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CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. Most small business in Croton and Cortlandt will not be opening at midnight on Thanksgiving, like big box retailers, but will extend hours or offer special deals to entice shoppers on Black Friday. Many have purchased more low-priced items, and are steering away from expensive holiday gifts.
We have a lot of gifts that are $20 and under, all kinds of fun gifts. So we do understand that people dont have as much money to spend. So were trying to get great items in at lower prices. Its hard, but were trying our best, said Lisa Parmeggio, co-owner of Groovy on Grand in Croton. Groovy on Grand retails gifts for young girls and tweens, and also offers design workshops.
Retailers can expect a very average holiday shopping season, according to figures released by the National Retail Federation. While economists at the National Retail Federation expect consumers to spend about $465.6 billion in November and December, the actual growth from last year is only about 2.8 percent, which falls squarely in the middle of a 10-year average.
The NRF says retailers are relying on a combination of great bargains and low inventory levels to draw shoppers in, despite discouraging factors, like an erratic stock market and persistent high unemployment.
We started very high end, and we have adjusted to the market and the economy. When we first opened two years ago, we had very high end childrens, and we noticed there tweens were going right to the extra small juniors, and the moms were starting to shop as well, said Rosie Salas, owner of Its SWAK (Sealed With a Kiss) in Montrose.
We try to buy three items, small, medium and large, so your neighbor wont have the same thing, she said. To compete with big box stores, Its SWAK stocks hand-crafted ponchos and capes that larger retailers cant carry.
Groovy on Grand designs much of its inventory, and also offers design classes and workshops for tweens. The workshops comprise a large part of the business, which initially started out as just a retail shop.
Both shops are open on Black Friday. Its SWAK is open two hours early, at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Groovy on Grand opens at 10 a.m., a half an hour early. Groovy will offer a holiday gift making workshop for $120, beginning at noon, so parents can go shopping while their kids make a blanket, throw pillow, scarf and headband, among other things.
Both shops expect holiday sales, but Parmeggio said while she anticipates people will spend the same, I think theyre going to put more thought in what theyre purchasing.
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