- May 3, 2024
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A random sampling of stores on the Monday after Thanksgiving revealed healthy sales activity for small businesses at the beginning of the shopping season.
Nicole Harvey of Sun Dollar Boutique in Granada Plaza, at the corner of East Granada Boulevard and State A1A, said she was busy both on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
Recent reports say that online shopping has cut into store sales, but Harvey said her sales have increased the past two years. She has tried some online advertising, with items listed on her Facebook page, but her stock turns over so frequently that customers like to come into the store to see what’s currently available, she said.
The best sellers for holiday gift buyers are her one-dollar jewelry items, which come in a wide variety of colors and styles. She also sells clothing and purses that are all under $25.
“It’s a concern for all brick and mortar stores.”
Patti Surguine, Granada Gourmet owner, on online shopping
Patti Surguine, owner of Granada Gourmet, said the weekend was a bright spot in an overall year that was down. She thinks the competition from online stores has an effect on business.
“It’s a concern for all brick and mortar stores,” she said. “Millennials like to go online and buy things at three in the morning.”
But one trend that favors her store, she said, is a return toward “nesting,” where people are staying home more. That trend, along with cooking shows on TV, popularizes making dishes at home. She believes that’s why practical items for the kitchen have become popular gifts, especially high quality items that will last a lifetime.
“That’s what keeps us going,” she said.
She said she has thought about selling online, but she has such a variety of items, it would be very expensive for her, as a small business, to have a website designed.
She said she was very grateful for the people of Ormond Beach coming out to support small businesses on Saturday. Some shoppers mentioned that they were driving through Ormond Beach and stopping at all of the small businesses.
The annual event was started by American Express four years ago and has gained widespread recognition.
“I’m so grateful to them for putting small businesses on the map,” she said.
One of her big sellers this year is a new jar-opening device that has proven popular, called The Gripper.
A few doors down is Granada Jewelers, and owner Mauricio Gaertner said the long weekend was busier than last year.
One of his popular items is the Heartbeat brand of jewelry. The diamonds are free to move in their setting, causing quite a bit of bling and glitter.
Kimberly Sarzier, owner of Preppy Beach Boutique, 218 E. Granada, started out as an online business, and switched to a brick and mortar store one year ago.
“I got tired of all the shipping,” she said.
Also, communication is much easier when it’s face to face. When a person sees an item in a store, they can determine if the color and material is what they are looking for. Also, a big part of her business is applying monograms, and it’s easier to communicate in person.
She said it took a lot of emails back and forth with customers, and now she can make sure they get what they want when they come into her store.
“I decided to offer personal service.”
The kickoff weekend was busy, she said, and up over last year.
One of her big sellers is a long-sleeve T-shirt from Lauren James. They are cotton, preshrunk and very popular, she said.
Norm White, owner of Daytona Bicycle Center, 362A W. Granada Blvd., said the past weekend was better than a year ago. He said he had done a marketing blitz; and people were not only buying gifts but also taking advantage of the sale to buy a bike for themselves.
He said he sold a mix of bikes, including road, mountain and the popular fat tire beach cruisers.
While bikes were once a big holiday gift item for children, that trend has dropped off since the 1980s, with the advent of video games, etc.
“Kids aren’t as interested in bikes anymore,” he said. “It’s kind of sad.”
