websites over the Black Friday weekend, up from 195 million. The average shopper spent $365.34, up from $343.31.
There were a lot of great deals to be had, and Shop-eat-surf writer Shelby Stanger and I braved the crowds on Black Friday to get a sense of the promotional environment at the malls as the holiday shopping season gets underway.
I headed to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and Shelby hit Fashion Valley in San Diego. We both arrived about 8:30 a.m.
I also went to the Irvine Spectrum Center in the afternoon to check on some industry stores.
Here’s a roundup of what we saw. Click here to read a press release from PacSun about its Black Friday results.
See Page 2 for the Black Friday promotions for industry stores
Some of the busiest stores at both malls were Gap and Banana Republic – which were offering huge discounts storewide – the Apple store, Nordstrom and Starbucks.
The Disney store also had a big line at South Coast Plaza, as did Ann Taylor as the day progressed.
For more information, see the photos in our slide show.
Quiksilver/Roxy
These stores at South Coast Plaza offered 40% off jackets, sweaters, fleece and denim. Both stores were fairly busy early in the morning.
Beachworks
Buy two, get one free, entire store. The store was pretty busy in the morning.
Sport Chalet
I was actually surprised by the lack of discounting on new snow outerwear. The store at South Coast Plaza carries a large selection, and the only promotion I saw was a basic Burton jacket on sale Friday for $74.97 (regularly $159.99) and a pant for $69.97 (regularly $149.99).
Neff also had a large display of beanies front and center – which were not on sale.
PacSun
Offered fleece, sweaters and denim, buy one, get one 50% off, all brands.
It also offered guys flannels for $15 until 1 p.m. on Friday. While the store at the Irvine Spectrum wasn’t mobbed, it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it.
And, I had the best service ever. A salesgirl actually introduced herself to me and told me all about the deals.
Macy’s
25% off jackets and some sweaters from action sports brands. Also offered branded Ts two for $34. The section was very busy.
Also had 50% off summer Ts and boardshorts in the back.
Urban Outfitters
By the time I got to Urban Outfitters at the Irvine Spectrum, the salesgirl told me the promotion was over. From 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., Urban had offered 50% of sale goods, she said. She said the line snaked around the whole store.
What amazed me was how busy the store was at 1 p.m. – packed, and it looked like a bomb had gone off. And it was that busy with no big discounting going on.
Sun Diego
Sun Diego at Fashion Valley had a promotion offering 20% off of everything in the store the entire day on Friday. Signs out front and throughout the store advertised everything as 20% to 50% off, but items that were over 20% off were mostly older items left over from summer and early fall.
The store was mobbed in all sections from shoes to hardgoods and also their Junior’s section. There were no specific brand promotions, but it was obvious the store thought hard about stocking stuffers, as there were pre-wrapped three packs of Sticky Bumps surf wax wrapped with red ribbon.
What was most surprising is that the mall did not open until 5:00am, but Sun Diego opened their doors at 4:00am and said there were customers there ready to shop.
Tilly’s
Before noon on Friday, all brand screen Ts and hoodies were buy one, get one 50% off.
The rest of the weekend, there were deals on RSQ jeans, junior’s thermals and more, including 25% off boots, excluding Uggs.
GAP
50% off of everything before 10 a.m. The store at Fashion Valley was mobbed, with a line at least twenty deep at all times and clothes thrown everywhere.
At South Coast Plaza, they actually had to rope off lines in front of Baby Gap, with about 100 people waiting to get into the store to shop.
Old Navy
There was no storewide promotion, just sales scattered throughout the store, and a long line that rivaled The Gap.
At the Irvine Spectrum Old Navy, the store was crowded. Deals included $10 kids jeans and $5 kids long sleeve Ts.
Banana Republic
Banana Republic was equally as packed as the Gap with a 40% off storewide promotion that lasted until noon.
At South Coast Plaza, lines to pay snaked through the whole store on both the women and men’s levels.
Abercrombie and Fitch
Abercrombie and Fitch was packed at Fashion Valley. Upon entering, the music was extremely loud and there was an overwhelming scent of men’s cologne that I picked up about five feet before going inside. Customers who purchased $100 received a $50 gift card they could use right then before noon.
Bloomingdale’s
Bloomingdale’s was fairly empty compared to Nordstrom’s. There were sales scattered throughout the store, but nothing that stood out. Its biggest promotion was getting a “bmoney” Card worth $15 for every $100 spent.
Hollister
There was a guy handing out cards that smelled of men’s fragrance upon entering. The music, like Abercrombie and Fitch, was incredibly loud. The store offered a 30% off storewide discount before noon and was packed, making it very difficult to navigate the narrow passageways. About fifteen people waited in line to pay.
No Fear
No Fear had a lot of promotions, but nobody was shopping in the Fashion Valley store at 10am.
Specials included spend $50; get $10 off your next purchase. Flannel and denim set for $59.99. Three layering T’s for $15. Select hoodies were $19.99 – $29.99. Buy one hoodie at regular price; get a sale hoodie for $12.99. Four pairs of girls’ panties for $10.
For more details about The Closet, DC, Rip Curl, Salvation and many more stores, see our slide show.
