Reports of the nation’s rebounding economy and the reputation of local merchants seemed to combine to produce a busy day-after-Thanksgiving shopping day in Clarkston.
“It’s been going great,” shopper Joyce Gibbs said, after being out a couple hours in wet, snowy weather. “I love all the small shops in Clarkston. They have very unique items, and you get a lot of personal treatment.”
“We’ve been really busy,” Stephanie Vo said, pausing briefly between customers at Treasured Gifts and Beyond on Main Street.
Other visitors to downtown shops said they didn’t need to go to larger shopping centers for their Christmas gifts.
Florida resident Lou Kotewicz, visiting her daughter, Linda Coin of Clarkston, said she finished her holiday list in a very short time.
“We deliberately did not go to the mall because of the traffic,” Coin said, noting her purchases at Village Apparel and Gifts included a necklace and some Clarkston school spirit clothing.
“We live here and we try to support our friends and local neighbors. The community has always been good to me.”
More than one person said the weather was no deterrent to their plans to spend the day shopping locally.
“I’m walking in the fresh air,” Gibbs said.
Village Apparel clerk Le-Lane McCarty said the store had a steady stream of customers, and she didn’t mind the opportunity to brag.
“You can find what you want in downtown Clarkston,” McCarty said.
“I found something I’ve been looking for for months, so it’s great,” Sally Houck said after visiting Treasured Gifts and Beyond.
“We’re staying in town,” Jodee Blaszkowski said. “We’re not doing the mad shopping; this is nice and quaint and quiet.”
It was a little more bustling at Bordines Nursery in Springfield Township, where the day-after-Thanksgiving crowd was an encouragement to retail manager Randy Kowalski.
“It’s been pretty steady, even with the weather,” he said. “It hasn’t stopped anybody.”
Tom Shepard, manager of the Clarkston Walgreen’s, said customer spirit rubbed off on store employees.
“Even our cashiers commented on that,” Shepard said, “that people seemed to be in a pretty good mood.”
If the mood continues local retailers will be happy. The day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed by marketers and economists as “Black Friday,” because of its importance to retailers to finish the year “in the black.”
Shepard said one aspect of his store’s increased business could be because of the decision to remain open 24 hours a day.
“I think the community has accepted that really well,” he said.
Kowalski said Bordines Christmas trees were moving well, and by Friday afternoon employees had to restock poinsettias five times.
“[Christmas items) are close to 40 percent of our business for the greenhouse and garden store,” Kowalski said. “I believe and hope we will do as well as we did last year.”