Stores, Web Both Gain On Holiday Weekend

ICSC’s McGee predicts “a holiday season full of spending.”

NEW YORK CITY—Shoppers set out a plentiful table for both brick-and-mortar and online retailers over the Thanksgiving holidays, the traditional starting point for the end-of-year shopping season. The International Council of Shopping Centers reported that 105 million adults visited malls and shopping centers on Black Friday, and 75% of all shopping was captured by retailers with a physical presence—whether the shopping took place in-store or on the Web.

“Thanksgiving Weekend is a great indicator for what will be a holiday season full of spending, as we are seeing a very positive consumer sentiment and willingness to spend,” says Tom McGee, president and CEO of ICSC. “Shopping centers across the country should feel very optimistic about the season ahead. While the shopping season is longer this year, it’s not coming at the expense of the most popular shopping day of the year.”