The economy isn't at full throttle yet but New Canaans shops were chugging Saturday, as the annual Sidewalk Sales and Village Fair brought thousands of eager shoppers to the Village Center. Family Britches manager Mark Gust said this years turnout was not as high as in the past, but he and other local stores were not complaining.
It brings people to town, and gets people in the stores. Thats important, Gust said. Some of these people I havent seen in a year, so to get them back in is essential. Chamber of Commerce president Tucker Murphy said the Sidewalk sales are so important to shoppers and customers that she gets calls as early as December to confirm the dates. She estimates that 10,000 people show up each year.
If you price it right, [merchandise] will move, Murphy said. People are definitely looking for bargains. They all look forward to it. The local economy has picked up since the late spring, when stores began reporting an increase in business. But Murphy said that before this weekend, sales still werent close to where they were prior to the recession.
Aside from the uptick in customers, the Sidewalk Sales help local stores because of timing. Held the third Saturday in July, the event allows stores to get rid of their spring and summer merchaindise and make room for fall's inventory. And it gives businesses a cushion before August, a typically slow month for New Canaan stores because of travelling families and summer fatigue. The real test will be when things really start kicking in again when school starts, Murphy said. Then we can see what the fall will end up looking like.
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