PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Holiday from sales from Thanksgiving to New Year’s were good for retailers selling everything from ATVs and accessories to corn stoves, apparel and jewelry, though several reported sales seemed to pick up more after Christmas, as customers flocked to stores in search of discounts and bargains.
Weather didn’t deter sporting enthusiasts from visiting Harry’s Motor Sports seeking just the right gift for the sports-minded individuals in their lives.
“Sales were good. In spite of the lack of snow, we saw a lot of interest in gear and accessories. Customers were interested in the equipment, including ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles,” said Jason Good, manager of Harry’s Motor Sports.
Despite warmer temperatures, folks were interested in checking out the latest in ways to keep warm, from alpaca clothing to heating systems.
“We did very well this year. Our clothing sales were good. We also had a lot of customers interested in our corn stoves,” said Richard Porter, owner of Spudland Alpacas, whose mall store was open through the holidays.
A seasonal venture at the mall, Porter said customers can now visit his business in Blaine if their interested in clothing or stoves. Sales went so well, Porter plans to return to the mall again next year.
“We’ve done well at the mall the last couple years. We’d like to come back to Presque Isle again next year. In the meantime, folks can visit Spudland Alpacas in Blaine,” said Porter.
Gert Thibodeau, of Fort Kent, and Sherry Stedt, of Cross Lake, ventured to the mall before Christmas, shopping at several stores, including Spudland Alpacas.
“It’s fun to see the new merchandise, check out what’s available,” said Thibodeau.
“We like the clothing they have here. The sweaters — they’re really nice,” said Stedt, looking at a brightly decorated child’s sweater at Spudland.
JC Penney opened early the day after Thanksgiving, giving shoppers an opportunity to pick up bargains before heading off to work.
“The weather was a plus. We opened at 5 a.m. and had about 150 people waiting for us to open the doors. Sales went really well,” said Manager Rick Mazur.
Caribou resident Bayfield Bubar made the journey with his son.
“This is my first time shopping this early. I came with my son. He’s from Woodland. He was coming to Staples so I decided to come along. There was quite a line at Staples when we arrived,” said Bubar, of the ‘Black Friday’ rush. “It’s a great opportunity to find a bargain.”
Sears saw the same response, with a crowd gathering before doors opened the day after Thanksgiving.
“It started at 5 a.m. with a line at the door. It’s about the same as previous years,” said Manager Nancy Viel.
Viel said customers’ moods appeared to be good for the holiday rush.
“We see a lot of the same customers year after year. It’s nice to see everyone ready to go,” said Viel, adding that end-of-the-day sales figures would be a good indicator for the season.
Music, video and gaming merchandise were popular choices for buyers of all ages.
“Sales went pretty good for 2006. DVD box sets sold well. Hot items included MP3 players, iPods and portable DVD players,” said Andy Churchill, manager of FYE.
Kathy Caron ventured from Limestone with daughter Megan Kirkbride to check out holiday specials at the mall, arriving for the ‘Black Friday’ event before 5 a.m.
“We got there at 4:45 a.m. We go every year. They had some pretty good sales going,” said Caron.
Maureen Keaton, of Caribou, joined daughter Amy Daniels, of Presque Isle, for a 5 a.m. shopping spree.
“We do this every year,” said Keaton, as the pair took a break at the mall.
“We’re heading out to our vehicle to drop off what we’ve bought, then coming back in to do some more shopping,” said Daniels.
Camille Doebener, of Washburn, had already made one trip to her car to drop off packages, returning to Card$mart to look for more gifts.
“They have so many nice things to choose from,” said Doebener as she browsed decorative stained-glass pieces.
Deb Ames, owner of Card$mart, indicated 2006 sales were going well for her business.
“Sales were up a bit. Holiday sales are steady, although we do well on other holidays, especially Mother’s Day,” said Ames.
Linda Murchison, of Presque Isle, found herself in Sears’ Craftsman merchandise, looking for gifts for the men in her life.
“They have a lot of good buys. This was my first year shopping early but I plan to do it again,” said Murchison.
It wasn’t just local shoppers looking for bargains at area businesses.
“We came up from Brewster, New York, to spend Thanksgiving with family. We found some great things at the mall. We do this every year,” said Vicky Smith, formerly of Limestone, as she and her husband, Greg Smith, waited for her mother outside JC Penney. “We lost our mother in JC Penney.”
At least one downtown merchant reported a good holiday season at her business.
“Christmas sales were bustling. Business, in general, was good downtown, though a bit conservative,” said Cathy Beaulieu, owner of Wilder’s Jewelry Store.
Promotional activities downtown included a Main Street Mania event that encouraged customers to shop at Main Street businesses, with patrons given an opportunity to register for a prize basket as part of the fun.
“We got a lot of positive feedback on that. Folks enjoyed taking part in Main Street Mania,” said Beaulieu.
Beaulieu said she’s seeing an increase in business downtown as more stores open in the heart of the city.
“The customer base expands downtown yearly, one business at a time. It’s nice to see folks venturing downtown to check out what we have to offer. When folks shop locally, those dollars stay in the community, whether paying salaries or helping a business to stay open,” said Beaulieu.
With gas prices hovering near $2.50 a gallon these days, shopping locally means saving on fuel costs. That’s money that can then be spent within area communities, helping boost the local economy.
