The Southland

Shopping Season Launch: Friday marks the official start of the 1994 Christmas shopping season--the make-or-break selling time for most retailers. Most Southland shopping centers are preparing for the kickoff by opening their doors at 8 a.m., two hours earlier than normal. Surveys of local consumers and retailers show they expect holiday spending to increase this year. Many retailers and some industry analysts predict that demand for apparel will surge after several years of lackluster sales.