Hollister
– Many local businesses enjoyed a bump in business yesterday for
Black Friday, but some shops were more successful than others.
Hollister – Many local businesses enjoyed a bump in business yesterday for Black Friday, but some shops were more successful than others.
“We’re doing well, but not as well as we usually do for the day after Thanksgiving,” said Todd Owczarzak, co-owner of Kelly’s Gift Place.
The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the biggest shopping and business days of the retail year, when bargain hunters use their extra day off work to cross as many friends and family off their shopping list as possible.
At local big-box retailer Target, it was obvious that the holiday shopping season had officially begun.
“Our parking lots have been full ever since we opened,” said Dolores Ornelas, an executive at the Hollister store. “This is usually our biggest day and we’re doing very well compared to last year.”
Downtown, however, sidewalks were all but empty and business was decidedly more modest, though shopowners said they were generally pleased with the post-Thanksgiving burst of business.
“We’re going to try and do more advertising this year, and we’re staying open late in the evenings,” Owczarzak said. “Luckily Christmas is on a Monday this year, so we’re hoping that Saturday and Sunday before will be really big, as well.”
That’s a far cry from the state of affairs in Gilroy, where the Premium Outlets mall opened at midnight to accommodate thousands of shoppers. Sales tax contributes to one-third of the City of Gilroy’s operating budget – more than $11 million annually. More than a quarter of that money comes between October and December, according to figures from the Gilroy Economic Development Corporation.
The Christmas season is crucial for local shopowners, as well, who depend on the extra revenue to carry them through slower times of the year – Owczarzak said that in the last quarter of the year he has easily doubled the business of the rest of the year combined.
“If it wasn’t for Christmas, we wouldn’t be here,” said Jeannine Porteur of Boutique de Lingerie.
For her part, Porteur said Black Friday business was “rocking,” attributing her success to deep discounts and heavy advertising.
“We sent out postcards in the mail so everyone knew what was going on and we opened at 5(am),” she said. “Our first customer had the store all to herself, but business has been steady all day. We’re doing great.”
Porteur said she wasn’t surprised that other downtown businesses were having a lackluster Friday, adding that an organized effort should be made to get shoppers downtown for the weekend and away from the big malls in Gilroy. And all business owners expressed a desire for locals to learn more about the benefits of shopping locally.
“Shopping local funds your own schools, police, fire department; you’re developing the local economy,” Owczarzak said. “You shop in Santa Clara or Gilroy, you’re supporting them.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
