Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/90974
INSIGHT ON RET AI L TRENDS By Sharon Verbeten Tinsel time! D hedging their bets that this holiday season will usher in lots of green, both for national chains and local independents. Most national pundits concur in espite an uncertain economy and a still unpredictable presidential election, retailers are their predictions that the retail outlook for holiday sales will not be negative, nor robust – with many groups predicting modest increases in the 3 percent to 5 percent range. The National Retail Federation, for example, predicts holiday sales will increase 4.1 percent this year to $586.1 billion. Average holiday sales increases, according to the NRF, generally hover around 3.5 percent. Several national retailers such as Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Macy's (all have outlets in Northeast Wisconsin) plan on adding thousands of seasonal workers. But how do national predictions translate to Northeast Wisconsin stores? The Fox Cities area, for example, Retailers look forward to holiday season as national industry group predicts 4% increase in sales Jennah Landwehr, left, of De Pere and Kayla Socha of Green Bay take a break from shopping at Bay Park Square Mall in Ashwaubenon in October. Retail experts predict a modest increase in sales this holiday season. fact, "The entire Appleton retail market is so large, we are the anchor of the largest shopping district in the state, enjoys a thriving retail environment. In says Jim Zielinski, marketing manager of the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute. Including the entire shopping district around the mall, the region has the " "Retail, as a whole, has been fairly strong this year. The mall itself has experienced low single-digit increases, and we expect that to continue through the holidays." –Jim Zielinski, marketing manager of the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute www.insightonbusiness .com highest concentration of retail in the state, he says – a region which regularly draws shoppers from as far south as Fond du Lac and as far north as Michigan's Upper Peninsula. "Fox River Mall is very different than most malls," notes Pam Seidl, director of marketing and public relations for the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Upwards of 30 percent of their traffic comes from more than 50 miles away. Fox Cities' overall economy. In 2011, Seidl says total visitor spending in the region was $382 million. "Of that, $88 million was spent on retail. And retail is no small deal to the " [continued] » November 2012 • INSIGHT | 31 PATRICK J . FERRON, FERRON PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC