KOTA Territory NewsBlack Friday weekend sales down

Black Friday weekend sales down

Rachael Embler

While shoppers spent a little more on Black Friday, overall, this weekend they spent less.

 Salon Owner Emily Braumiller said Black Friday was big business.

 "Sales were definitely up this year from last year, including retail sales," she said.

 Owning a salon in the mall means she depends on those Christmas shoppers to come get a haircut and bring in the cash.

 "We're hoping to sell some gift cards, and some retail, and do some fun hair, sell some spa packages," Braumiller said.

 However, in the days after Black Friday business here is slowing.

"On Black Friday everybody was out for the deals and then it did kind of taper off especially towards Sunday, it was pretty quiet," Braumiller said.

 According to the National Retail Federation, during Black Friday weekend, the average person spent nearly $30 less than last year.

Shopper Heather Shirley said that's odd.

 "In years past it seems as soon as December hits, it seems like the mall is packed," said Shirley.

 While Shirley shopped the mall on Black Friday, she said now it's time to shop the Internet.

"We're doing a lot more shopping online because it's easy to price compare instead of driving around," she said.

 Gearing up for Cyber Monday, more than a fourth of shoppers bought online this weekend, according to the National Retail Federation.

"A lot of places are offering free shipping and deals like that," Shirley said.

 While that could be the reason business has slowed at the mall storeowners like Braumiller just hope it picks up before Christmas.

"I'll be anxious to see how that goes, if people are staying at home or if people are going to get out a little bit," she said.

Braumiller along with other local business owners have a right to be anxious, this Black Friday weekend more than 20 million Americans shopped online.