Cortezs retailers offered bargains this weekend, but were local inhabitants biting?
They had their ads in hand and were looking for those deals, said Executive Director Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce Dena Guttridge, who shopped Friday, Nov. 25, and Saturday, Nov. 26, in Cortez. And out of the consumers that I talked to, they were really looking for the deals, instead of shopping online, to keep their money in town. So that was exciting.
Shoppers were just beginning to do their Christmas shopping over the weekend as opposed to finishing off all of their holiday shopping, according to the shoppers Guttridge talked to this weekend.
Town and Country Furnishings owner Johnny Mosher was both pleased and encouraged by this weekends shopper traffic in his local, home furnishings store.
We had really good sales and a lot of traffic Friday and Saturday; so that was encouraging, he said. Sometimes when the weathers bad we get good traffic, but the weather was nice.
So we were pleased they came on in so that was a good kick off to the holiday season, Mosher said.
IFA Country Store Manager Val Christensen said the Thanksgiving weekend ended on a high note at IFA, which sells a variety of seasonal gifts for the holidays, including toys and clothing.
IFAs sales were up from last year between Saturday and Sunday, and customers were buying bigger-ticket items throughout the weekend, he said.
It seems like people are planning ahead better this year, said Jessica Hernandez, who is witnessing her second holiday season as Bliss in a Baskets owner.
Theyre starting to place orders now for their businesses and personal gift baskets, she said.
Zuma Natural Foods owner, Cynthia Klumker, said she saw an increase in traffic and sales after Thanksgiving.
Especially the day after Thanksgiving, it was busier than compared to last year, Klumker said.
Owner of Love on a Hanger, Tiffani Waters, is excited about her clothing stores first holiday-shopping season.
Actually, on Friday, my traffic and sales were phenomenal, Waters said. I had people in and out of the store from 7:30 in the morning until 6:30 when I closed.
This week marked the beginning of that time of year when locals start to think about what to place under their Christmas trees, she said.
Ive noticed that there have been a lot more people out and about, she said. So I think Christmas has been on everyones minds.