Local Retailers Keep Fingers Crossed on Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday brings sales and free shipping promotions, but for many local retailers, it shows them what to expect for their online sales this holiday season.

"Big deal for for everyone in the retail business," said Bill Ihle, executive vice president of Harry and David. "Black Friday, Cyber Monday and it goes on from there."

The holiday shopping season is in full swing but it's not just in stores. People are doing their shopping over the Internet.

"Everyone went to the mall went shopping over the weekend and may not have found particularly what they are looking for. We all have a couple of minutes and we all have computers on our desks," said Ihle.

Harry and David is offering a special promotion this Cyber Monday. 20 percent off all orders over $100.

For many retailers Cyber Monday will show them what to expect in the next few weeks.

"Really see how Monday goes it tells us how the rest of the year will go," said Murdoch.

Harry and David will put new promotions on the Internet every day and it's cutting shipping costs by 30 percent, measures they hope will get people to buy this holiday season.

Online sales make up 40 percent of sales at Gary West Meat in Jacksonville.

This year they're ramping up their efforts as well sending out e-mails every other day putting things on sale anywhere from 20 to 40 percent off.

"You have to this year consumers are nervous about economy holding on tightly to dollars taking a big of an incentive to get them to part with their money and its understandable," Murdoch said.

We also spoke to Linda Graham, the owner of Scheffel's Toys. She said they began selling their products on the Internet more than 10 years ago but says internet sales still make up less than 5 percent of what they sell.

They say they're pulling away from selling on their website and would rather create an online business card, with hopes people will find them on the internet and contact the store directly.

Harry and David says 50 percent of its sales are now conducted over the Internet. Because so many people are buying online, the company's not doing much holiday hiring this year. They need fewer people in the call center to take orders by phone.