Ho, ho, ho – Stores dress up with holiday sales

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, December 2, 2008

GRANT COUNTY – The merchants’ mantra this Christmas shopping season is similar on every corner in the community: “Shop local.”

Although the local economy is in a slump this year, store owners remain hopeful for a good holiday turnout and that customers will check out their bargains before heading out of town or online.

“I’m keeping the prices as low as I can because of the economy,” said Canyon Creek Candle Company owner Tina Stearly in John Day.

A new item will be on her store shelves next week.

With the big state football win for Grant Union High School, she’s designed a new State Championship candle to celebrate the event.

A football- and cheerleading-uniform display celebrating the Prospectors’ football season can be seen as customers walk through the front door of Mountains Department Store.

Last weekend’s football games – the Prospectors at the state championships, and the annual Civil War between the UO Ducks and the OSU Beavers – had manager Troy Thomas a little worried that local shoppers might be lured to big-city stores when they traveled to catch the games.

“It’s a catch-22 for retailers,” he said.

He says business is down by about 12 percent this year, but he still anticipates a decent season, “even though gas prices are going down.”

One difficulty he’s facing now is a requirement to pay up front for shipments of clothing, instead of having 30 days to pay for them. Because of this he’s ordering in smaller batches.

He’s encouraging shoppers to call ahead to find out when the next shipment comes in.

“It’s first-come, first-served,” he said.

Santa will visit Mountains Dec. 13 to have pictures taken with children, courtesy of Saul Productions, and there will be Arbonne make-up tips from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by Debi Mecham of Prairie City.

New items available this year include Erin London ladies sport coats and Joey’s Wood Antler Arts, and the store will feature Made in Oregon baskets again this year.

“If we don’t start shopping local, we’re going to lose our little community,” he said.

Dawn DeGrande, owner of Radio Shack, also hopes people will stay in town to shop.

“Pretty much everything in the store will be on sale,” she said.

Java Jungle manager Tammy Clark hopes to bring in the Christmas spirit, and customers, with a shop decked out with “stunning” Christmas wreaths designed by local artist Jeanette Hueckman.

“We’re going Jeanette Hueckman crazy this year,” she said.

Christmas decorations, especially outdoor ones, also are a hit at Len’s Drug.

Store manager Mindy Winegar said Len’s is “beating most competitor prices out of town.”

Sherry Dress, the new owner of Naturally Yours, and manager Jennifer Garinger were busily decorating an herb-themed Christmas tree for the Festival of Trees on Friday Dec. 12.

Dress said the store is gearing up for the holidays with specialty herbs and spices, which she notes are inexpensive, and dried fruit and raw nuts.

Next door at Pebble Creek Apparel, clerk Meredith Thomas said it would help everyone out if people shopped locally.

In addition to a variety of brand-name clothing, the store has local consignments available, including Happy Hippy hats and scarves, Monumental jewelry and unique crocheted slippers by Charlene Hopkins.

Cottage Treasures and Beyond now features all new clothing and menwear, including tuxedo and gown rentals and sales for weddings and proms.

Discount signs were seen throughout the store.

“I think shoppers are shopping price right now, trying to make their dollars stretch,” said co-owner Wayne Wilson.

He and his wife Tracy are planning doorbuster sales and discounts through the Christmas shopping season.

“Shop early,” they said.

In Prairie City, Bar WB clothing store owner Wanda Winegar said she’s mindful of the struggling economy.

“I think the merchants in the county are trying to make things affordable and have the selection that people are looking for,” she said.

This year she has an abundance of winter inventory, including coats and Woolrich blankets. Roper-brand apparel is another sought after gift.

There are lots of gift ideas at Prairie Drug and Hardware, including Polish pottery. Shop owners Mark and Sandy Murray are “optimistic” about the holiday shopping season.

Sandy says they try to create an enjoyable atmosphere for people as they walk in the door.

“With the economy we just try to make it fun,” she noted. “If we can help each other feel good about the day – that’s a beginning.”