SEATTLE - Early and often, it's a marketing mantra for retailers this holiday season, as many push their big-ticket items before the traditional Black Friday rush. From cashmere sweaters to keyless deadbolts, they're trying to get you excited to shop.
That's why the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce invited six major retailers -- Brook Brothers Country Club, Harry & David, Red Door Spas, Builder's Hardware, Nordstrom and Microsoft -- to showcase their holiday products at a Thursday luncheon.
And another buzz word you'll hear in retail circles this year: value.
"A designer name's, a luxury name, or someone's initials on it doesn't mean that they're going to immediately purchase that item," Nordstrom personal styling manager Sanda Belaire told the crowd of about 150 people.
Belaire said customer feedback has them stocking more useful items this holiday. Some products, though, still have attention-grabbing twists, like Clocky, an alarm clock on wheels that makes the proverbial sleep button that much harder to hit.
Microsoft marketing analysts said their strategies stem from research showing people are spending less dollars going out. They plan to push their XBox and other home- and family-oriented products this season, said senior U.S. marketing director Gunn Robison. Of course, he added, they're also expecting a very successful season in retail due to their biggest product of 2009 -- the Windows 7 operating system.
But "value" also means valuing your time, said business leaders.
"It is about making sure that we make it easy for the customer," said Jennifer Leavitt with Kemper Development , which oversees shopping centers like Bellevue Square. "They have to be able to park, they have to be able to get into the stores, and they have to have knowledgeable store help."
Customer service is crucial this year too, they said, since more shoppers are doing their homework before even stepping foot into stores.
"Depending on the research, between 70 and 90 percent of purchases that are made in retail stores start with the consumer finding our information about products online," said Robison. "There is more competition for the consumers and consumer dollars than ever."
