There is sunshine in Main Street. And the outlook for 2013 is promising as well.
No, we are not talking about the weather, good as it as been lately. We are talking about a current of optimism after booming Christmas sales.
It may have been the early winter chill, an expanded range of products, the friendly atmosphere, or the unique stores ... whatever the reason, shopkeepers are smiling at the start of 2013, according to a Leader survey last Thursday of several Main Street stores.
Traders are keen to thank those who splashed the cash locally and ensured tills rang a merry seasonal tune. With the New Year already eight days old, thoughts are now focusing on how to let the music play on.
So is the “shop local” campaign succeeding? Few are saying “yes” with total confidence, but hopes are high the message is being heard by more people than before.
Here are comments of business owners interviewed by the Leader.
“It was a really good Christmas season and I would like to say thank you to the people of Barrhead for shopping locally,” said Driessen.
She said table centrepieces, flowers like poinsettias and plant baskets were among the most popular items.
As usual, said Driessen, the shop received online orders from overseas, including Australia, New Zealand and the US.
“In the past we’ve had orders from India,” she added.
Driessen believed the cold weather had had a positive effect, encouraging people to explore Barrhead’s retailing gems. Some of those who visited The Flower Shoppe came from St. Albert and Stony Plain.
“Barrhead has so much to offer – it has unique stores and people are extremely friendly,” Driessen said.
“I think we did really well over Christmas – it was a little better than last year,” said Joel.
Is the “shop local” campaign working?
“I hope so,” smiled Joel, a former Chamber of Commerce secretary. She urged shoppers to seek what they want in Barrhead first, before going to the city.
It was not unusual, she said, for people to come into ACME looking for items they could not discover in Edmonton … and about half the time they would find them.
“We’ve had some exchanges this year, but not a lot of returns,” she added.
Joel said cold weather had played its part in keeping ACME busy through November and December.
Stocking stuffers were popular with shoppers, she said. Long underwear and work boots also sold well.
“We did well this year,” said Grant. “We were up in certain areas, down in others. I want to thank everybody for supporting local business.”
Grant believed early snow meant early Christmas shopping, with Fyfe’s enjoying a buoyant October, November and December.
“There wasn’t a last-minute rush,” he said.
Something that didn’t work so well for Fyfe’s were evening opening hours. For two weeks the store’s doors were open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“It didn’t pay,” said Grant. “There was simply not enough traffic in the town and we are unlikely to repeat it.”
Grant said the “shop local” campaign was being heard by those who wanted to hear it.
So does he heed the message himself?
“Yes, I do shop locally,’ he said.
“It has been a good Christmas,” said Mithaiwala. “It has been better than last year.”
This is great news, for it means the store has arrested a five-year decline in holiday sales.
Mithaiwala believed a good mix of products offered by Tru Hardware had brought in more customers.
“We have expanded our range of products,” she said, pointing out that cake decorations, cake moulds and a vast assortment of toys had particularly caught the eye of festive shoppers. “The new items have done very well.”
For example, said Mithaiwala, Furby interactive toys and Lego had been a big hit this Christmas.
Mithaiwala said Tru Hardware saw a lot of repeat customers.
“There are always people who will go to the city, and there are some people who will always shop locally,” she added.
“It has been a fantastic Christmas,” said Sawatzky, vice president of the Barrhead &District Chamber of Commerce. “It would say it was better than last year.”
Sawatzky, who took over Sanderman’s in July 2011, believed the “shop local” campaign was reaping dividends.
“I also think a better selection of products has helped us,” he said. “We made sure we had more depth in key areas.”
Sawatzky said giftware, kitchen items and toys had sold well.
While the cold weather may have boosted sales, it is not something businesses can rely on, he said. The business community, he added, had to be proactive in attracting customers.
Sawatzky said Sanderman’s would be holding a review of seasonal sales with staff before deciding what could be done to continue the momentum.
“It was slow to start with, but in the last week and half it picked up,” said Janna DeVink, whose boutique sells boy’s and girl’s clothing.
With her husband’s business – which sells blinds, awnings, rollshutters and draperies and is run from the same building – the trend was reversed because of the time it takes to order items, she said.
“In the two weeks before Christmas it slowed down,” she added.
Janna believed the growth in online shopping might explain the sluggish start to the festive season experienced by Junior Rufus, which moved to its current location in March 2012.
She said launching a Junior Rufus Facebook site featured among plans for 2013.
Another idea, she said, was a sales promotion rewarding customers who spent above a certain amount. This could be done through cards, which would be stamped after every purchase.
Janna said a Junior Rufus sign would be put up soon, advertising the store to those less familiar with it.
For those curious about the name, Rufus was the store’s mascot – a stuffed dog that would look out the front window, catching the attention of passers-by.
Sadly Rufus has since moved.
“The Christmas season has been awesome,” said MacKenzie. “It was a little bit better than last year.”
MacKenzie said customers had entered the store in spurts. One moment it would be quiet, the next extremely busy.
“We’ve had very good sales, and quite a few overseas orders,” she said.
Popular items, said MacKenzie, included table centres, Crossroads Candles and, of course, lots and lots of flowers.
Flower Lane, added MacKenzie, was now looking forward to Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day – two occasions when people say what they want to say in flowers.
Editor’s note: This was a random survey and time constraints meant that many other retail outlets were not contacted. We approached stores that were not featured in a similar 2012 survey.
