Retailers hope for a bountiful holiday shopping season, despite consumer worries over gas prices and the housing market. At the largest mall in the southeast, the early returns appear good for retailers on this Black Friday.
Melissa Cahill, marketing director for the Mall of Georgia 40 minutes east of Atlanta, was excited by the early crowds.
"It seems to be much stronger this year. We’ve seen a lot heavier crowds earlier this year than last year".
The facility opened before dawn today, and Cahill says the mall’s parking lots were 75-percent full by 7 o’clock.
Many retailers have been offering special deals to shoppers weeks ahead of today. She gauges the mood of retailers at this mall as good.
"I think pretty optimistic…the traffic has been pretty constant for the last couple of weeks. Everybody’s been looking forward to today, and it looks like it’s panning out very well for us".
Cahill expect strong crowds at the nearly 200-store Mall of Georgia through the weekend.
Melissa Cahill, marketing director for the Mall of Georgia 40 minutes east of Atlanta, was excited by the early crowds.
"It seems to be much stronger this year. We’ve seen a lot heavier crowds earlier this year than last year".
The facility opened before dawn today, and Cahill says the mall’s parking lots were 75-percent full by 7 o’clock.
Many retailers have been offering special deals to shoppers weeks ahead of today. She gauges the mood of retailers at this mall as good.
"I think pretty optimistic…the traffic has been pretty constant for the last couple of weeks. Everybody’s been looking forward to today, and it looks like it’s panning out very well for us".
Cahill expect strong crowds at the nearly 200-store Mall of Georgia through the weekend.
