A survey of the Retail Merchants Association of New Hampshire (RMANH) members conducted by the Retail Merchants Association of New Hampshire (RMANH) just after the Thanksgiving shopping weekend shows many retailers were happy with holiday weekend sales.
When RMANH members were asked to compare 2008 Thanksgiving weekend sales to 2007, 53.3 percent said sales were better than or the sames as 2007. When asked if the 2008 Thanksgiving weekend holiday sales met expectations, 33 percent said yes, while 26.6 percent said that the weekend beat their expectations.
"Given the well-publicized economic challenges we are facing, we were happy to find many NH retailers had a good start to their holiday season," said Nancy Kyle, president and CEO of RMANH. "Falling gasoline prices will put more discretionary income in people's pockets for the holiday season, and encourage people in neighboring states to take advantage of NH's tax-free shopping status."
Many NH retailers (57 percent) reported that customers were cheerful and upbeat, but price conscious. Only 15 percent thought their customers behaved cautiously. When asked if they are doing anything to help increase sales, NH retailers
responded that they are advertising more, reducing prices, and introducing new products.
Items that sold well in NH over the holiday weekend included home appliances, small electronics, games, televisions, home accessories and comfort focused clothing.
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