MIKE ERLAND, owner of Fun Country Powersports, holds a Strider “kicker bike,” one of this years’ most popular Christmas items. People are making an effort to shop locally this year, and finding The Dalles has all they need, he said.
A BUSY two weeks of sales has manager Tina Ontiveros, left, and young adult curator Cassey Dodd smiling at Klindt’s Booksellers and Stationery downtown.
MIKE ERLAND, owner of Fun Country Powersports, holds a Strider “kicker bike,” one of this years’ most popular Christmas items. People are making an effort to shop locally this year, and finding The Dalles has all they need, he said.
Mark Gibson
A BUSY two weeks of sales has manager Tina Ontiveros, left, and young adult curator Cassey Dodd smiling at Klindt’s Booksellers and Stationery downtown.
With only a handful of days left in the Christmas holiday shopping season, local businesses report good sales and some encouraging trends.
In Cascade Square on West Sixth street, JoAnne Fabrics manager Brenda Larsen says sales are up. “This year has been fantastic, compared to last year,” she said. Last year was good, she noted, but this year is even better. “We’re doing great.” The increase doesn’t seem to be driven by new products, as people are buying the same items they purchased last year, she said. But although prices are slightly higher due to inflation, people are shopping and sales have increased.
Over on West Second street, Fun Country owner Mike Erland reports sales are about the same as last year, but there are encouraging trends. “People are out more, shopping locally,” he said. Customers shopping in the Portland metro area find themselves getting exasperated, turn to local businesses and find that pricing is actually better. One customer, unable to find what they were looking for in Portland or online, discovered it on Sixth Street, he noted. “They were surprised we had it right here in The Dalles, and our price was better,” Erland said.
Online sales also seem to be less competitive. “Online has leveled the playing field,” he said. “If you shop online, and you get a problem, it’s a real nuisance.” Although Fun Country doesn’t sell product online, they have an active social media presence, which has proved invaluable. They avoid posting advertising, but instead show how much fun they themselves are having with their products, showing off what they sell as it is used. For example, recent posts included a snowmobile trip up on Mount Hood.
Posting on social media allows potential customers to interact with the store online, then come in knowing what they will find in the store.
“If everyone in town made a point of visiting our local businesses, refresh ourselves about what is there, right here in town is everything you need. It’s a good trend, I think things are working out real well,” he added.
This year, “kicker bikes,” simple bicycles without pedals or brakes for small children who can “scoot” along on them powered by their own feet, without training wheels, are very popular. “People have been scooping them up,” he said.
In the downtown corridor, J.D. Smith, owner of J.D. Smith Jewelers on Second street, finds people have a better outlook this Christmas season. “I’ve noticed people seem to be more excited about Christmas. The outlook is good, noticeably better this year,” he said. “I’m optimistic for downtown.”
His biggest trends this holiday season are diamond earrings and promise rings and “diamonds in motion,” diamonds set in necklaces and earrings that are mounted in such a way that they move independently, causing them to shimmer and catch the light even when the wearer is relatively motionless. “Cocoa diamonds” are also popular.
Also downtown, Tina Ontiveros of Klindt’s Booksellers wasn’t sure how sales this year would compare to last year, but reported the store has been very busy. A slow start to the season, people don’t like shopping in the snow, gave way to a brisk uptick in the holiday shopping season. “We’ve been very busy the last two weeks.”
She also noticed more young families in the store. “They believe in shopping locally, on principle. They want these resources to be here,” she said. It’s an encouraging trend, and counters the fear that young people will shop online-only.
She also noted that more people are asking that purchases be gift wrapped in the store.
Greg Weast of Columbia River Music, also downtown, was also upbeat in regards to the holiday shopping season. “It’s great, we’re up!” he reported. The store was offering some great values, and people were taking advantage of those, he said. He has also noticed a better overall attitude in regards to the economy. “People are more relaxed with the state of the economy,” he said. “[The local economy] may not be great, but it’s better — and they still enjoy music.”
Weast, too, has seen an increase in people shopping locally. “I appreciate it, there are a significant number of people making an effort to support their community by shopping locally,” he said.
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