Coast shoppers looking for high-tech and nostalgic gifts. Here’s what hot and on sale
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Shoppers use hybrid channels: in-store Black Friday, small business days and online.
- Edgewater Mall and Gulfport outlets report new openings and heavy holiday traffic.
- Consumers chase tech and nostalgia gifts: interactive toys, kitchen gadgets and classics.
Let the shopping begin, whether in person, online, Black Friday, Shop Local Saturday, Cyber Monday or any of the other ways we buy Christmas gifts these days.
How different it is from 10 years ago, when shoppers waited in long lines in the middle of the night, then charged inside the stores to fill their carts. And 20 years ago, when Hurricane Katrina had blown away so many of the favorite stores and Coast residents had to drive north or out of state to buy toys and gifts and all new decorations to replace those lost.
One thing’s the same. People are looking for bargains, and they’ll get up and go out to find them.
The best Black Friday deals, according to the financial website Wallethub, are at JCPenney, where the average discount is 74% and Belk, with an average discount is 72%.
Both stores are at Edgewater Mall in Biloxi, where mall manager Terry Powell said four new shops have opened: Mystique Boutique, Yard Stuff, Blooming Deals and Gulf Coast Motor Sports and Performance.
“National retail sales right now are up 4.3% on the year,” he said, and local sales have followed that trend. A huge crowd poured in for the first Santa and the Grinch photo sessions at the mall a few weeks ago and more are planned.
Santa is there every day through Christmas Eve, Powell said, and a bonus for shoppers is one person can take the kids to the movies or the trampoline park at the mall while the other shops.
What’s hot, what’s not
This year’s forecast is for a chilly 41 degrees at dawn on Black Friday. Despite the weather, it’s tradition for many in South Mississippi to meet up with family and friends and tackle their shopping lists together, even if they already ordered some of the deals online while the turkey was roasting.
Black Friday is a huge day for shoppers seeking the latest high-tech gift for their kids and treat themselves to cozy sweaters and new shoes at big discounts. The biggest discounts advertised are on computers and phones.
If there is a hot toy this year, it’s the Jurassic World Primal Hatch T-Rex, an interactive dinosaur that splits open the egg and is born or trained with 100 sounds and reactions. Both high-tech and nostalgic toys are at the top of many lists, with kids asking for classic Lego and newer Magna-Tiles building sets, the new Disney Stitch Puppertronic or the still popular Easy Bake Oven or Hot Wheels cars.
Two of the top gifts being advertised heavily this year are a soft ice cream maker that also turns out smoothies and slushies and pop up gift boxes that “explode” when open and make it much more fun to give or receive a gift card.
Where to shop locally
Shoppers should expect company and a festive start to the shopping season as a record 186.9 million people in the U.S. are planning to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation and National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
“Of those planning to take advantage of sales, over half say it’s because the deals are too good to pass up,” said Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategy at Prosper Insights & Analytics. “Others point to the tradition or simply say they like to start their holiday shopping during the long weekend.”
The busiest day by far will be Friday, when 70% of those surveyed said they plan to shop. There’s also a big push by the Small Business Administration to promote local stores on Small Business Saturday. Stores in Ocean Springs, Bay St, Louis and other Coast cities have gifts and services not found at the national stores — and some will gift wrap for free.
In addition to Edgewater Mall, The Promenade in D’Iberville and The Crossroads and Gulfport Premium Outlets in Gulfport will be busy this weekend and featuring big sales. HomeGoods just opened at The Crossroads, saving their fans an hour-long drive or more to their favorite shop.
Academy Sports + Outdoors stores in D’Iberville and Gulfport are featuring national brands and their own private brands, said Matt McCabe, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, including comfy slippers, boots for hikes with the whole family and sneakers to tackle a holiday road race.
The range of hot gifts at Academy this year are Ray-Ban Wayfarer Meta Sunglasses with iconic style and smart tech, Urevo Mini Walking Pad to stay active indoors, a tackle box advent calendar with 12 days of fishing surprises or Grinch Crocs that are festive and fun.
