[November 29, 2008]

Area stores say Wii among top picks: Economy isn't affecting sales

(The Dominion Post in Morgantown (WV) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 29--In spite of economic woes this season, merchants say, so far, they've been kept busy as folks shop for the holidays. Some local store managers recently discussed popular picks and bargains for gift giving.

Rick Hendrick, executive team leader at Target at University Town Centre, said no one toy has been "jumping off the shelf."

But, he said, the items that seem to be most in demand -- for adults and young people -- are Nintendo's Wii game console and "Guitar Hero" and "Guitar Hero World Tour" video games.

The Wii system costs $249.99 and, Hendrick said, that will be the same anywhere, because it's a set manufacturer's retail price.

For other items, exact prices are difficult to quote, managers said, because of the fluidity of special holiday sales.

"We're selling a lot of board games -- which is typical this time of year," Hendrick said.

Some old-fashioned favorites, such as Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Cootie and Monopoly and Clue "are always good sellers and are always in demand," he said. And most sell from between $10 and $20.

Now some of these old standards may "come with a twist," he said, by using a DVD or computer format, such as a DVD version of Clue for a little more money.

Apple to Apples, a card and party game for four to 10 players using a concept of fun comparisons, has been the most popular board game for the past two years, Hendrick said.

For little girls, he said, the Easy-Bake oven toy is a good buy at about $20 or a bit less, depending on the sale date.

At Best Buy, also in University Town Centre, general manager John Marzullo said the Wii system, "Guitar Hero" and "Guitar Hero World Tour" are also their popular gift items.

Marzullo said many Wii interactive games do more than entertain.

"Adults are using them for physical therapy," he said. "During the holidays, you're going to see a lot of sales in all the gaming categories, such as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which are big this year."

Currently, he said, the Xbox is selling from between $199.99 and $299.99, depending on the version. And the PlayStation 3 is at $399.99.

One of the top electronics doing well this season and the most popular phone, Marzullo said, is Apple's iPhone ($199.99 or $299.99, depending on the amount of memory.)

"It's very much a desired item, because it's unique," he said. "It rolls many different features into one. You can download several applications. You can go on the Internet, you can make phone calls, download music and play games."

Folks this season are still very interested in MP3 players, Marzullo said. Price ranges are wide -- from about $30-$500.

And, he said, laptop computers and flat panel televisions "are always top sellers," Marzullo said.

If you want to give folks on your holiday shopping list a gift that helps slow life's hectic modern-day pace a bit, books are still a number one gift choice that doesn't break the back, said Jennifer McCawley.

McCawley, manager at Books-A-Million in the Glenmark Centre, said, "Books do seem to be a big gift this year, because they can be reused -- they're not just a one-time gift."

She said people can get a wonderful gift for about $20-$25.

The No. 1 seller by far this season, she said, is "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. It's Beck's fictionalized story, based on his life, about a 13-yearold boy who scornfully dismisses the last gift he got from his single mother -- all she could afford -- because he wanted a bicycle instead. After she dies unexpectedly, he deals with the guilt of how he treated her and the redemption that follows, McCauley said.

She said the book's message is that giving love -- not getting -- is the most important gift.

For young adult readers, McCawley said, both "Twilight," by Stephenie Meyer, about a teenage girl and vampires; and "Brisingr," the latest in the Eragon adventure series, by Christopher Paolini, are top choices.

McCawley said another reason books are so popular is because many movies are based on them. For example, "Twilight" has recently been made into a movie.

"Many people want to read the book after they see the movie," she said. "Or some want to read it before."

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Copyright (c) 2008, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
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