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CNN Live Today
Holiday Shopping Rush Opens With a Bang
Aired November 28, 2003 - 11:28 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, the holiday shopping rush opened with a bang today. Retailers are hoping for a hefty haul to make up for last year.
Kris Osborn is on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, doing his part this morning.
Hello, Kris.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Good morning to you, Catherine.
It's shaping up to be a busy day here. I'm standing in Crate and Barrel, which is along the Magnificent Mile, North Michigan Avenue in Chicago. As you mentioned, very big day, referred to as Black Friday. Retailers are really hoping to bring in as much money as possible. We can give you a look around this general area, the Magnificent Mile, that is wired, you might say, by the crew here. We have got various live camera positions.
One of the things that a lot of economists are -- is -- talking about is, the customer confidence. There was a recent rise in consumer confidence. Experts will tell you consumer spending accounts for as much as two-thirds of all economic activity. Also the National Retail Federation expecting as much as $217 billion to be spent this holiday season.
And a lot of people talking about those recent numbers on economic growth, thinking and hoping, perhaps, it will translate into dollars at the cash register.
Here at Crate and Barrel, I'm joined by Lisa Ridolfi with some ideas.
So many things, so tough to know what to buy. Thanks for your time this morning.
LISA RIDOLFI, CRATE & BARREL: Well, thanks for stopping by Crate and Barrel. Appreciate it.
OSBORN: What is hot and what are people buying?
RIDOLFI: Well, there's all these different items we have out this holiday season, a lot involving food, food products.
And some simple things that you can get is like this gingerbread decorating kit, which is where you can bring it into the family. You can have everyone participate. Or you can give it as a nice little gift for teachers or a mailman or anyone that you think you need to get a gift to. So it's really wonderful. We also have these, which is great. We have these snowflake dish towels. And they're relatively cheap. They're $5 a piece. And you just kind of bundle them up and, boom, you have a gift right there.
OSBORN: Kind of two in one. The gingerbread walks along and he's got candy inside, right?
(CROSSTALK)
RIDOLFI: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.
Well, there's a lot of things that are out there on the market that are basically packaged and they have really wonderful gifts inside. This is called a brownie and roses. And at Crate and Barrel, we love this, because it's so delicious, the brownies inside. And then they can use it again as a gift.
OSBORN: It looks delicious. So I'll polish off the brownies, because they're in here.
RIDOLFI: I'll be doing that later also.
(LAUGHTER)
OSBORN: And you can tell me about the candles over there. They're hot this year.
(CROSSTALK)
RIDOLFI: Absolutely. Absolutely. Candles are really big.
You can see the candle back there. The actual holder for the candles, the pedestals, are selling really well. And lighting is very big for the holidays, along with red products. Anything in red, red merchandise or glassware, red ornaments, anything with that can be carried out throughout the season, but it's very, very big for the holiday season, which is just wonderful.
OSBORN: Well, and a red and white snowman here. I guess there's snacks in here, too. It's like a hidden snack everywhere, huh?
(CROSSTALK)
RIDOLFI: Yes. Chocolate-covered graham crackers.
OSBORN: OK.
RIDOLFI: Again, that's a nice food gift to give to anyone special in your family.
Here is another product that I really love. This is something I just want to show. It's this pillow, a decorative pillow. It's only $19.95. And the nice thing about this is that you can throw it anywhere. You can throw it on your couch. You can put it in your bedroom. It will just add to the holiday spirit. And it's something that you can carry out through the years, which is nice.
OSBORN: Without question. It's very colorful and looks very nice.
We thank for your expertise, Lisa Ridolfi from Crate and Barrel, with some ideas of what people might want to buy.
RIDOLFI: Thank you.
OSBORN: Catherine.
CALLAWAY: Yes, Kris, and I notice you were focusing on the food items.
(LAUGHTER)
OSBORN: Got one right here for you. I'll FedEx it. How's that?
(LAUGHTER)
CALLAWAY: All right, Kris. Thank you very much.
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 - 11:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the holiday shopping rush opened with a bang today. Retailers are hoping for a hefty haul to make up for last year.
Kris Osborn is on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, doing his part this morning.
Hello, Kris.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Good morning to you, Catherine.
It's shaping up to be a busy day here. I'm standing in Crate and Barrel, which is along the Magnificent Mile, North Michigan Avenue in Chicago. As you mentioned, very big day, referred to as Black Friday. Retailers are really hoping to bring in as much money as possible. We can give you a look around this general area, the Magnificent Mile, that is wired, you might say, by the crew here. We have got various live camera positions.
One of the things that a lot of economists are -- is -- talking about is, the customer confidence. There was a recent rise in consumer confidence. Experts will tell you consumer spending accounts for as much as two-thirds of all economic activity. Also the National Retail Federation expecting as much as $217 billion to be spent this holiday season.
And a lot of people talking about those recent numbers on economic growth, thinking and hoping, perhaps, it will translate into dollars at the cash register.
Here at Crate and Barrel, I'm joined by Lisa Ridolfi with some ideas.
So many things, so tough to know what to buy. Thanks for your time this morning.
LISA RIDOLFI, CRATE & BARREL: Well, thanks for stopping by Crate and Barrel. Appreciate it.
OSBORN: What is hot and what are people buying?
RIDOLFI: Well, there's all these different items we have out this holiday season, a lot involving food, food products.
And some simple things that you can get is like this gingerbread decorating kit, which is where you can bring it into the family. You can have everyone participate. Or you can give it as a nice little gift for teachers or a mailman or anyone that you think you need to get a gift to. So it's really wonderful. We also have these, which is great. We have these snowflake dish towels. And they're relatively cheap. They're $5 a piece. And you just kind of bundle them up and, boom, you have a gift right there.
OSBORN: Kind of two in one. The gingerbread walks along and he's got candy inside, right?
(CROSSTALK)
RIDOLFI: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.
Well, there's a lot of things that are out there on the market that are basically packaged and they have really wonderful gifts inside. This is called a brownie and roses. And at Crate and Barrel, we love this, because it's so delicious, the brownies inside. And then they can use it again as a gift.
OSBORN: It looks delicious. So I'll polish off the brownies, because they're in here.
RIDOLFI: I'll be doing that later also.
(LAUGHTER)
OSBORN: And you can tell me about the candles over there. They're hot this year.
(CROSSTALK)
RIDOLFI: Absolutely. Absolutely. Candles are really big.
You can see the candle back there. The actual holder for the candles, the pedestals, are selling really well. And lighting is very big for the holidays, along with red products. Anything in red, red merchandise or glassware, red ornaments, anything with that can be carried out throughout the season, but it's very, very big for the holiday season, which is just wonderful.
OSBORN: Well, and a red and white snowman here. I guess there's snacks in here, too. It's like a hidden snack everywhere, huh?
(CROSSTALK)
RIDOLFI: Yes. Chocolate-covered graham crackers.
OSBORN: OK.
RIDOLFI: Again, that's a nice food gift to give to anyone special in your family.
Here is another product that I really love. This is something I just want to show. It's this pillow, a decorative pillow. It's only $19.95. And the nice thing about this is that you can throw it anywhere. You can throw it on your couch. You can put it in your bedroom. It will just add to the holiday spirit. And it's something that you can carry out through the years, which is nice.
OSBORN: Without question. It's very colorful and looks very nice.
We thank for your expertise, Lisa Ridolfi from Crate and Barrel, with some ideas of what people might want to buy.
RIDOLFI: Thank you.
OSBORN: Catherine.
CALLAWAY: Yes, Kris, and I notice you were focusing on the food items.
(LAUGHTER)
OSBORN: Got one right here for you. I'll FedEx it. How's that?
(LAUGHTER)
CALLAWAY: All right, Kris. Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
