Holiday sales a bright spot for many local merchants

As the holiday sales season ends, local merchants take stock of successes and future challenges

By Stover E. Harger III

The South County Spotlight, Jan 6, 2010

Stover E. Harger III / The South County Spotlight

WRAPPING IT UP — As locals lined up for long waits at the Scappoose Fred Meyer to catch special 'Black Friday' deals on Nov. 27, Donna Baer (right) and Laurie Mollenhour volunteered to wrap holiday presents as members of the St. Helens chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.

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Now that the holiday shopping season is over, many south Columbia County businesses are celebrating – not for record-breaking sales – but for getting back to near normal after a dismal season last winter.

And normal in this economy, they say, is all anyone could ask for.

Based on conversations with over a dozen retail shops of varying sizes in Scappoose and St. Helens this week, business owners shared stories about what it was like this season: when people shopped, what they bought and how much they spent.

The income figures may not be rosy, they say, but it will do. For now.

Part of a larger upswing

National spending patterns from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 appear to match what is happening here at home.

According to figures released by MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse, which tracks retail and service sales from credit cards, checks and cash, people spent about 3.6 percent more over last year, which had lower than average sales.

However, shoppers tended to wait until the end of November to begin their shopping sprees.

People are more critical of their own spending, said Jill Newkirk-Owens, owner of women’s clothing boutique Jilly’s Again in St. Helens, located at 299 South 1st St., unlike in the prior 15 years she has run the store. Now, they wait until they are completely sure of their purchases before plunking down their limited amount of money.

Unlike in other years, Newkirk-Owens said, the first part of the season was very slow, which unnerved her. Then, in the last 10 days before Christmas, business took off.

“I still have my head above water,” she said. “Thank God, because, I can’t swim.”

Buyers shift online

Lauren Wilmot, co-owner of Barefoot Blooms, said foot traffic into the Scappoose floral design and accessory shop located at 51579 Columbia River Hwy. “G,” was 100 percent better than last year, a fact she attributes to better weather. She also said Barefoot Blooms’ e-commerce on the store’s Web site was stronger than it ever had been, an occurrence mirroring national statistics.

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