Raleigh NC| Avoiding The Holiday Economic Bust Locally

Do Triangle Retailers Need More Customer Outreach?

I am notoriously anti-mall when the holiday season rolls around. It’s not that I don’t share the Christmas Cheer, but rather a self-imposed protest over the fact that malls seem to skirt past Halloween and Thanksgiving in order to cash in on the yuletide spirit.

Thus, I immediately noticed upon walking into Crabtree Valley Mall about a week ago that Santa had sent a reconnaissance team, and it came bearing tinsel.  The tinsel isn’t a problem, I was just shocked at how early the decorations seemed to go up.

WRAL’s story on potential economic woes this holiday season sheds some light on the situation. It’s safe to say that, thanks to the nation’s financial crisis, malls like Crabtree are banking on keeping holiday shopping in the limelight and stretching out the season.  This policy has met success before; Barack Obama started campaigning for the White House more than two years in advance and it has seemed to work out for him.

What area retailers might want to consider is focusing on local statistics — how the Raleigh MSA’s shoppers are faring as compared to national figures — and committing to a campaign declaring that “it’s safe to spend here.” Recent consumer confidence figures suggest that soothing fears about spending should take a high priority. The bull market starts at the micro level, and it will take some outreach on the part of our local malls and stores to get the wheels turning.  A strong message to consumers is needed, the tinsel can only do so much.

Does your company need a PR firm?  MMI Associates is a full-service public relations firm located in Raleigh, NC.  Please visit the MMI Associates website for more information.  Any questions?  Please give us a call at 919-233-6600.

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