'Tis the season to be ... shopping
Ready or not, here it comes.
On Friday, consumers will officially see the start of the 2009 Christmas shopping season. According to a recent survey by the Accenture consultant firm, an estimated 52 percent of polled consumers will head to the stores on Friday, up from 42 percent last year.
The term "Black Friday" has been used since the mid-1960s to designate the Friday after Thanksgiving as the start of the Christmas shopping season. Originally referring to the heavy traffic on that day, the Black Friday term is now most commonly used to point toward the upward economic swing stores hope to see on that day.
Whatever the outlook for Friday, whatever the outcome, several Bureau County business leaders say they are ready for their customers.
Allen Gustafson, of Gustafson’s Ace Hardware in Princeton, said he’ll open the store a half hour earlier than usual on Friday, at 7 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m., for customers to take advantage of the sales.
Gustafson’s has a four-page flyer going out today, Tuesday, in the Bureau County Republican with all the specials which will be offered on Friday. Those deals cover a wide spectrum, including some tools, housewares and toys, Gustafson said.
Black Friday is typically a busier day than normal because many people have the day off work, Gustafson said. The first hour will be especially busy, but the entire day is typically busy. He’ll have the regular number of employees on hand to help customers, Gustafson said.
Looking at the impact of the Christmas shopping season, Gustafson said the hardware store provides products and services that are needed year-round. There is obviously a positive impact on the store during the Christmas holiday, but the store does not rely on the holiday season, he said.
In Walnut, Jeri Zueger, store manager for Avanti Foods, said Black Friday hours will be the same as usual for the store, from 8 a.m to 5 p.m., but the chalet store is having a holiday open house on Saturday and Sunday. There are two specials going on at the store, a red tag discount and a discount on holiday wreaths.
The holiday season is definitely a busy time for Avanti’s, Zueger said. Part-time help will come on board to help fill cheese and meat gift box orders. There’s a lot of flavored cheeses as well as the traditional cheeses that are offered.
In addition to the wide variety of cheese, meats and other food products, there are also other gift items for all ages, infants through adults, Zueger said. With the on-going struggling economy, Zueger said shoppers will probably continue to look for practical gifts, which make the cheese and meat gift boxes so popular.
At the Christmas Stable in LaMoille, owner Naomi Stuepfert isn't expecting big crowds on Friday, but said they have been busy and expect to remain busy through Christmas.
Stuepfert said they have added many new items for Christmas shoppers, including many handcrafted items, ornaments, collectibles and Nativity sets.
To accommodate Christmas shoppers, Stuepfert said they have added Saturday afternoon hours until Christmas.
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