Posted on: Monday, December 27, 2004
Wily shoppers go for day-after bargains
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
Veteran shopper Rhonda Aduha knows the pitfalls of post-holiday shopping and yesterday she decided to bring her daughter, Kamomilani, to Kahala Mall as backup.
Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser Kamomilani Aduha, a 29-year-old nurse who lives in Moanalua, said activity at the mall, which opened at 9 a.m., was a little hectic at first but quickly calmed down.
"We're getting ready for next year," she said. "That's the whole point of shopping today."
The Aduhas joined many other O'ahu residents yesterday who took advantage of drastically cut prices at stores on what has been the third-busiest shopping day of the year.
Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser With children eager to spend Christmas money and parents ready to return gifts, entire families traveled to Kahala Mall yesterday for one more day of shopping. Diligent shoppers knew a good deal when they saw one.
"Wrapping paper. Christmas things are 50 percent off, that's why (I'm here)," said Grace Tamaye, a Wai'alae Iki resident who was shopping and exchanging gifts with her husband, two sons and a nephew. "He's (her husband) along to baby-sit."
Calvin Tamaye, 44, who owns Ace Autoglass, said his wife planned the shopping expedition a month in advance, pre-empting any tee times or kickoffs that might get in the way.
Top five shopping days nationwide in 2003, accounting for 15.4 percent of retail sales that year:
1. Friday, Nov. 28
2. Saturday, Dec. 20
3. Friday, Dec. 26
5. Saturday, Dec. 13
Source: www.shoppertrak.com Kahala Mall retailers said there was no post-Christmas mob scene and that shoppers were polite.
Store gift cards encouraged many to hit stores to hunt for low after-Christmas prices.
"It's a two-edged sword. It's (the gift card) worth 20 bucks but everything these guys (his two kids) want is in the $30 to $50 range so it's costing me money out of pocket," said Steve Koehler of San Jose, Calif.
Koehler was shopping with 8-year-old daughter Michelle and 10-year-old son Billy.
According to the National Retail Federation, shoppers would spend a projected $17.24 billion on gift cards this season, or roughly 8 percent of holiday sales.
Emily Wisniewski and Alix Camp, 14-year-old freshmen at Punahou School, walked to the mall from their Kahala homes yesterday to browse and spend money.
"There're usually great sales right after Christmas," said Wisniewski.
Robert Trent, a 41-year-old Bank of Hawaii employee who lives in Hawai'i Kai, brought his entire family to the mall yesterday because each person needed to do something different. Trent's wife wanted to return some clothes, and his kids wanted to buy a remote-control race car from Radio Shack.
"We all went together because it works out better that way," he said. "Usually, I fear this."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
"I'm teaching my daughter how to beat the crowds," said Aduha, a Big Island resident who was at the mall at 7 a.m. yesterday, two hours before it opened. "When I have to pay high prices in Kamuela, you come to Kahala Mall."
Eight-year-old Dori-lei Chee, left, and her brother, Derwin, 5, look at stuffed Santas at Hallmark in Kahala Mall. The Chees came from Pacific Heights to take advantage of the mall's after-Christmas sales. The price of the Santas was reduced 40 percent.
According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, the seven-day period ending Dec. 27, 2003 accounted for 20.6 percent of holiday sales that year, up from 19.6 percent in 2002. Buying stayed hot the following week, too, with the seven-day period ending Jan. 3, 2003 accounting for 14.1 percent of holiday sales.
Melanie Kodama of Honolulu came to make an exchange at T&C in Kahala Mall the day after Christmas.
"I'm along to carry the bags," he said, hands full.
Busiest days
. Tuesday, Dec. 23
