After-Thanksgiving sales give stores hope

Paul Clinton

Droves of shoppers descended on local shopping centers Friday,

spurred on by the after-Thanksgiving Day discounts that traditionally

kick off the holiday retail season.

As a result, and perhaps in concert with an economy that’s

beginning to show signs of improvement, retailers said they expect

healthy sales leading up to Dec. 25.

Mall officials said Friday’s big turnout was helped by the start

of Hanukkah, as well as a shortened shopping season this year. With

Thanksgiving falling late in November, there are only three remaining

weekends until Christmas Day.

“With one week less, everyone feels a little more pressure to get

their shopping done,” said Debra Gunn Downing, South Coast Plaza’s

spokeswoman.

About 200,000 visitors flowed through Costa Mesa’s center

throughout the day, Gunn Downing said.

The open-air Fashion Island in Newport Beach also saw a strong

turnout, spokeswoman Shayne Voorheis said.

“It’s a wonderful start to a great holiday season,” she said. “We

have heard really positive feedback from shoppers and retailers.”

Retail shops took additional steps to lure shoppers.

Many of the department stores that anchor both centers opened

three hours early, at 7 a.m. Other shops offered special inducements.

Aveda, a cosmetics retailer at South Coast Plaza, offered

customers back rubs as they shopped for face creams, makeup and

shampoo.

Men wearing only underwear briefs greeted the female shoppers who

arrived early at Abercrombie & Fitch, in the plaza.

Other specialty retailers offered sale items up to 50% off the

regular price. At Traditional Jewelers, in Fashion Island, four

display cases were filled with watches, cufflinks and other items

offered at discounts.

However, Marion Halfacre, the manager at the specialty jeweler,

said many of his wealthy clients aren’t seeking bargains. But they

are looking for value in brand-name watches, necklaces and other

items, he said.

“We want [our products] to be the best quality at the best value,”

Halfacre said. “We’re very proactive. We’re not passive in this.”

Halfacre said he has been trumpeting the shop’s recent agreement

to sell products from exclusive German watchmaker A. Lange Sohne. The

company offers its wares at only one other West Coast location

outside of Newport Beach.

Halfacre, at midday Friday, said he expected to see 1,300 shoppers

in the shop.

The lure of the sale is always a strong draw on the Friday after

Thanksgiving Day, retailers and shoppers said.

“Always looking for a sale,” said Ed Brackett, who drove from

Riverside to South Coast Plaza. “My wife and I love shopping here.”

Brackett, with several large bags in his hands, bought mostly

clothing on his trip through the plaza.

Department stores such as Robinsons-May, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s

benefited from the crush of early shoppers, while the smaller shops

filled up as the day drew on. A short-lived patch of rain wasn’t

enough to put a damper on the shopping.

To bring customers in to Benchley Luggage Ltd., Carol Benchley

filled her windows with whimsical miniatures of Rockerfeller Center

and a Subway Series game, as well as a New York fire and police chess

set.

“They draw out the child within us,” Benchley said. “It’s a

tribute that I do for New York. After what happened [on Sept. 11], we

all have a soft spot for the New Yorker.”