Black Friday: Deals, Gifts and a Mayor
Citadel Outlets drew in a special crowd for a debut of its new wing last week. On Black Friday, the mall expects a 10 percent increase of crowds compared to its traffic on Black Friday 2009
On your mark, get ready, it’s Black Friday everybody. Shop!!!!
The traditional start of the Christmas shopping season is scheduled for this Friday, and Los Angeles City Hall and shopping center marketers are looking to wrangle every opportunity from Black Friday.
On Wednesday morning, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held a press conference at the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, and he asked L.A. residents to shop in their neighborhoods to make L.A. retailers wealthier, so the retailers can give more sales tax to support city services, such as safety and parks, during tough economic times.
Los Angeles-based Beverly Center plans to do its part to keep sales tax dollars in L.A. by offering free self-parking during Black Friday. They’ll also be offering power bars and power drinks while supplies last at the mall's "energy" lounge.
Other regional malls are offering some big sales. At Irvine Spectrum Center in Orange County, Metropark and Old Navy will offer 40 percent off storewide sales from midnight to 4 a.m. on Black Friday.
Early bird shoppers at Glendale Galleria will be rewarded with a $10 GGP Shop Etc. gift card when they make purchases of $100 or more. These shoppers can claim the gift cards at the mall’s customer service when they present same day receipts from 5 a.m. to 11a.m.
And low prices might just bring big, big crowds. Consumers typically get discounts of 25 percent to 75 percent off of retail prices at outlet centers such as Citadel Outlets in Commerce, Calif. The outlet center is expecting a 10 percent increase in Black Friday traffic said Jess Irwin-Reeves, manager of on-site media for Citadel owner Craig Realty Group. During Black Friday 2009, Citadel saw more than 54,000 people shop its stores.
Antonio Villaraigosa at Westfield Topanga
