Holiday weekend sales strong for local retailers

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Monday, November 26, 2007

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By JENNIFER HUFFMAN
Napa Valley Register

3 p.m.If sales are any indication, Napan’s should be enjoying some tasty home made goodies in the following weeks.

“Our bakeware is selling like mad,” said Laura Shackford Lewis, from Shackfords. “Anything in silicone is flying out.”

If there were any doubts that consumers would be shopping in full force over Black Friday, -- the day giving -- they have finally been put to rest. According to a National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, more than 147 million shoppers hit the stores on Black Friday weekend, up a solid 4.8 percent from last year.

Consumers spent an average of $347.44, down 3.5 percent from last year, but still up 14.8 percent from 2005.

At Shackfords, Lewis said that silicone bakeware is hot right now. The latest innovation in cooking has shoppers attention.

“Its flexible and heat resistant,” she said. “It comes in bright colors. You can’t burn it. It doesn’t stain.”

Silicone is also good for cluttered kitchens.

“There’s all the new collapsible silicone measuring cups, colanders, funnels. All that stuff that used to take up so much room in your drawer. It’s nice for storage.

According to Diane Shibley, co-owner of Napa Music Supply, October and early November were slower months, but “Friday and Saturday was so good, it was thrilling,” she said. I’ve already got a list started (to reorder).”

“Sunday — it was like everyone ran out of steam. I think people were just exhausted,” she said with a laugh.

Shibley said acoustic guitars, amplifiers and keyboards were strong sellers. Battery powered amplifiers with effects will be big sellers, she predicted.

At Bel Aire Plaza, construction on Whole Foods continues even as shoppers descended on the mall.

“This side of Bel Aire Plaza is a little bit isolated from the front of the center,” right now, said Copperfield’s Books manager Dave Rawson. “Even with that obstacle we did really well. We are up for the month this year over last year.”

“We’re selling a lot of everything,” he said, including non-book items like small gifts, cards, calendars, lotions and candles. New books, especially those recommended by Oprah, are popular. “If Oprah likes it, we sell out of it,” said Rawson.

Lindsay Kroll at new Main Street retailer, Cake Plate, said Friday was busy, which she partially credits to a joint fashion show with Ubuntu, Cake Plate and Betty’s Girl Boutique.

“Saturday and Sunday were busy again. I assumed most of the shoppers would be at the big stores and I think a lot of them did that in the morning and then came downtown in the afternoon,” said Kroll.

Kroll said she sold a lot of jewelry and loungewear, some in multiples for buyers to give as gifts.

“It doesn’t feel like Christmas is close yet,” said Brian Doughty with Creations by You jewelers. cq

“The weather has been beautiful, not winterish.” Doughty said locals may be waiting to make their jewelry selections in December.

“People are more or less looking,” he said. And competing with area malls can be tricky. “We wait for shoppers to do the big sales and door busters, then it calms down and we get a steady flow.”

Doughty said Hearts on Fire diamonds, John Hardy sterling silver, and H. Stern pieces are popular. “Watches are always an easy gift,” he said.

Several weeks ago an out of control car plowed through one window at the jewelry store. A plywood covered window doesn’t help business, he said. “It’s been a crazy year.”

1 comment(s)

common sense wrote on Nov 26, 2007 8:53 PM:

" Somebody should tell the Democrats...they keep saying the economic sky is falling. They're going to be very upset. "

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