By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
First there was “Black Friday” – the traditional shopping day that follows the Thanksgiving holiday.
And as that has progressed, both good and bad over the years, other traditional shopping days have emerged.
One of the newest this year was Nov. 30’s “Shop Local” day, which encouraged shoppers to stay within their hometowns and shop from local vendors.
And while Burlington may have kicked off its own local shopping trends on Nov. 22 with “Light Up the Night,” Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce Advisory Committee member Shelly Leverenz says the more, the merrier.
“Any event that is set to bring people in is a good thing,” said Leverenz, who owns Burlington Menswear and also coordinates Burlington’s “Light Up the Night,” which combines special sales and offers along with treats and free items offered at small local shops that participate.
“Light Up the Night was fabulous,” Leverenz said. “It was the best year ever.
“We had a lot of new customers. We had a lot of people from out of town,” she added. “A lot of people knew to the area, who had only lived here one year, who got out to see what the stores offered, which was really nice.”
Leverenz said she is finding more people at least making an attempt to shop locally.
“I think they are trying the best they can,” she explained. “I really think we’re seeing a lot of people shop local.”
Carly Rubach from The Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine said she is seeing people make the attempt to shop locally, especially given the push for “shop local” and the new day established for it this year.
The Coffee House is offering a retail wall with various Coffee House items, as well as small gift baskets. So far, Rubach said, it’s been a good group of people coming in.
“The cold is definitely not keeping people away,” said Rubach, who saw the Coffee House packed for both the Burlington High School A Capella Choir and the house band “Mad Bark” last Friday for the Christmas parade.
“We just try to keep things musically interesting,” she said.
And Judy Lemieux, the owner of Chocolate Expressions, has seen her normal steady business.
“I’m doing very well,” Lemieux said. “I’m also a little bit more the last-minute shopping.”
Lemieux said she has a good base of loyal clientele, “which is always fun.”
“And who doesn’t want to get chocolate for Christmas, right?” she added.
Leverenz, meanwhile, said she has seen a steady stream of customers, even though the Christmas shopping season just seems to be picking up.
“Traditionally speaking, it takes the first week or two to get things going before they say, ‘Whoa! It’s Christmas!’”
Leverenz did point out one thing she thought local, small businesses would have over the big boxes – customer service.
“It’s just outstanding,” she said. “You’ll get your customers coming back.”
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