By Ashle Briggs Horton
Source: http://edina.patch.com
Local small businesses shift focus rather than attempt to compete with big box stores on the shopping holiday.
Friday may be the biggest shopping day of the year, but for the little shops, big Black Friday expectations are left to the larger retailers.
“I don’t think you can compete with the big box stores,” said Mary Brindley, owner of Grethen House. “We do our own thing because I don’t think there’s any competing with those guys.”
Part of their own thing is looking past Black Friday to Small Business Saturday, the second annual call to support local small businesses at the start of the holiday shopping season.
Katie Egan, owner of il Vostro, said she’s excited to see what Small Business Saturday will bring. As for the much-talked-about day before, Egan expects to see those who prefer to avoid the early morning retail races.
“People go to the malls,” Egan said. “I can’t really compete with that and I don’t really want to. I’ll take the people that don’t want to go to the malls.”
The consensus among the shop owners at 50th & France is that the local boutique shopping district attracts a different kind of shopper from the type who is likely to line up outside big box stores in the middle of the night hoping to score deep discounts and giveaways.
As owner of the new stationery and design boutique Paperista, it’s Antoinette Ramos’ first Black Friday and holiday season at 50th & France.
“We’re not thinking people will come here; they’re going to the mall,” Ramos said. “I haven’t assumed it’s going to be that big of a day for me.”
That’s not necessarily the goal, anyway. For a day dedicated to moving mass amounts of merchandise, the small boutiques don’t really fit in.
“We’re such a small store, we don’t carry enough inventory that we can just blow out of it all with sales,” Ramos said.
And most patrons of small businesses are savvy enough not to expect to walk out with a free toaster at 3 a.m. Instead, they’re looking for personalized service and a more relaxed shopping experience.
“Our customers aren’t really into the gimmick,” Michael Hagie, owner of Gather, said. “Not to be elitist or snobbish, but our customers are a different demographic.”
That demographic is one that is willing to forgo doorbuster sales for a certain level of service and atmosphere. As Antoinette Ramos said, “Maybe we draw the crowds that don’t want to be in the crowds.”
The beauty of 50th & France, Michael Hagie said, is that while the shops will likely be busy on Black Friday, they won’t be overwhelmed. This will allow Hagie to offer the same level of customer service at Gather as usual, as well as free gift boxes and complimentary gift wrapping.
Of course, there are Black Friday shoppers who shop both the big box stores for deals and the small, local shops for service and unique items. Kari Shaw of Live, Laugh, Love has learned to schedule heavier in the afternoon on Black Friday to accommodate that crowd.
“What we find is in the morning we’re not very busy, but then in the afternoon on Black Friday is when the people come in because they want to have the service, they want something different, they want their purchase gift wrapped, or they want to stroll the street and go to lunch,” Shaw said.
So if the early hours of Black Friday have you exhausted, 50th & France may be your respite. Some boutiques are even offering Black Friday specials. Or maybe you’ll choose to shop on Saturday instead, supporting the new retail holiday for the locals.
Related Topics: 50th & France, Black Friday, Holiday Guide 2011, and Small Business
Source: http://edina.patch.com/articles/the-small-business-take-on-black-friday-at-50th-and-france
Source: http://edina.patch.com
Local small businesses shift focus rather than attempt to compete with big box stores on the shopping holiday.
Friday may be the biggest shopping day of the year, but for the little shops, big Black Friday expectations are left to the larger retailers.
“I don’t think you can compete with the big box stores,” said Mary Brindley, owner of Grethen House. “We do our own thing because I don’t think there’s any competing with those guys.”
Part of their own thing is looking past Black Friday to Small Business Saturday, the second annual call to support local small businesses at the start of the holiday shopping season.
Katie Egan, owner of il Vostro, said she’s excited to see what Small Business Saturday will bring. As for the much-talked-about day before, Egan expects to see those who prefer to avoid the early morning retail races.
“People go to the malls,” Egan said. “I can’t really compete with that and I don’t really want to. I’ll take the people that don’t want to go to the malls.”
The consensus among the shop owners at 50th & France is that the local boutique shopping district attracts a different kind of shopper from the type who is likely to line up outside big box stores in the middle of the night hoping to score deep discounts and giveaways.
As owner of the new stationery and design boutique Paperista, it’s Antoinette Ramos’ first Black Friday and holiday season at 50th & France.
“We’re not thinking people will come here; they’re going to the mall,” Ramos said. “I haven’t assumed it’s going to be that big of a day for me.”
That’s not necessarily the goal, anyway. For a day dedicated to moving mass amounts of merchandise, the small boutiques don’t really fit in.
“We’re such a small store, we don’t carry enough inventory that we can just blow out of it all with sales,” Ramos said.
And most patrons of small businesses are savvy enough not to expect to walk out with a free toaster at 3 a.m. Instead, they’re looking for personalized service and a more relaxed shopping experience.
“Our customers aren’t really into the gimmick,” Michael Hagie, owner of Gather, said. “Not to be elitist or snobbish, but our customers are a different demographic.”
That demographic is one that is willing to forgo doorbuster sales for a certain level of service and atmosphere. As Antoinette Ramos said, “Maybe we draw the crowds that don’t want to be in the crowds.”
The beauty of 50th & France, Michael Hagie said, is that while the shops will likely be busy on Black Friday, they won’t be overwhelmed. This will allow Hagie to offer the same level of customer service at Gather as usual, as well as free gift boxes and complimentary gift wrapping.
Of course, there are Black Friday shoppers who shop both the big box stores for deals and the small, local shops for service and unique items. Kari Shaw of Live, Laugh, Love has learned to schedule heavier in the afternoon on Black Friday to accommodate that crowd.
“What we find is in the morning we’re not very busy, but then in the afternoon on Black Friday is when the people come in because they want to have the service, they want something different, they want their purchase gift wrapped, or they want to stroll the street and go to lunch,” Shaw said.
So if the early hours of Black Friday have you exhausted, 50th & France may be your respite. Some boutiques are even offering Black Friday specials. Or maybe you’ll choose to shop on Saturday instead, supporting the new retail holiday for the locals.
Related Topics: 50th & France, Black Friday, Holiday Guide 2011, and Small Business
Source: http://edina.patch.com/articles/the-small-business-take-on-black-friday-at-50th-and-france
