TV sets, other electronics power holiday sales

Better-than-expected electronics sales this holiday season forced a noted consumer researcher to change his retail sales forecast for Christmas shopping, a first in 19 years of conducting holiday shopping surveys.

Britt Beemer, CEO and founder of Charleston-based America's Research Group, now says retail holiday sales will be down 1.2 percent from last year, not the 2.9 percent he predicted in November. That's more in line with the National Retail Federation's prediction of a 1 percent dip in spending.

"Electronics sales, especially flat-panel TV sets, are flying out the door this Christmas season," Beemer said. "When flat-panel TV sets hit the magic $499 price point, sales go up like a rocket. Twenty years ago, the same thing happened with VCRs when they hit $249."

Beemer's group conducts a weekly Christmas Retail Survey between Thanksgiving and Christmas to gauge what's going on in the shopping world. For the first time in over 25 years, electronics are virtually tied with toys as the top Christmas gift item, he said.

Thirty percent of consumers surveyed said they would buy electronics while 30.8 percent said toys. Last year, 23.7 percent named electronics and 33.8 percent said toys. Children's clothing sales are strong at 17.1 percent of purchases while video games slowed to 15.6 percent. Online shopping is down to 34.3 percent versus 41.3 percent last year, according to the survey.

Gift cards are still weak with only 49 percent of shoppers buying them so far this season, down from 53 percent last year. Winter apparel sales are up, with 37.6 percent of consumers buying them for themselves compared to 23 percent in 2008 and 68.6 percent buying them as gifts versus 43.1 percent last year.

In other research, his group found that consumers now consider a major purchase to be between $250 and $350, a downgrade from the traditional definition of major purchase of $500 that required consultation with a spouse or partner.

Wish fulfilled

A 5-year-old Lowcountry leukemia patient will get a send-off to Disney World today thanks to a November fundraiser through local Zaxby's restaurants. The Moncks Corner Zaxby's at 507 N. Highway 52 will host the send-off party for the boy and his family at 5 p.m.

The eight Zaxby's restaurants in the Lowcountry raised $15,255 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina during the month-long fundraiser. Last year, they raised $6,767. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Targeting trees

Target stores across the country will partner with local United Ways to donate 3,400 decorated Christmas trees Dec. 18 to 22 to families in need and to shelters, community centers and childcare programs. The trees are valued at $1.7 million through the Share-a-Tree Program.

The buzz

Kudu Coffee at 4 Vanderhorst St. has changed hands. John Saunders has sold the downtown Charleston business to Winter Fox of Charleston.

In the know? Do you know of a business that is opening, closing or expanding? Reach Warren Wise at wwise@postandcourier.com or 937-5524 or.