Holiday shopping season good for merchants

Business Today

KENNETT -- Local merchants say they are very pleased with this holiday season's shopper turnout, making it one of the best for some.

Shopping on Christmas day was popular as many merchants raked in the bucks. Whether it was furniture, clothes or tools, store owners were busy.

"We had a good Christmas," said Wilcoxson's Home Place co-owner Gary Wilcoxson, "It started off with a big bang, then slowed down somewhere in the middle and picked back up a few days before Christmas. After-Christmas sales have been great."

Another store owner said he believed his store would be a little ahead this year.

"Our Christmas turnout was pretty good this year," said Dollins Clothing owner Holly Dollins. "I believe we're even going to be a little ahead this year."

As far as after-Christmas sales, most merchants are pleased with the shopper turnout.

"After-Christmas sales have been great," said Dollins, "We haven't had one return, but we've had four exchanges. It's unreal. I've been doing this for 31 years and that's the first time it's happened. We had 40 or 50 last year."

Compared to last year's sales, for most stores this was an above average holiday season.

"I would say this year was better. We had all of our Christmas 50 percent off, then knocked it in the head to 75 percent off and pretty much got rid of all of it," said Tony Adair of Riggs, "A lot of the stuff we had on close-out was stuff that we've had for years and years that didn't sell. And since we've got rid of that, we can come in with a new line."

Many merchants looked into changing sales strategies and for most, the change was good, especially for Dollins.

"I think adding shoes has helped me more than anything," said Dollins. "Everybody has liked my Christmas items and now they're coming in to get my after-Christmas sale items. It's been a really good season."