The entire country is expected to have a very strong holiday shopping season this year, and Marion County is no exception. The National Retail Federation is expecting a 3.6% increase over 2015's numbers, with approximately $655.8 billion in sales this November and December, and that doesn't even include cars, gas or restaurants.
Furthermore, the Florida Retail Federation is predicting a 4% increase in sales over 2015, and the boost could be attributed to Florida's record low 4.8% unemployment rate, the strong tourism market here and Florida's strong housing market.
Marion County's Paddock Mall and Market Street at Heath Brook Mall are expecting a healthy holiday season and will be featuring many new stores that holiday shoppers can take advantage of, as well as special seasonal retailers, such as Hickory Farms gourmet food and gift baskets, Polar X, which offers custom holiday ornaments, Splat Ball, which customizes in novelty toys, and many more.
Shoppers in Marion County can get a head start on their holiday shopping on Thanksgiving at Paddock Mall from 6 PM to 1 AM and can further take advantage of Black Friday deals from 6 AM to 10 PM. The mall also offers a gift wrapping station, a Santa Claus station and blood drives.
The strong retail season expected in Marion County, in Florida and across the entire country definitely shows signs of a thriving economy. For more details, read the full article at Ocala.com.
