Hot toys and hot trends
The recession has led to interesting shopping habits. A survey conducted last weekend by America's Research Group found:
- Wal-Mart has dominated, drawing two thirds (66.2%) of American consumers to their stores compared with 41.3% last year. "Wal-Mart had as many shoppers this weekend as JCPenney, Sears, Target and Toys R Us combined," ARG CEO Britt Beemer said.
- JCPenney was level with 18.1% this year (18.0% in 2007)
- Sears ticked up with 19.6% (18.2% in 2007)
- Target saw a nice boost to 17.9% (13.6% in 2007)
- Toys R Us rose to 12.1% (9.5% in 2007)
- Best Buy fell to 10.4% (12.9% in 2007)
- In the list of top five gifts...
...children's clothes had a substantial increase (23.7% in 2008 from 14.5% in 2007) as parents made up for not buying much in the back-to-school shopping period this year.
- Gift cards decreased to 12.4% this year from 19.4% in 2007.
- Toys fell slightly to 33.8% (34.2% in 2007)
- Children's clothes jumped to 23.7% (14.5% in 2007)
- Electronics slipped to 23.7% (25.6% in 2007)
- Video games nudged up to 18.9% (17.4% in 2007)
- A "home-run" toy has emerged this year with 32.2% of those purchasing gifts for boys buying a Bakugan toy, a plastic ball that transforms into a fighting character.
The ARG/UBS 2008 Christmas Survey consisted of 1,002 telephone interviews conducted Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14, 2008 at ARG headquarters in Charleston, SC. The error factor is plus or minus 3.8%.
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About The Bargain Hunter
Daily News staff writer Julia Scott loves to find bargains on everything from groceries to Gucci. Her tips will help keep your hard earned cash where it belongs - in your pocket.
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I really question the 66.2% penetration figure among American consumers who have visited Wal-Mart this year.
Even today, Wal-Mart is absent from many of America's largest populated cities. No Wal-Mart stores in the city of Chicago, New York, Boston, Detroit, Seattle and San Francisco (yes, they are in the suburbs).
In Los Angeles, Wal-Mart has a grand total of four stores (Panorama City, Canoga Park, Porter Ranch and Beverly/Crenshaw), again not counting the suburbs.
I guess America's Research Group count's repeat and multiple trips as "unique" visits by those served by Wal-Mart. Most people just don't drive out of their way for a store. I would be interested to know the location of the 1,002 telephone respondents. It appears the respondents are tilted toward rural amd mid-size cities in the south, midwest and portions of the southwest (Texas, Arizona) where Wal-Mart has a large presence.
My other question is who paid for the survey? Any of the retailers, or was it completlely independent?
It is interesting reading some of the categories that have increased percentages. No surprise with the downturn in the electronics category. Dovetails with Circuit City's bankruptcy filing, and Best Buy's recent announcement of buyouts to corporate staff.
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
well walmart is also in west hills. im not so sure about this surver because i went to pennys more this year because they have good clothes and i went to best buy and there was a long line and ive gotten gift cards almost as many and for more than last year so they might be off on there count
Good points, SCRS. The 66% seemed high to me too. ~Julia