Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - N.D. shoppers pour into stores

N.D. shoppers pour into stores

Nov 29, 2008 - 04:06:18 CST

By BLAKE NICHOLSON
Associated Press Writer

North Dakota shoppers poured into the stores early on the day after Thanksgiving, many of them with few worries about the leaner financial times around the country.

"Nope. Not here. Not unless oil falls below $40 a barrel," said Heather Bashus, 36, of Bismarck, as she waited in line at an Old Navy store shortly after 4 a.m. Friday, hoping to nab one of the free MP3 players the store was giving away. "We're kind of in our own insulated bubble here."

Nationally, retailers are wary of what the dismal economic outlook will mean for the holiday shopping season. But in North Dakota, the economy has been buoyed by an oil boom in the western part of the state and a couple of good years in agriculture, and not bothered much by the subprime mortgage mess. State lawmakers expect to convene in January with a record budget surplus of more than $1 billion.

North Dakota State University student Matt Rothschiller, 21, of Bismarck, who joked that "my older sister" was the reason he was out shopping in the early morning hours Friday, was aware of the larger financial picture.

"But I'm still a college student," he said. "It's not really going to stop me from coming out and buying what I want, or what other people want (for gifts)."

Black Friday, named because it was often the sales-packed day when retailers would become profitable for the year, is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. While it isn't a predictor of holiday season sales, the day after Thanksgiving is an important barometer of people's willingness to spend.

Brooke Wiedrich, 24, of Mandan, who was one of the first shoppers inside a Bismarck Kohl's store when it opened at 4 a.m. Friday, said she has a friend who lost a job recently, and she expects to spend a little less this year on Christmas gifts.

"That's why I'm out looking for the better deals," she said as she loaded packages into her car in the parking lot on a frosty morning with the temperature in the teens.

Mike Rud, president of the North Dakota Retail Association, said he expects holiday sales in the state this year to be up 2 percent to 3 percent over last year, compared with a predicted 1 percent rise nationally.

"I'm kind of hoping North Dakota can buck the trend and have a good shopping season," he said.

"I think you're going to see a lot of practical shopping," Rud said. "I think you're going to see people buying clothes for kids ... TVs, microwaves selling as 'family' gifts. More practical items. Something they need rather than something they really want."

North Dakota has not been untouched by the larger economic problems. Cirrus Design Corp. in Grand Forks, PrimeWood Inc. in Wahpeton, Pugsley's in Devils Lake, Integreon Managed Solutions in Fargo and JLG Industries Inc. in Oakes have announced layoffs in recent months, and Bobcat Co. is offering buyouts to workers in Bismarck and West Fargo.

But mall managers across the state have reported strong sales, despite the gloomy national financial scene. And industry officials say that while shoppers are likely to be cautious, that doesn't mean they won't spend.

Spending is what Amanda Fulliam, 30, of Bismarck, had in mind as she waited in lines at Old Navy and Herberger's on Friday.

"Get the deals!" she said. "C'mon, man!"

News > State

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Comments

Stayed Home wrote on Dec 5, 2008 8:20 AM:

" Now if there were that many people lined up on a Sunday Morning to get into church to hear the Good News, chances are Black Friday would become just a normal day. People would hear the real meaning of Christmas and probably not be so interested in saving a few bucks. This Black Friday is something I have never been a part of and never intend to be. It has gotten way out of hand and I think the media as a whole has blown it all out of proportion. Every year we have to hear how the stores will do way before that Friday and now we have to hear how they have done up until Christmas. It's the same every year and gets a little redundent. I do own a business, not retail, but do have my busy times and we get no attention at all. Doesn't bother me one bit. I'm here to make a living, not become so greedy that I forget the focus of my business. Have a Merry Christmas, everyone. "

harpua wrote on Dec 4, 2008 11:48 AM:

" I can't wait to see what happens when the credit card bills start rollin' in for the people that stormed the gates of Wal Mart, it's gonna be a heckuva shopping hangover. "

To Facts wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:50 PM:

" Is your ice cream too cold too? "

Facts wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:34 PM:

" N.D. shoppers pour into stores? I thought the Democrats told us that the sky was falling and Bush was to blame for this economic disaster? What a joke these politicians are! And now Obama is thinking twice about eliminating the Bush tax cuts. Barack talks a big game but he is just another empty suit with no common sense! Fools come rushing in!!! "

HeatherB wrote on Dec 2, 2008 5:38 PM:

" LOCALLY owned, We sell Office Equipment in Minot, Jamestown, Dickinson and Bismarck all locations are B&M stores. "

Hate Shopping wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:34 PM:

" Where do you sell high ticket items? Do you have a website, or B&M store? "

HeatherB wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:26 PM:

" Biff: I am well aware of what could happen if the bubble bursts. I have never been more happy to live in ND than I am now. I sell high ticket items for a living and pulled in record sales this year! Things are starting to slow a bit because consumer confidence is low. Somebody needed to say something positive. All you hear is gloom & doom! We had the for thought to cut up our credit cards last year and only buy things if we have the cash! I budgeted for my Xmas spending withdrew it from my savings and had a ball spending it! My sister and I saved about $500 on the black friday deals! "

Heather wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:11 PM:

" To Biff: I understand that ND may also face some hardships in the future. Oil is at $48 a barrel, gets much lower and we may start to see a hole form in our little bubble. I sell high ticket items for a living and I have had record sales this year! Things are slowing down a little though because people are scared. All they ever see in the papers or on TV is gloom & doom. I have never been so happy to live in ND than I am now. As far as spending beyond my budget. I cut up all my credit cards last year! I saved for my Xmas spending. (cash is king!) My sister and I saved about $500 together getting the good deals on black Friday. "

Cindyloo wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:41 AM:

" A few years ago, I found I decided I wanted to buy a home, but needed more money for the downpayment. I got a second job; a part time job. I still have it. That extra money is nice for Christmas shopping, vacations, etc.

For those who are interested, there are part time jobs out there. Even working one for a few months can hopefully help. "

Hate Shopping wrote on Dec 2, 2008 5:57 AM:

" I don't understand the craze of waiting in line in the middle of the night...just to save a couple bucks. Anyone ever heard of ONLINE SHOPPING? It is this *nifty* deal where you can sit in your warm cozy pj's, and shop to your hearts content. No parking wars, no shoving & pushing, no waiting in lines...AND the stuff you order comes right to your house! Imagine that...

Get with the times, folks = ) "

to a reader not broke either wrote on Nov 30, 2008 7:10 PM:

" It's great you don't have the debt and well paying jobs, I have a decent paying job and have been laid off over the holidays. I used to think my job was above this economy problem this country has been facing.
To others reading this, please remember to put some change into the bell ringers for the Salvation Army. They are going to need more help this year than ever!!!
Thanks & Merry Christmas!!! "

Not Broke Either wrote on Nov 30, 2008 5:27 PM:

" To Whatever - I totally agree with you - what I am trying to get across is that not every single person is broke and unemployed. The media seems to make it sounds that way. I'm not bragging - I do feel bad for the people who are not as fortunate but come on media - show both sides. "

Whatever wrote on Nov 30, 2008 9:58 AM:

" To Reader and Not Broke Either
I am glad to hear that you have been blessed with a good jobs, a strong financial background, and no worries this holiday season. How would your family be fairing this season if that good job was no longer there? I think the point is that ND is not safe from the economic hardships that are going on around the country and no one's job is safe.
God Bless and I pray that everyone's jobs are safe. "

To The Point wrote on Nov 29, 2008 5:41 PM:

" My dogs are more civil than those savage animals. "

The Point wrote on Nov 29, 2008 4:47 PM:

" Was anyone else as equally disturbed about the Wal Mart worker in NY that was trampeled to death by crazy shoppers? Can you imagine? That guy went to work yesterday morning, hoping to make a few bucks, get through his shift and go home. But he won't be going home because people think that posessions are more important than this human's life. I've heard some pretty sick things in my life, but this story got to me. Think about it... dude was simply minding his own business and next thing he knows, he's dead. Pretty sad. "

Not Broke Either wrote on Nov 29, 2008 4:44 PM:

" I agree with you "A Reader". Some of these bloggers post over and over about how they have no money -well a lot of us aren't in that position (thank god) and were out shopping heartily.

We need to let people know that not everyone is broke and not shopping. And there is no credit card debt in this household either. It's called good money management. "

A reader wrote on Nov 29, 2008 3:30 PM:

" Talk about the bisman negative bloggers! Not all of us are living pay check to pay check, with tons of credit card debt. I went out shopping Thursday morning, as many people did. I can afford to spend some money during the holidays, and have a decent job, no debt, and wise spending habits to back it up. Merry Christmas! "

anon wrote on Nov 29, 2008 1:42 PM:

" what happened to the real door busters, like $5 cases of oil and toilet paper? I don't have thousands of dollars to spend on electronics that probably won't even last a year. The best deals I saw this year were $4 pajama pants and $20 sheets, which were all gone in the blink of an eye anyway. "

Biff Malibu wrote on Nov 29, 2008 12:37 PM:

" I think Heather Bashus and a lot of other people need to understand that this "insulated bubble" is not going to last around here. It seems we are behind national trends by a year, two years tops. The housing market around here is slowing and prices are dropping, despite what realtors tell people. Everything else will catch up with us around here within a year. I hope people will have the forethought to plan ahead a little bit instead of just living in the "now". A little caution wouldn't hurt some people who are out spending beyond budgets. "

Am I alone wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:34 AM:

" I can't figure out where all the money is supposed to come from? This year is no different than any others. I know that I am not alone since I didn't partake in the CRAZY day after Thanksgiving shopping! Never have the money and have not pretended to have it with credit cards. That's the problem. It's such a frenzy that people do it just to SAY they were a part of it! With our economy in the plunge - I'm being very conservative because I don't have money to throw away either. All the tips on how to save money - PLEASE ... this is how many of us live our lives EVERY day and are not asking for bailouts from anyone!! Just being responsible for our debt! "

Ant wrote on Nov 29, 2008 9:32 AM:

" I only went to the Supermarket to buy a few things I needed. You could not have dragged me into a big box store or any other store yesterday. I am cutting way back on all Christmas gifts, even eliminating some. My savings account is far more important than getting trampled and shoved around and helping some big box store get out of the red. I plan on being an ant; the grasshoppers can waste and fiddle their money away. "

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