YAKIMA, Wash. -- Good morning.

I’m back after spending a few hours checking out shopping activity throughout Yakima and Union Gap.  For those who missed it, you can check out the updates I made on Twitter.

But here are a few things to note:

• Many shoppers had a list. And they only bought the things that were on that list. Several shoppers I interviewed this morning seemed very focused. For some shoppers that list was short — a 32” inch television at Walmart for $248 or a pair of $15 jeans at Old Navy. And those who had longer lists were out to finish their Christmas shopping within several hours.
Most shoppers I talked to told me they planned on spending less or the same. And those who planned on spending the same seem determined to get more out of the same amount of money.

• Speaking of Old Navy, what was up with the lines? The clothing retailer still had a line outside the store at around 7 a.m., nearly four hours after they first opened. And the waiting didn’t end once you got inside. The line for the registered extended all the way to the back of the store and looped around to the opposite side of the building.
And there were reports of long lines at Best Buy and Kmart.

• Such huge crowds, however, seem to be the exception, not the rule. Several shoppers at Fred Meyer commented how the line there seem shorter this year when compared to last year. Other shoppers noted that the crowds at other stores in the Valley were not as big as they anticipated. Indeed while Walmart and the Valley Mall seemed crowded, it felt more like an early morning version of a typical weekend sale then the chaos that most shoppers expected.

I plan on following up with retailers early next week to find out how the entire shopping weekend went. Also look for national data from the National Retail Federation to come on Sunday.
Until then, check back later today for the usual Holiday Friday entry.

-- Mai Hoang

Reach blogger Mai Hoang at mhoang@yakimaherald.com or by commenting on this entry.
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