‘O Power Tools’
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‘O Power Tools’
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MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: Father’s day is this weekend. I’m looking forward to my new plasma flat screen HDTV . . . yeah right. All this attention on dads is giving retailers something to sing about. Marketplace’s Charla Bear explains.
CHARLA BEAR: When it comes to retail sales, Father’s Day is in the junior leagues. It ranks sixth out of nine in holiday sales volume, just above the Super Bowl.
But this year, retailers are hoping to make Dear Old Dad a reason to spend.
Sears has sent caroling men to malls to give Father’s Day the retail cachet of Christmas. And Home Depot dubbed itself the Proud Sponsor of Father’s Day.
Retail expert Richard Feinberg says the push is part of a larger effort by retailers to fight the pull of online shopping.
RICHARD FEINBERG: They have to put more and more money into trying to get customers to come into the store. It’s not guaranteed they’re going to come visit you again.
Still, no matter where we shop for Dad, Father’s Day sales are expected to grow almost 9%.
In Los Angeles, I’m Charla Bear for Marketplace.
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