Cooler weather sparks store traffic

SANDY PARKER REPORT, VOL. 31, ISSUE 37, NOV. 19, 2007
The following extract is reproduced with permission from Sandy Parker Reports, Weekly International Fur News. Sandy Parker has been covering the fur industry for more than four decades. For most of that time he has published a weekly newsletter, detailing results of international pelt auctions, wholesale price trends, business developments and movements in the trade, as well as economic and political activities that may impact on it.
Subscribe now and receive all the latest news, either in print or electronically. Just $150 a year for 48 issues! Sandy Parker Reports, 21219 Lago Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33433; Tel: (561) 477-3764; Fax: (561) 862-7052; SParker@SandyParker.com; www.sandyparker.com
International Fur News
with Sandy Parker
Cooler weather sparks store traffic
COOLER WEATHER IN MANY PARTS OF THE U.S. HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY AN UPTICK IN TRAFFIC through fur stores and departments, indicating good latent consumer demand if the conditions are right. But although temperatures have edged downward, such changes have not been long-lasting in some areas and neither has the business pickup. Nevertheless, many retailers have been reporting that, at mid-month, November is showing more positive signs than it did a year ago, when it wound up as a disappointment. Then, too, it was a matter of inconsistent weather conditions that caused consumers to hold off their purchases of winter outerwear until they could wear what they buy.
Considering November is the first of the four most important months for furriers, the stores are drawing encouragement following a so-far sluggish fall. And, as we went to press, the short-term forecast was for cooler weather in many parts of the U.S. The coming weekend ushers in the holiday shopping season, which is kicked off by ‘black Friday’, regarded as the biggest shopping day of the year and so named by retailers for the black ink it usually brings to their books.
IMPORTS OF FUR APPAREL INTO THE U.S., which have been declining for more than a year, continued the downtrend in September. But the double-digit monthly decreases that have characterized the decline up to now have continued to lessen, indicating retailers are nearing a point at which they feel more comfortable with their inventories. Imports from all sources in the latest month declined only 7.2% to a total of $29.8 million. This consisted of $13.9 million in mink garments, down 6.4%, and $15.9 million in other furs, off 7.9%. For the first three-quarters of the year, total imports were down 22.7% at $113.8 million.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Cooler Weather Sparks Store Traffic
November Seen Shaping Up Well
No More Bid-Rigging Indictments
3 1/2-Year Cloud Finally Is Lifted
U.S. Imports Continue to Decline
For extracts from back issues of Sandy Parker Reports see News Index. Subscribers can access an archive of complete issues at www.sandyparker.com.
-
For further information contact Fur Commission USA.
Home
© 1998-2011 Fur Commission USA