Cedar Rapids Merchants, Shoppers Expect Busier Christmas Season

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

Brandy Bell, right, of Vinton, and Trudy Purdy, left, of Urbana, walk through Lindale Mall as they shop "black friday" sales for Christmas gifts on Friday, November 27, 2009. (Crystal LoGiudice/The Gazette).

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Nov 27, 2009 at 3:36 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 27, 2009 at 4:40 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - National trade groups may still predict a drop in total consumer spending this holiday season. But you couldn't tell that by the crowds that hit stores in Cedar Rapids early and often on this 'Black Friday."

If you wanted to be first in the door at the Best Buy store in Cedar Rapids, the line actually began forming at 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving. By the time the doors opened, at 4:00 a.m. Friday, hundreds of people were outside waiting to swarm after door-buster bargains.

Was it worth it? That depends. Cindy Paulsen, one early-rising shopper thought it was well worth it. "I got everything I was looking for--and then some that I wasn't looking for," she said.

But Marcia Black passed on getting up early for those special bargains. Black said "I think it's better to wait and have all the psychotic people go through and then you have a little time to go to the malls."

Whatever the theory, Cedar Rapids merchants just want something that works. Last year saw a drop in sales on the heels of a seriously slumping economy. The National Retail Federation still predicts a 1% drop in national sales this Christmas. But that's better than the 3.4% decrease recorded last year.

One store manager told TV9 he uses Black Friday as a barometer to predict the entire Christmas season. And J.C. Penney Manager Barry Donovan liked the signs he saw on Friday.

"What happens today kind of project how we'll end up the season--if we have a good day on Black Friday we'll have a good Christmas. And looking at the people coming in we should have a great Christmas season," he said.

The National Retail Federation also predicts 134-million Americans will go shopping sometime between Black Friday and Sunday. That would be a five percent increase over last year.

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