Local retailers optimistic shoppers will spend

Local merchants are offering goods on sale and staying open extra hours with hopes that Black Friday will be green.

While the national economy struggles with unemployment and Wall Street is volatile, some local retailers expressed cautious optimism that consumers will be spending this holiday season.

``Our sense is that people are willing to spend money,'' said Nancy Scanlon, chairwoman of Main Street Oneonta. ``But they want something very specific or something that they know is going to last.''

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, and is so named because it historically was the day stores turned a profit. Traditionally, it is the start of the Christmas holiday gift-purchasing season. Consumers look for bargains while merchants count on revenues to close out the year.

Some industry analysts project a slow season as reports reveal rising unemployment, tightening credit and other economic turmoil. Retailers nationally are offering deep discounts, which is being reflected at area stores, and some local merchants said the recent drop in gasoline and heating fuel prices may free up some spending money.

The Oneonta area tends not to have the economic boom or bust cycles of other regions, Scanlon said, but the bottom line is that consumers are spending less this year and not making impulse purchases. More downtown merchants this year participated in media promotions of stores and restaurants, she said.

For Sport Tech at 166 Main St. in Oneonta, the key to sales is getting shoppers into the store, rather than volume sales, said Scanlon, a co-owner.

The retailer recently sent postcards and e-mails notifying customers about this week's sales, she said, and the store has placed orders to restock its top sellers _ Uggs boots and North Face fleece jackets. Another new tactic is offering a bicycle sale in December, she said, and its holiday sales start today.

Lower gasoline prices, pent-up consumer demand for deals and purchase-price cuts could mean good news for retailers, according to the National Federation of Retailers. Nationally, up to 128 million people will shop Friday, Saturday or Sunday, down from 135 million people who responded to the survey last year, the association said.

"Retailers realize that low prices will get consumers into stores this holiday season, and this could be the most heavily promotional Black Friday in history," said Tracy Mullin, NRF president and chief executive officer, said in a media release. "Shoppers who held off buying a DVD player or winter coat over the last few months will find that prices may literally be too good to pass up."

Michele Pondolfino, owner of the Green Toad Bookstore at 198 Main St. in Oneonta, said business has been brisk since the store opened Nov. 1. As a new business entering the holiday season, Green Toad is striving to balance inventory and demand, she said.

Pondolfino said she has brought in some extra titles in children's books and reordered books in the ``Twilight'' series for teens.

The new venture is ``scary'' considering the economic times, Pondolfino said. But the terrific reception by shoppers has reinforced her view that Oneonta was ready for a general bookstore downtown that offers titles chosen specifically for the community.

Southside Mall on state Route 23 in Oneonta will open its doors at 5 a.m. Friday, and tenant J.C. Penney will open at 4 a.m.

The mall has been running radio and newspaper ads and other promotions, including discounted sales and a giveaway Friday of tickets to the Lonestar concert, which is 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the State University College of Technology at Delhi.

Though sales this year have been soft, most retailers at the mall are doing well because economic trends take time to impact Oneonta, said Jessica Dombrowski, general manager said. Mall retailers are optimistic about the shopping season, she said.

``They're hoping that the holiday season beefs up sales from earlier in the year,'' Dombrowski said.

Traffic has been up recently, with browsers looking for bargains, she said, reiterating the importance of shopping locally because it generates dollars that turn over through the area's economic sectors.

Fear about the economy's direction is the major factor that will influence this holiday retail season, said Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Otsego County Chamber.

``There's a lot of window shopping,'' Robinson said. Consumers are worried about their job status and the impact of indecision by state legislators about budget cuts, he said.

Arnie Levy, retail general manager at Drogen's Home Furnishings on state Route 23 on Oneonta's Southside, said if consumers have money, there isn't a better time to shop than now, because economic pressures have pushed down prices across the board.

``I'm not going to say we're not feeling the pinch _ we are,'' Levy said. ``I expect people will be out shopping _ looking for values. ... It's a buyer's marketplace.''

Electronics and televisions, especially flat-screen units, will be popular, Levy said, and more purchases will be ``family gifts,'' such as a dishwasher. Drogen's will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Levy said.

McLaughlin's Shoes at 146 Main St. and McLaughlin's Clothing Store at 112 Main St. will open an hour early at 9 a.m. Friday, owner Scott McLaughlin said, and McLaughlin's Department Store at 27 S. Broad St. in Norwich will open at 6 a.m. Friday.

Shoppers will be given scratch-off tickets offering discounts of between 10 percent and 50 percent, he said, and the store also is publicizing specials at www.shopmclaughlins.com and by e-mail.

``In times like these, I hope shopping locally means a little bit more,'' McLaughlin said. ``It's a tight economy, but our expectations for the holiday season are still high.''

Photos

Michele Pondolfino, owner of The Green Toad Bookstore on Main Street, opens boxes of merchandise as she prepares for holiday shoppers on Tuesday in Oneonta.