A SPECIAL REPORT: SHOPPING
BIG SPENDERS: If Thanksgiving is a time to eat, the day after is a time to shop. “It’s always one of the biggest days,” said Barbara Teuscher of The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks. “Most people have a four-day weekend.”. . . Ventura County residents spend more in December than in any other month, judging by sales tax receipts. . . . But what puts September in second place? Two things, said Mike Solomon, Ventura’s budget manager: back-to-school shopping and end-of-model-year car sales.
When We Shop
Combined monthly sales tax receipts for Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Ventura*: December: $3,580,800 September: 3,412,600 June: 3,399,600 January: 3,308,463 July: 3,210,566 March: 3,194,100
* Cities with regional malls
Source: State Board of Equalization
*
EXTRA DAY: Here’s a break: We get 29 shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year--one more than in 1992. For retailers, the longer the time between holidays, the better, said Teuscher at The Oaks. . . . In 1994 and ‘95, shoppers will get 30 days, but a late Thanksgiving will cut the 1996 season to a mere 26.
BEYOND MALLS: If you’re tired of the mall crowds, try these alternatives: gift shops at Ventura and Channel Islands harbors; downtown stores in Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Thousand Oaks, Santa Paula and Fillmore; strip shopping centers; and swap meets all over the county. . . . “There are some really unique stores downtown and at the harbor,” said Julie Lopez of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. . . . Or you can shop at home. Some mail-order companies, such as Patagonia in Ventura, guarantee pre-Christmas delivery for orders received as late as Dec. 22.
RENT-A-SHOPPER: Got more money than time? Consider hiring a professional shopper. At Your Service of Camarillo will pick up everything on your list--and do the wrapping and shipping. Cost: 20% of retail value. . . . “It’s kind of a luxury, but for some people, it’s a necessity,” professional shopper Melanie Farber said. Most customers are business people who need gifts for staff, customers and family. . . . “Some just say, ‘Here’s my budget; go buy something.’ ” So where does Farber do all that shopping? “Basically, we hit the malls. It’s hectic, but we really enjoy it.”