Black Friday came a little bit later in 2008 for local malls.
Fashion Island was bustling the Friday after Christmas, which stood in contrast to the number of shoppers at the mall the day after Thanksgiving,usually one of the best shopping days of the year.
On Dec. 26, families dressed in their holiday best were posing beneath the giant tree for photos and filling shopping bags with sale items.
Even the Apple store, which offered no discounts, was jammed.
Bigger than usual post-Christmas shopping was part of a national trend, as money-conscious consumers were waiting for retailers’ lowest prices.
Retailers are hoping the post-Christmas showing puts them in the black for the year.
Retail Bailout
Washington, D.C.-based National Retail Federation, the largest retail trade group, has joined a long line of business sectors asking for assistance from President-elect Barack Obama.
In a letter, it requested a series of sales-tax-free shopping days in March, July and October for a total of 30 days. Retail executives making the request on behalf of the group include J.C. Penney Co. Chief Executive Myron Ullman, who also chairs the National Retail Federation; Philip Francis, chief executive of PetSmart Inc.; and Stephen Sadove, chief executive of Saks Inc.
“The situation is critical,” the letter said.
The group estimates that its proposal could save shoppers $20 billion, or nearly $175 for the average family. The group also says the sales tax holiday would help support 25 million retail jobs.
Best Retail Web Sites
Irvine-based Ritz Interactive Inc. was named as one of Internet Retailer’s 2009 Hot 100 Best Retail Web Sites.
The e-commerce company includes RitzCamera.com, WolfCamera.com and Boater-World.com.
Other Orange County-based retailers on that list included Aliso Viejo-based Buy.com Inc., Huntington Beach-based Quiksilver Inc.’s Roxy, Vans Inc. of Cypress and Foothill Ranch-based Wet Seal Inc.
Auto Registrations
Auto registrations, a barometer of sales, dropped a steep 42% to 6,348 in OC in November from a year earlier, on the heels of a 40% drop in October.
OC was hit harder than the rest of the nation, which saw a 37% slide in November, according to the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, based in Costa Mesa.
Every brand saw double digit declines, except for Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Mini Cooper and Subaru, which saw increases.
Mini Cooper had the biggest percentage increase for the month, up 16% to 79 autos.
Hyundai registrations were up by one auto to 202. Jaguar had 28 registrations, up 8%.
Kia had 26 registrations, up 8%. Subaru was up 12% to 56 autos. Volkswagen dropped slightly to 165 autos.
Of the luxury brands, Lexus took the biggest hit. Lexus registrations were down 43% to 337. Mercedes-Benz was down 38% to 456 and BMW was down 17% to 452 autos.
Domestic automakers,GMC, Ford and Chevrolet,were down 55%.
Japanese brands, such as Toyota and Mitsubishi, were down 40%. European brands, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz, were down 28%. South Korean brands Hyundai and Kia were down 1%.
Since Hummer sells so few automobiles in OC, its numbers took a big percentage hit for 2008 through November, down 55%. For the month of November, Hummer registrations were off 90% to four autos.
Kia, up 94%, saw the biggest percent increase in registrations for the year through November. Kia was followed by Jaguar, up 22% for the year through November. Mini Cooper was up 19%. Volkswagen was up 13%. Subaru was up 12%. Hyundai was up 2%.
The rest of the brands saw decreases in auto registrations for the year through November.
New Dealership
Rolls Royce Motorcars of Newport Beach has opened its dealership on Campus Drive across from John Wayne Airport.
The dealership recently moved from its high profile digs on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. That space has yet to be leased.
Correction
Buena Park Downtown’s revenue for the 12-month period ending June 2008 was $170 million, down 1% from $172.4 million for the same 12-month period a year earlier, according to Sung Hyun, director of finance for the city of Buena Park.
The mall’s percentage decline was misstated in the Dec. 8 issue and our 2009 Book of Lists. The revenue puts the mall at No. 16 on our list, ahead of The Block at Orange, with $153.7 million in revenue.
The $80 million sales figure in the 2009 Book of Lists is for the first six months of 2008.
