Stores in Wisconsin are bracing for big crowds on Black Friday, the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Madison-based retail consultant Doug Johnson says it was pretty dismal last year, but it seems to be picking up now. But Johnson concedes some things are just out of retailers’ control. “We’ve got to make that we don’t have bad weather. We’ve got to hope that we don’t have any kind of national or international political or other crisis,” said Johnson. “That said, there’s reason for retailers to be cautiously optimistic.”
Doug Johnson (:20) AUDIO: Doug Johnson (:20 MP3)
There are predictions nationally that sales will be down one-percent this year, but Johnson is projected a 1.8-percent increase in Wisconsin sales. “We’ve got an automotive industry that’s (seen) major problems, but there are other shiny spots, particularly through the technology sectors, that could keep Wisconsin sales figures from falling, what is predicted to happen in other states.” Total sales nationally are projected at $440 billion. “There’s still a lot of money to be spent, and in Wisconsin we get about two percent of that,” said Johnson. “In Wisconsin, we’re still looking at eight to nine billion dollars over this holiday season.”
WIBA