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Bad weather dampens sales at mall Pass closures discouraged out-of-town buyers, says the Rogue Valley retail center's marketing chief By GREG STILES Snow-clogged highways discouraged the usual crush of shoppers heading for the Rogue Valley Mall and slowed what promised to be solid start to the holiday shopping season. Interstate 5 was closed at the Siskiyou pass Nov. 28 and 30 and again on Dec. 2. Other highways to the east and Highway 199, hit by a recurring rock slide south of the state line, also have been affected. "With the mall drawing from seven surrounding counties, we depend on customers from Redding, Yreka, Brookings and Klamath Falls," said Jill Ditty, the mall's marketing manager. "As I talked to shoppers (last) Saturday they told me how they braved elements. "Between here and Klamath Falls there were whiteout conditions. Not a lot of people are willing to risk life and limb in those kind of weather conditions. "I think the drop from last year is completely weather related. I think if there were no closure on I-5 we'd have done fine." An early Thanksgiving weekend produced sales that were up 3.9 percent from 2000. But the first full week, ending Dec. 2, was down 5 percent. Monday through Thursday this week have been down 18 percent. Nationally, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported a 1.5 percent decrease Thanksgiving weekend and a 2.6 percent decline for the week ending Dec. 2 with no newer data available. Ditty said her figures don't including statistics from a couple of jewelry stores. Last year's numbers set records for sales at Rogue Valley Mall in terms of sales per square foot. The area's premier retail center has taken its hits in the past calendar year, losing anchor Montgomery Ward and now Lechters to bankruptcy and charter occupant The Movies. Nonetheless, Ditty asserts that the mall's numbers are close enough to last year that a strong finish could match or exceed last year's sales. Despite last year's grand total, sales in December 2000 were down 0.7 percent from 1999. "It's hard to say how we'll end up, because we're running just a little shy of last year as of last month," Ditty said. "With 25 percent of all retail sales made in November and December, it's absolutely possible we could exceed that." Away from the mall, local retailers have reported they're doing well in light of the recession. Pre-Sept. 11, projections remain reasonable targets, "Both locally-owned and national chain people feel like they're doing pretty well," says Brad Hicks, chief executive officer of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County. "Of course, 'well' is a relative term. Some people I talked to are having a flat year, but consider that a success in light of what's going on." Hicks said there are residual effects from the refinancing boom and the relatively strong housing market. "A lot of people don't think about this. But as the housing sector continues performing well, so have home improvement centers like Hubbard's and Lowe's." Apparel sellers are down 3 to 5 percent nationwide, but Hicks said the toy and game business has done well. "Parents are saying in spite of what's going on, they're not going to shortchange their kids," Hicks said. "That's not all to say that things haven't been much slower this year," Hicks said. "But on the whole, reports I get are really positive." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.