Kitsap Mall: Traffic down, gift cards up
June 11, 2008 · Updated 2:16 PM
Kitsap Mall saw less holiday shoppers this season, but higher sales of its gift cards.
The mall saw a 4 percent slump in traffic numbers, but a 28 percent spike in mall gift cards, according to Stacey Ames, spokeswoman for Kitsap Mall.
They are the number one gift this year, Ames said, without a doubt. Its crazy how many gift cards weve sold.
She attributes the rise in gift card sales not only to promotion, but also because of the simple fact that they are easy to get and easy to give.
People are more accepting of gift cards, Ames said. Its like two gifts in one, you get a gift and you get to shop.
But just because more gift cards have been sold, doesnt mean there have been more people strolling in the mall.
Although the exact reason for lower traffic numbers cant be pinpointed, Ames speculates there may be many reasons including the fact that ski resorts are open this year and they werent last year.
Also, more shoppers may be turning to their computers instead of heading to local malls.
By Dec. 5, online shoppers had already spent 24 percent more during this holiday season than last year, according to national statistics from www.computerworld.com.
And not only has Kitsap Mall seen lower traffic numbers, but so has the malls Santa Claus.
Although the busy pre-holiday shopping season has now passed, Ames expects to
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