Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end to summer and the summer shopping season. While some retailers are closing up shop and taking advantage of the long holiday weekend, others are enticing bargain shoppers to show up and help them clear out summer inventory.

A recent Kelton survey shows that one in three people plan to shop this weekend, spending an average of $144, while a U.S. Travel Association survey projects every American traveling over the Labor Day weekend will spend $380 on goods and services. Retail stores across all categories are offering various discounts this weekend, but the biggest deals will be on all things relating to warm weather. Shoppers can reap anywhere from 20 percent to 80 percent savings on summer clothing and shoes, swimwear, grills, patio furniture and tailgate gear.

The owner of Alabama Retail Association member business La-Z-Boy  Furniture Galleries in Mobile says they’re running several Labor Day specials. “Being so close to the beach, there is a lot of competition for our customers on the Gulf Coast during Labor Day weekend,” said David Marks. “Our customers will probably be in their cars a lot, so we will try to reach them by radio and offer them reasons to turn around and visit us.” Marks and his team say they have adopted a beach and surfing theme to tie-in their Labor Day advertising.

Electronics and major home appliances also top the list of Labor Day discounts.

“We’re open on Labor Day. It’s a busy weekend for us,” said Michael Cohen of Cohens Appliances and Electronics in Montgomery. “We’ve slashed prices on some of our surround sound systems by 50 percent, and we also have a sale on our curved Samsung TVs.”

This weekend also coincides with the end of back-to-school shopping sales, so shoppers can expect even further discounts on those items along with flowers and plants, as nurseries prepare for the cold weather months.

Celebrated the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions American workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.

The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Our 4,000 independent merchant and national company members sell food, clothing, furniture and other general merchandise at more than 6,000 locations throughout Alabama. Since 1943, it has been the goal of the Alabama Retail Association to serve its members and promote what is best for the retailing industry in the state of Alabama.

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