Retailers optimistic about holiday shopping - Hannibal, MO - Hannibal Courier-Post

  Audrey Reeder is every retailer’s dream.

   She’s been Christmas shopping since the flowers first bloomed and the lightning bugs began to shine.

   “I shopped all year long,” Reeder said after a gift-buying trip to Hannibal earlier this week. “When I saw something on sale, I bought it.”

   While most Americans say they’ll spend about the same as they did last year, retail sales are expected to climb slightly.

   After two holiday seasons of tepidness, buyers seem a bit more optimistic. And many retailers base their confidence on shoppers who’ve acted just like Reeder – spending a little here and there.

   “We’ve got people Christmas shopping earlier than usual,” said Julie Rolsen, owner of Main Street Kitchen in downtown Hannibal.

   “We’ve already seen more spending,” agreed Lisa Irvine, manager of Bath & Body Works in Hannibal. “People are wanting the sales.”

   Many cite lower unemployment and a more timely harvest for turning attitudes. Last year, jobless rates were in double digits and a lot of farmers didn’t get some crops out because of wet conditions.

   National surveys have shown that one-third of Americans started Christmas shopping in August and that more than four of every 10 women had bought a gift by October.

   “People are spending money,” said Michael O’Cheltree, owner of Native American Trading Co. and president of the Historic Hannibal Marketing Council. “The people who’ve been holding on to it are starting to spend it again. There is discretional money out there.”

   Retailers are doing more than ever to lure cost-savvy shoppers. They’re opening store doors earlier, printing more coupons and offering deep discounts on items that have never been on the sales rack before.

   JC Penney in Hannibal is offering what it calls “door-buster” price reductions on more than 300 items Friday.

   “We have a lot of good deals to bring customers in,” said JC Penney Manager Jason Friedel. “The whole idea of the door-busters is to draw customers in, but there’ll be other merchandise that they pick up.”

   Smaller retailers are competing with big box stores by offering unsurpassed customer service. Many will even refer patrons to a shop down the street if they can’t provide a gift. Try finding that at a superstore, Rolsen says.

   O’Cheltree believes Hannibal also has an advantage over larger communities because it has more of the mom and pop outfits that offer unique gifts.

   “We’ve got a lot of different stuff here,” he said.

   Amanda Krajewski had yet to start her holiday shopping, but planned to start working through the list this weekend.

   “I’m a last-minute person,” Krajewski admitted.