NORMAN — The Norman Chamber of Commerce is trying to do something about Cyber Monday this year.
While it’s not know just how much the annual online shopping extravaganza costs local merchants and the City of Norman each year, chamber officials believe it’s enough to do something about.
Chamber spokeswoman Angie Drury said the idea to combat revenues lost to Cyber Monday is relatively new and that chamber staff and members are working to put some kind of effort together.
“We’re asking local members to do some type of tax-free thing, like we do on the tax-free weekend, because a lot of times there is no sales tax or other taxes when you buy online,” Drury said. “We’re trying to keep some of those dollars here in Norman.”
Cyber Monday is the Monday right after Black Friday (which is the Friday following Thanksgiving), and for the past several years it’s been growing. A marketing tool to lure shoppers online after Black Friday, Cyber Monday attracts consumers with huge discounts that typically aren’t available the rest of the year.
This year, Cyber Monday will fall on Nov. 29, and retail analysts are expecting more growth this holiday season.
According to the National Retail Federation, nearly two-thirds of retailers are expecting online sales growth of more than 15 percent this year compared with 2009.
And many online retailers aren’t waiting to get started, the NRF said, noting that about 40 percent of online retailers began their holiday promotions right after Halloween.
“Retailers continue to see the web as a bright spot in the industry and are putting the finishing touches on new site features so their customers will have good experiences when shopping online this holiday season,” said Fiona Swerdlow, head of research for Shop.org. “In addition to using websites to bring in sales, retailers are leveraging the Internet to encourage shoppers to head to nearby stores, featuring store locator information, product availability and store circulars on their websites.”
Drury said the effort is still underway and that the chamber will post any special sales online as members agree to do something to combat Cyber Monday. She also said the chamber will release information in the coming weeks through its weekly online newsletter and on its website, www.normanchamber.com.
For more information, call the Chamber at 321-7260.
Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com
