Stores seeking shoppers on Super Saturday
Last-minute shoppers mixed with retailers offering awesome deals are expected to bring huge crowds to suburban shopping centers Saturday.
"Super Saturday," the last Saturday before Christmas, is often the biggest shopping day of the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. This year, experts say, the day may be busier than ever as procrastinating shoppers seek deeper discounts closer to Christmas.
The number of shoppers headed to stores dropped sharply the second week in December, despite steep price cuts and limited-time-only deals, according to information released by ShopperTrak. ShopperTrak, which measures customer traffic, said foot traffic fell almost 18 percent for the week ending Dec. 13 compared with a year earlier.
"Procrastinators are in good company this year because a shorter window between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year means that the holidays have sneaked up on many of us," said NRF President Tracy Mullin. "Retailers will try to manage the rush of last-minute shoppers with expanded hours, extra employees to stock shelves and a lot of sales promotions," she said.
Macy's at Woodfield Shopping Center may be offering the biggest blowout as it plans to stay open for 108 hours straight starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. The Schaumburg department store will remain open through 6 p.m. Dec. 24.
Woodfield General Manager Marc Strich says Saturday is the biggest buying day at the mall.
"I'm sure our parking lots will be busier than the day after Thanksgiving," he said.
Retailers have been on edge, worried that holiday sales could notch their worst performance in nearly two decades. Cash-strapped shoppers are expecting good offers like 70 percent off or buy-one-get-one free.
Asha SalonSpa at Yorktown Center in Lombard is offering shoppers who buy a $100 gift card to receive another $20 gift card to use for themselves, said Yorktown Marketing Director Lindsey Burke.
She added that various retailers are offering bigger "bounce back coupons" than ever before. When shoppers make a purchase, they often receive a coupon, usually in the range of $5, to use another day. These coupons are now often $20.
Getting shoppers into the stores for the final days of the season, is crucial for retailers. According to ShopperTrak, the final weekend before Christmas typically accounts for about 11.5 percent of holiday sales, with Super Saturday, representing 4.5 percent of that figure.
"There are good deals out there. It's a phenomenal year for the consumer," Strich said.
Super Saturday shopping tips
Stress levels, bargains and crowds will all be big, so here are a few tips for shopping the days leading up to Christmas.
• Shop early in the day.
• Remember where you park. Snow-covered cars are hard to find. It's best to use aisle markers or other landmarks.
• Don't forget your coupons.
• Have a list and stick to it.
• Be patient.