Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - Retailers are dreaming of a very green Christmas, and if the early morning "Black Friday" shoppers are any indication, then store owners - be it the national big box retailers or locally-owned "mom-and-pop" stores - are going to be very happy.
An unofficial boots-on-the-ground with store managers found that "Black Friday" spending was up, in some cases by 10% or 15%.
That aligns with the National Retail Federation's projections of a holiday sales increase of slightly more than 4%.
And, even against the backdrop of increased online sales, many of those polled early Black Friday morning said they still prefer the in-store holiday shopping experience.
"Online is silly to me," said Ellis Smith, a Town of Tonawanda resident who was shopping at a Game Stop location in Amherst.
North Tonawanda's Jessica Matthews said she deliberately went to a Target store to buy a Monster Jam truck for her youngest son.
"I wanted to make sure I bought him the right one," Matthews said.
Mastercard is predicting that in-store sales may increase by 7% this holiday shopping season.
In-store shoppers may top the 81.7 million that Mastercard tracked last year. Mastercard is predicting that this year's in-store shoppers may exceed that 81.7 million mark, making it one of the strongest holiday seasons in recent years and making its way back to pre-pandemic levels.
"It is a family thing," said Amherst resident Dustin Gale. "There is something about, as a family, shopping together."
The National Retail Federation is predicting the typical U.S. shopper will spend at least $890 on gifts and presents this year.
And, 82% of those polled by the National Retail Federation said they plan to do some holiday shopping between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday (Dec. 1).
"I probably, already. blew my Christmas budget," Ellis Smith joked. "No, I know I did."