Holiday Retail Numbers Look Good
With just days to go in the holiday shopping season, the Lansing Mall has nothing but good news to report when it comes to this season's shopper turnout. Overall the mall says it's seen some double digit increases in some shopping categories. With just days left until Christmas, the mall says it couldn't be happier with this year's turnout. The early numbers are in and they're better than expected, especially for a new mall store. It moved from a small kiosk to another location in November.
Ray Jackson, Kingdom Dreams: "We probably saw more traffic in a week than we saw out there in a month, and it's been that kind of traffic and that kind of support." Apparel sales are up 17% and Jackson has definitely seen the same in his store. Ray Jackson: "It's been going fantastic, phenomenal. We've exceeded our expectations already. It's just been wonderful."
Jewelry sales are also up 25%.Randy Zimmerman, Lansing Mall Senior Manager: "Jewelry is considered a luxury item, so when you see an uptick, or a double digit uptick in the jewelry category, that's a pretty good indicator, you know, that people are spending money, loosening up a little bit."

And more people are staying at the mall to eat. Restaurant traffic is up eight percent. All this good news leaves retailers hopeful as they wind down the holiday rush.

Randy Zimmerman: "I think, with the local economy, I think it's a good sign that we're seeing the retail business uptick the way we are. I think the retailers are a lot more optimistic than they were say a year and a half, two years ago."

The mall manager says he thinks this year's holiday turnout shows they've turned a corner, so he's expecting these increased retail sales will continue in the new year.