According to Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kara Kennedy, Bradford will be lit with excitement and involvement this weekend as the “Shop local, Buy local” initiative kicks off the holiday season.
Today, especially, area businesses are gearing up for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, with a range of store sales.
“With the Christmas countdown well on its way, store owners and managers across the region are encouraging residents to shop locally for all of their holiday needs, stressing the importance of community and the abundance of gift options that may be available right around the corner,” Kennedy told The Era.
Smart shoppers know that the day after Thanksgiving is the day to score the best deals. These tips, provided by the BACC, will help local holiday shoppers find the absolute best buys this year.
Start ahead of time. Many major retailers launch their Black Friday sales as early as two weeks before the official day, according to Kennedy. Locals are encouraged to check out area businesses’ Black Friday and Small Business Saturday advertisements in stores and online.
Snag bonus discounts.If getting up at the crack of dawn is part of the thrill, many local shoppers will love the area’s trend of rewarding early birds with extra discounts, Kennedy noted.
Divide and conquer. Chances are you’ll want to hit more than one store on Black Friday. But quantities of advertised products will be limited — in some cases, as few as 10 or 20 per store. It’s fun to shop with friends, but you’re more likely to snag scarce deals if you fan out. Swap lists, divvy up the stores, stay in touch by cell phone and meet for coffee or lunch afterward.
“Make a day of it,” said Kennedy.
Shop safely — and on a budget. Carry a bag that closes securely and keep it in front of you at all times, she described. Carrying cash is a great way to stay on budget, but it’s also less secure.
Have a list of what you are looking for and a dollar figure in mind for how much you want to spend. When you’ve reached it, it’s “time to go home,” she said.
Deepen your discounts with coupons. In the past, Black Friday coupons were hefty. To find this year’s bargains, peruse local newspapers and online for printable coupons to pack in your purse.
Go prepared to rush, then “wait” — for stores across the region are going to be buzzing with activity for the better part of the day.
According to Charles Dach, owner of Singer’s Country Store in Custer City, one reason is that this area is full of antique shops, homemade products and unique items that “draw people in,” both locally and at a distance.
And Singer’s Country Store has a variety of unique “knick-knacks,” Dach continued, such as clocks, light-up music boxes, dolls and angel figurines, table toppers, ceramic elves, windchime bells, picture frames and carved wooden plaques that can be hung featuring deer, eagles, bears and a variety of other “unique” designs.
Dach also mentioned that the store holds an annual Christmas sale, in which all gift items are 20 percent off beginning on Black Friday and continuing through Christmas.
Man’s World will also be conducting a sale today, one that is the store’s “largest” markdown of the season, according to owner Mike Butler.
“For Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, all items in the store will be 25 percent off,” Butler said. “Which is a sizeable discount, especially when it applies to anything you can find in the store.”
Man’s World carries a variety of ski jackets, gloves, long underwear, long sleeved shirts, Columbia fleece coats for ladies and men, and a large collection of Bradford Owl merchandise like sweatshirts, hoodies and decals, in addition to their standard supply of dress shirts, ties, suits and slacks.
“These next three weeks are going to be very busy for local shops,” Butler added, “and that’s when most of the Christmas items are the most popular purchases. Black Friday is, and has always been, a huge day for area businesses and shoppers all around. But Small Business Saturday is becoming more and more popular, too, and I look forward to seeing that ‘shop local’ initiative really take off and add to the posterity.”
Another local shop with popular holiday gifts available is the Little Fabric Garden on Main Street, which sells a variety of fabrics, homemade quilts, travel irons and decorative kits to make different and creative crafts.
The Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe has candles, candy, figurines, decorative plates with winter themes and typical holiday items like scented soaps, perfumes and lotions available that, according to owner Nancy Graham, make “great stocking stuffers and cute little trinkets.”
In light of the beginning of hunting season, Sportsman’s Outlet offers hunting coasters, drink cups and food processing LEM and smoking materials, as well as seasonal weather gear that might just come in handy sooner rather than later.
“Especially now that we’ve got some winter weather moving in, we’re definitely going to be seeing a lot of shoppers today and Saturday with that in mind,” Butler explained. “People tend to tailor their shopping based on the need, and from the looks of the snow that’s here and has yet to come, I’d say the need for warm winter gear is going to be in full-swing today.”
Likewise, Dach noted, “If you see something you like, buy it then and there because it probably won’t be there much longer. It’s going to be a busy holiday season — starting with today.”
