West Park Mall officials report increase in holiday sales, following national trend

Walking into West Park Mall on Tuesday, it seemed more like a Saturday from the size of the crowds.

"Every day this week is like a Saturday," said Sarah Grigaitis, store manager at J.C. Penney in Cape Girardeau.

After last week's ice storm kept shoppers from getting out, local retailers are in "make up mode," Grigaitis said.

Sales at J.C. Penney this year are about even with the same time last year, she said.

Across the country, the National Retail Federation is projecting a 3.3 percent increase in holiday sales.

Centro Properties Group, West Park Mall's management company, is seeing an upswing in sales companywide.

"We are experiencing strong traffic and sales at West Park Mall," said Susan Godorov, vice president of marketing for Centro. "Across our portfolio we are seeing the same."

Members of the Cape Community Church of God volunteered to wrap presents Tuesday at West Park Mall to raise money for the church's youth group.

"We've wrapped jewelry, perfume, boots and even an ice scraper," said church member Judy Piper.

The group had wrapped more than 100 presents by 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The National Retail Federation estimates the average shopper will spend $689 on holiday gifts this year and $107.50 on items for themselves during the Christmas shopping season.

According to shopping research and analysis firm SpendingPulse, sales of clothing rose 9.8 percent, jewelry revenue rose 2.6 percent and furniture sales rose 3.4 percent from Oct. 31 through Dec. 18, compared to the same period a year ago.

Beth Cox of Scott City said she'll be spending a little more this year because of the gifts her children asked for.

"As they get older, they get more expensive," said Cox, who was picking up a couple of last minute gifts at the mall Tuesday.

Shirley Crites of Sikeston, Mo., said she still had about half her holiday shopping yet to do as she browsed through a rack of flannel nightgowns Tuesday afternoon at Macy's.

"I'm spending a little less this year because I don't have as much," she said.

Several shoppers said Tuesday that they make a budget for gifts and are sticking to it this year.

"We're buying more smaller priced things so the children have more gifts to open," said Sarah Fisher of Perryville, Mo. She had clothes, shoes, sports equipment and a remote controlled truck on her shopping list.

Most holiday gift-givers will spend the largest portion of their budget buying gifts for family, according to the National Federation of Retailers.

This year the organization estimates shoppers will spend $393.55 on gifts for family and $71.45 on gifts for friends. People will still carve out room in their budget to buy gifts for co-workers totaling $18.26, and others $34.82. Americans will also spend an average of $41.51 on decorations, $26.10 on greeting cards and postage, $86.32 on candy and food and $16.86 on flowers.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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