FROM THE ALABAMA RETAIL ASSOCIATION
Alabamians like the rest of the nation have already begun their holiday shopping to ensure they can get the gifts they want and that those gifts arrive on time.
To recognize retailers’ contribution to our state’s economy and encourage Alabamians to continue to shop safely with retailers based or operating in Alabama, today is Alabama Retail Day throughout the state, Gov. Kay Ivey has declared.
Through August, Alabama’s consumers had spent about 7% more than they did in 2019, based on Alabama Revenue Department reports on all state taxed sales. That growth came despite the business disruptions caused by the current global pandemic.
Retail analysts and economists agree that this year’s holiday sales will be unchanged over holiday 2019 or grow modestly. Unchanged would be good because spending in Alabama in 2019 during the traditional holiday shopping months of November and December reached an all-time high – $13.25 billion.
For the past decade and especially the past few years, shoppers moved away from the traditional Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) holiday shopping kickoff to Black November as their cue to begin shopping. The coronavirus has given shoppers reason to start their purchasing even earlier.
Alabama’s retailers are well stocked and ready to serve their customers however they want to shop safely – in store, online, through apps or social media, delivery or pick up/curbside.
The Alabama Retail Association encourages shoppers to keep Alabama businesses open by planning to safely Shop Alabama for the Holidays now and throughout the holiday shopping season.
#KeepAlabamaOpen #ShopAlabamafortheHolidays
The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,300 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.
