NORWICH – With Christmas only two days away, the city has come alive with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season as community members prepare for a weekend of visiting family and friends and do some last-minute shopping.

With national advertising from American Express to shop small businesses on Black Friday and the Norwich Merchants’ Association touting the services of local businesses throughout the shopping season, the push to support local merchants has really paid off, according to McLaughlin’s Department Store owner Anna McLaughlin.

“We were off to a really good start on Black Friday and we expect sales to be better than last year,” McLaughlin said. “The news makes you nervous,” she said regarding the state of the economy, “but small businesses are able to adapt.”

McLaughlin wasn’t the only local business owner to claim success this season. Frank Lananna has been selling trees on the corner of East Main and River Road for four years and said he’s done better every passing year. With more than 300 of 350 trees sold, it’s been steadily busy, said Lananna. “There’s been no big rush this year,” he said “but I get a lot of smaller spurts of business – two or three cars at a time.”

Hal Skillin, owner of Skillin’s Jewelers and Thymely Treasures Owner Susan Wood also reported an increase in sales from new and repeat customers.