Locally Owned Businesses Hope to See High Sales on Black Friday
By: Mallory Lane
Updated: November 20, 2012
STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - Black Friday sales certainly fill up the big box stores, but what does it do to a local mom and pop store?
While folks are busy preparing for those Black Friday sales, local business owners want shoppers to remember sometimes the best deals aren't always in a catalog or online.
'Tis the season for heavy shopping and lines like you won't believe, and it's usually retail giants like Walmart, Target and Best Buy that attract the big crowds. But what about the other businesses?
"We're very, very busy and more and more people are finding out about us because they can come and get all their favorite brands at a huge discount," Edie Binkley said.
Binkley owns Clothes Mentor in State College. She says Black Friday is just as big for her store as any other.
"Each customer that comes through the door gets a scratch off card for a very special discount that day."
But Edna Rentschler says her store does see some slower sales on Black Friday, but picks up again for "Small Business Saturday."
"I think maybe a little, people are more willing to spend money because it's a big shopping day," Rentschler said. "But normally, the weekends are good for us, people are out and about."
"I don't like the crowds, I think customer service often lacks, I don't like trying to find parking, there's no fun, interesting little story around it and that's just special to me," Staci Egan said.
Eagan owns a little shop in Boalsburg. She says for her, Black Friday isn't as much about the big sales, instead it's about supporting other businesses during the busy holiday season.
"Even if you can make $100 or $200 dollar purchases at local business stores, it helps grow the economy, it helps with jobs, it helps with all of us," she said.
Some of these local businesses say they aren't planning on opening as early as some of the bigger stores Friday, but will certainly have their doors open.
While folks are busy preparing for those Black Friday sales, local business owners want shoppers to remember sometimes the best deals aren't always in a catalog or online.
'Tis the season for heavy shopping and lines like you won't believe, and it's usually retail giants like Walmart, Target and Best Buy that attract the big crowds. But what about the other businesses?
"We're very, very busy and more and more people are finding out about us because they can come and get all their favorite brands at a huge discount," Edie Binkley said.
Binkley owns Clothes Mentor in State College. She says Black Friday is just as big for her store as any other.
"Each customer that comes through the door gets a scratch off card for a very special discount that day."
But Edna Rentschler says her store does see some slower sales on Black Friday, but picks up again for "Small Business Saturday."
"I think maybe a little, people are more willing to spend money because it's a big shopping day," Rentschler said. "But normally, the weekends are good for us, people are out and about."
"I don't like the crowds, I think customer service often lacks, I don't like trying to find parking, there's no fun, interesting little story around it and that's just special to me," Staci Egan said.
Eagan owns a little shop in Boalsburg. She says for her, Black Friday isn't as much about the big sales, instead it's about supporting other businesses during the busy holiday season.
"Even if you can make $100 or $200 dollar purchases at local business stores, it helps grow the economy, it helps with jobs, it helps with all of us," she said.
Some of these local businesses say they aren't planning on opening as early as some of the bigger stores Friday, but will certainly have their doors open.
