G.A. Wright Predicts Consumers Will Return to Stores for the Holidays, but Sales Won't Reach 2008 Holiday Levels.

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DENVER, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Denver-based retail consulting firm G.A. Wright Sales is predicting the holidays will be reasonably good for retailers this year, but that stores are expected to underperform compared to the same period in 2008. The company warns that storeowners should prepare for another difficult year in 2010 and a possible second dip of a "double dip" recession.

Although some economists are reporting that the recession is behind us, many retailers are still being forced to close their stores or are struggling to stay in business.

G.A. Wright President Gary Wright says that while holiday sales numbers will be a bright spot in an otherwise tough year for retail stores, "don't expect 2010 to feel much better."

With huge economic risk factors still in play, Wright predicts that recovery is still years away.

"We haven't seen the worst of housing foreclosures," he said. "Problems in the commercial real estate market are just beginning to materialize, the unemployment rate is rising and there is still very little lending taking place."

Wright recommends that retailers take advantage of the economic boost provided by healthy holiday sales to prepare for a return to harder times in 2010 by paying off debt and reassessing their options for the future. In some cases, a well-planned store-closing sale is often much more profitable than trying to sell a store outright.

"Closing sales are producing good returns in spite of the economy," he said. "Consumers looking for bargains are being attracted more easily now than when the economy was booming."

"In some cases it's actually possible to liquidate a retail store for a net profit," he added. "But, you can't wait until inventory is depleted and customer traffic has dropped off."

About G.A. Wright Sales

Denver-based G.A. Wright Sales, Inc. is the country's leading retail sales promotion and store closing consultancy, specializing in attracting crowds of customers and producing big increases in sales volume. The company's Professional High Impact Sales Events often produce two to three times the normal sales volume. G.A. Wright assists in selling all of the inventory and assets of a business quickly, safely and for more than can be obtained by selling a retail business as a going concern. For more information about G.A. Wright's services please call 303-333-4453 or email info@gawright.com.

SOURCE G.A. Wright Sales, Inc.

Copyright 2009 PR Newswire

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