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.
“It feels like more people are shopping locally every day,” said Wood. Wood’s store is open for its second holiday season and has already beat last year’s sales. “I’ve been busy every day ... it’s been great news, especially for local merchants,” she said
Skillin, celebrating the store’s 90th year, stated that “it could be the best ever, really ... it’s hard to say until the smoke clears.”
Despite the news of success from many local businesses, store owners aren’t the only ones with reason to celebrate this Christmas season. They join the ranks of thousands all over the city who look forward to a day with family, hosting relatives or traveling to see loved ones. Many local residents said that family time, of course, is the greatest part of Christmas.
“It’s an honor to still visit my wife’s parents this year,” said county resident and pastor of the First Baptist Church in Earlville, Jeremy Stopford. Like so many in the area, Stopford said he and his wife, Thuvia, will be attending a church service Christmas Eve followed by a day spent with their closest family.
Edmeston resident Dave Slentz said he looks forward to Christmas because it’s the one time of year that’s easiest to get his entire family together. He added that he anticipates spending time with his son – who lives in Rochester – and his daughter, who is returning from college for the holidays.
“It’s going to be nice to spend time with family ... One thing about children: As they get older, it gets harder to get together.”