Bargain hunters slowed sales on Oahu

Star-Bulletin staff

Holiday shoppers were bargain hunting in November and took longer to make gift decisions, and that was one factor in lower statewide retail sales for the month.

The statewide retail sales dropped to $1.028 billion down 3.5 percent from $1.065 billion in November, 1996, according to state Department of Taxation records.

Some merchants said the traditional burst of sales immediately following Thanksgiving did not materialize last year.

---

---

Here's a look at the major malls' results for November, the most recent month available, provided to the Star-Bulletin by the malls.

Ala Moana Center: Sales fell 10.4 percent, said Dwight Yoshimura, general manager.

The continued drop in Japanese visitors, and decline in the value of the yen, has hurt sales, Yoshimura said. All categories of stores were down for November, he added.

Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center: Sales dropped 17 percent, said Charlian Wright, marketing director.

"With the yen continuing to weaken against the U.S. dollar, visitors are staying in more economical accommodations and buying less retail items," Wright said.

The center did have increases in food sales, up 77 percent; and jewelry sales, up 19 percent.

Pearlridge Center: Business climbed 6.5 percent, said Heidi DiEugenio, marketing manager.

"Our sand sculpture (using 50 tons of sand to create an Elf's Village) really brought in the crowds," DiEugenio said.

Strong sales were recorded in: women's apparel, up 26 percent; specialty apparel, up 22.5 percent; music, records and home electronics, up 19.7 percent; and jewelry, up 15.8 percent.

A complex of three new Foot Locker stores - including separate stores for women and children - will open this spring.

The triplex concept is a first for Foot Locker in the nation, DiEugenio said.

Kahala Mall: Sales rose 4.13 percent, said Laurie Hara, events coordinator.

"We were getting the bargain shoppers for Christmas, and the stores with value pricing reported the higher sales," Hara said.

She said sales in the first few days after Thanksgiving were not a major factor in the overall sales increase at Kahala Hall.

A 30-minute concert by singer Kealii Reichel, and a promotion for the Honolulu Zoological Society, were the major attractions during November, Hara said.

Windward Mall: Sales were flat for November, said spokeswoman Wright. However, the center did see increases in personal service, up 19 percent; men's apparel, up 3 percent; and department store sales, up 3 percent.

"Part of this was due to . . . temporary tenancies during the Christmas period, increased promotions with entertainment and sidewalk sales and special merchant promotions, Wright said.