Money leaves a social and environmental footprint wherever it goes. So if a company makes a habit of spilling oil in the ocean or refusing to give its employees benefits, you’re unknowingly saying “yes!” to all that by purchasing their stuff.

On the flip-side, conscious consumers are aware of all this and avoid products that do harm to or exploit humans, animals or the natural environment. They not only favor ethical products but also boycott merchandise and companies that act unscrupulously.

I never stopped by this store. While I can tell myself it was more convenient to shop at a large retailer, the truth is I didn’t stop in because I never saw any cars in the parking lot. I was uncomfortable with how both of us would feel if I browsed and didn’t make a purchase: He disappointed, me guilty.”

What do you think?

Have you ever avoided going into a store or restaurant because you felt awkward about interacting with the owner or salesperson?

This year has seen an increase in the number of shoppers from the broke years after 2008, and the L.A. Times was kind enough to interview some of the consumer warriors swarming the local malls.

Best Quotes

• “It’s cold, cold, cold, frustrating and stressful standing for five hours but you just do it. My mother-in-law put me in this spot.” – Monica Ferreira, 27, hoping for a $600 washer-dryer from Sears
• “We are in it to win it. Go hard or go home.” – Ilene Agan, 27, veteran Black Friday Shopper at Toys R Us
• “This is professional shopping for a lot of these customers, and they know exactly what they want. They plan these things, they have their routes and they make a beeline.” – Mike Boylson, Chief Marketing Officer, JCPenney
• “Maybe I’m sacrificing too much for this TV.” – Vanessa Barrera, 20, Sears

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In a struggling economy, online shopping might replace even the highest high-end stores.

• In the wake of the recession, luxury stores are forced to sell merchandise on the web.
• Selling clothes online, though less atmospheric than a downtown boutique, allows profits to go directly to the company by cutting out the costs of a store.
• Technology’s infinite possibilities has increased the number of high-end online stores, allowing boutiques to make their websites seem as impressive and exclusive as their boutique.

Facts & Figures

• In 2009, when the worldwide luxury-goods industry fell 8%, luxury sales online were forecast to grow 20%

Best Quote

“These brands are finally taking the plunge to establish an online retail presence. The recession forced these manufacturers to realize they needed to look for revenue wherever they could.” – Jeffrey Max, Chief Executive, Venda E-Commerce Sites

• Previously fragrance companies linked their perfumes to the identity of designers, then celebrities, now it’s the actual maker.
• Fashion magazines increasingly reference perfumers by name, helping drive this trend.
• Fragrances made by large manufacturers are less likely to publicize a fragrance’s creator, as they rely on a team of art directors, consultants, clients, as well as perfumers.

Facts & Figures

• Frederic Malle’s company, Editions de Parfum, was the first to celebrate perfumers by name.
• Seminars are held where perfumers meet with customers and discuss the inspiration for their fragrances.
• During the first nine months of 2009, sales of prestige fragrances were just over $1.38 billion in department stores, representing an 11% decline.

Best Quote

“Makeup did it with the makeup artist. Skin care did it with doctors. What’s happening is the fragrance industry is realizing the perfumer is the ultimate celebrity of fragrance.” – Karen Grant, Analyst at NPD Group

• More shoppers hit the stores this holiday weekend than last year, but this time they were in search of sales and small appliances.
• Department stores were a big hit, with just over half of all shoppers visiting at least one during the weekend (a 13% increase from last year!)
• Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend, attracts many shoppers to the Internet for large sales on items that did not sell as well during the weekend. Cyber Monday is an important day in sales for many e-commerce sites, but projections are lower based on the fact that many people who would normally shop during their lunch hours at work are too worried about job security to do so.

Facts & Figures

• 195 million shoppers ventured into stores during the holiday weekend, as compared with 172 million last year.
• Average spending, per consumer, dropped to $343.31 per person, down from $372.57 a year ago.
• 63.8% of shoppers shopped for themselves this year (though Black Friday is traditionally popular among gift shoppers). Also, 31.2% of shoppers were in line for stores at or before 5:00 am.

Best Quote

“During a more robust economy, people may be inclined to hit the snooze button on Black Friday, but high unemployment and a focus on price caused shoppers to visit stores early in anticipation of the best deals.” – Phil Rist, Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at BIGresearch

• Retailers have driven prices up and maintained sales during this fall by keeping inventory low and promoting a sense of exclusivity.
• Over the past year, consumers became accustomed to seeing large discounts not only at “big-box retailers” such as Walmart, but also at high-end stores such as Saks.
• Earnings are improving for large stores because they are selling more items at full price, as opposed to same amount of items at discounted prices (as in Fall / Winter 2008).

Facts & Figures

• In the fall and winter of 2008, merchandise in luxury stores was discounded as much as 50-70% off full price
• Inventory at Saks is down by double digit percentage points compared to last year
• By keeping inventory low this holiday season and playing up the exclusivity factor, retailers can keep items at their full price

Best Quote

“What’s luxury retailing about? It is about a scarcity of supply.” – Stephen I. Sadove, Chairman and Chief Executive of Saks Fifth Avenue

• Consumers at all income levels are focused on the value of their purchase and on not overspending.
• Luxury chains report shoppers buying items such as shoes and dresses, while discount stores say their consumers are focused on food and socks.
• Shoppers focused on saving in these economically tight times cannot afford to purchase items outside of the bare essentials.

Facts and Figures

• The wealthy reigned in their spending most severely during the financial meltdown last fall.
• Walmart has had to lower their prices to encourage their regular shoppers to continue buying.
• Nordstrom’s third-quarter profit rose as sales improved compared with 2009.

Best Quote

“I used to consider shopping enertainment, but now I don’t think it’s enertainment.” – Patricia Murnane, Shopper and Risk Manager from New York