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CNN Live At Daybreak
Holiday Shopping: Ready, Set, Shop!
Aired November 28, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well many of you are just getting ready to head out and fight the crowds on the traditional opening day of the holiday shopping season. But before you go, our Julie Vallese has some tips on what to expect out there.
Good morning -- Julie.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Catherine.
And you know, this toy store here opened at 5:30. Macy's just opened here at 6:00. And the jingling sound that retailers are hearing they hope is consumers buying gifts this holiday season. Research shows that buying may be up as much as 6 percent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Looking for Cabbage Patch or Ferbie, what about Harry Potter? Chances are these hot toys of holiday past can be found on the shelves. The one thing missing this year, a must have item.
RICK GALLAGHER, NATIONAL RETAIL FOUNDATION: Although there's always a lot of attention given to the hot item of that year, that hot item really represents a very small part of what's going on.
VALLESE: Traditionally, retailers use the day after Thanksgiving sales to predict whether they would finish the year in the red or the black.
MARSHALL COHEN, INDUSTRY ANALYST, NPD GROUP: Black Friday has become Gray Friday because of the fact that what we're seeing is consumers today are waiting more and more for the retailers to put product on sale.
VALLESE: So while many people may window shop early, they are buying later and later. The busiest days of the holiday season, according to retailers, are the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas. But something new, a growing number of people are no longer just buying for others.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About half the people who go out shopping for gifts end up buying things either for themselves or for their family that have nothing to do with gift giving.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got this one.
VALLESE: But if Christmas is about giving, what are people planning to give? The same as Christmas past, according to an industry survey, toys for the kids. Trucks and cars for boys top the list, Barbie for girls. Apparel, electronics and home decorating lead the list for adults.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now the hottest trend in holiday shopping this year may be these, gift cards. Not only do they let the recipient pick their own gifts, but they may be worth double in price when the after holiday sales start.
Catherine, back to you.
CALLAWAY: Now, Julie, you are in Arlington, is that right?
VALLESE: That's right. I'm here at the Pentagon City Mall in Arlington, Virginia.
CALLAWAY: Not a lot of people behind you. They must all be at the toy store.
VALLESE: They were at the toy store. There were special sales this morning that got them in. And there are some people still in the mall waiting around when it opens at 8:00 and that's when Santa Claus will arrive here in Arlington, Virginia.
CALLAWAY: All right. Find some good deals out there, Julie. We'll talk to you later. Thanks.
And our Web site has a special holiday shopping section for you. It even has a personality quiz to help you choose a gift for those hard to buy for people on your list. Just go to CNN.com. The AOL keyword is CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 28, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well many of you are just getting ready to head out and fight the crowds on the traditional opening day of the holiday shopping season. But before you go, our Julie Vallese has some tips on what to expect out there.
Good morning -- Julie.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Catherine.
And you know, this toy store here opened at 5:30. Macy's just opened here at 6:00. And the jingling sound that retailers are hearing they hope is consumers buying gifts this holiday season. Research shows that buying may be up as much as 6 percent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Looking for Cabbage Patch or Ferbie, what about Harry Potter? Chances are these hot toys of holiday past can be found on the shelves. The one thing missing this year, a must have item.
RICK GALLAGHER, NATIONAL RETAIL FOUNDATION: Although there's always a lot of attention given to the hot item of that year, that hot item really represents a very small part of what's going on.
VALLESE: Traditionally, retailers use the day after Thanksgiving sales to predict whether they would finish the year in the red or the black.
MARSHALL COHEN, INDUSTRY ANALYST, NPD GROUP: Black Friday has become Gray Friday because of the fact that what we're seeing is consumers today are waiting more and more for the retailers to put product on sale.
VALLESE: So while many people may window shop early, they are buying later and later. The busiest days of the holiday season, according to retailers, are the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas. But something new, a growing number of people are no longer just buying for others.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About half the people who go out shopping for gifts end up buying things either for themselves or for their family that have nothing to do with gift giving.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got this one.
VALLESE: But if Christmas is about giving, what are people planning to give? The same as Christmas past, according to an industry survey, toys for the kids. Trucks and cars for boys top the list, Barbie for girls. Apparel, electronics and home decorating lead the list for adults.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now the hottest trend in holiday shopping this year may be these, gift cards. Not only do they let the recipient pick their own gifts, but they may be worth double in price when the after holiday sales start.
Catherine, back to you.
CALLAWAY: Now, Julie, you are in Arlington, is that right?
VALLESE: That's right. I'm here at the Pentagon City Mall in Arlington, Virginia.
CALLAWAY: Not a lot of people behind you. They must all be at the toy store.
VALLESE: They were at the toy store. There were special sales this morning that got them in. And there are some people still in the mall waiting around when it opens at 8:00 and that's when Santa Claus will arrive here in Arlington, Virginia.
CALLAWAY: All right. Find some good deals out there, Julie. We'll talk to you later. Thanks.
And our Web site has a special holiday shopping section for you. It even has a personality quiz to help you choose a gift for those hard to buy for people on your list. Just go to CNN.com. The AOL keyword is CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
