By Paula Brewer
Special to the Aroostook Republican
As a new year begins, some local retailers are ready to put past economic challenges and a diminished jobs picture behind them and dig in for what they hope will be a stronger business climate in 2014.
Opinions from a number of Caribou businesspeople focused on a successful holiday shopping season, along with the need to draw shoppers to town and create jobs in order to move the city forward in the next year.
Holiday sales went “very well,” according to Todd Pelletier, manager of S.W. Collins, and Megan Olson, manager of Monica’s Scandinavian Imports.
“This time of year, it was mostly tools going out the door,” Pelletier said. “We do very well with Makita power tools, mostly drills.”
Olson remarked her store sold a definite mix of popular items. “Sweaters, Dansko shoes and jewelry such as Trollbeads did very well,” she said, adding a line of bangle bracelets also saw good sales.
Joe Sleeper, owner of Sleeper’s Market, thought overall holiday sales were good. “I think we lost every Sunday because of weather. That was a challenge,” he said, “but the wintry weather was good for our outdoor apparel business, definitely. November was very cold and that created a lot of interest in boots, gloves and hats, warm jackets and warm socks.”
The holiday season also saw the inaugural “Caribou Hometown Christmas” event on Dec. 12, in which 11 businesses participated by extending their hours and offering refreshments and promotions. This idea of strengthening the business community through collaboration is one that William Tasker, director of the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce, favors.
“There is a trend where businesses are working together to promote each other,” he pointed out, “which I think is a good thing.”
Tasker referenced the popular “Thursdays on Sweden” this past summer, as well as the holiday event. “There’s a lot of strength in collaboration,” he added.
Plans are already under way to continue the summer Thursday events, culminating in another O.P. Pierson Days celebration. Other plans include an event around the downtown ski races on Feb. 8 and 9 and repeating “Hometown Christmas.”
“For the first year, I think it was a pretty good success,” Pelletier said of the December shopping evening. “I think it’s something that we need to look to do more of, events and stuff like that, to pull in people from different communities.”
Such collaborations are positive, Olson reflected. “It’s a good idea, because I think it helps to just bring the community together,” she said.
Poised to begin the new year, the businesspeople were optimistic for the future – but noted the need to deal with certain roadblocks along the way.
“Our challenge,” said the Chamber’s Tasker, “is just continuing to get people to understand that there are places to shop and buy gifts here in town. There is a lot more here than people realize.
“Our other challenge,” he noted, “is to increase the base of business that we have, and I think we have the right people in charge at the city level, with Austin Bleess [city manager] and Tony Mazzucco [assistant city manager]. I’m very encouraged by that. The more businesses, the merrier.”
In looking ahead to his hopes for the new year, Sleeper suggested the area needs a better employment picture. “I just think Caribou needs to aggressively work towards creating some jobs. Jobs will hopefully equate to homeowners, homeowners bring in families, and families have needs,” he said.
He explained that Caribou’s Economic Growth Council, of which he is a member, is working on a concept with the city’s support. “There is definitely an aggressive effort to find jobs in Caribou, which will benefit Presque Isle and all of Aroostook County, not just Caribou,” he said.
Sleeper’s family-owned business will reach a significant milestone of its own this year. “It’s an exciting year for Sleeper’s, as we are celebrating 100 years,” he remarked. “We have already made some changes and have things slated for the new year for improvements and growth.”
Sleeper waxed positive on the overall economy. “I think the economy around the country is improving,” he added. “I think everybody’s kind of got their business more streamlined, more efficient, and the stock market is very strong, which to me says again that companies are profitable.”
In the building and home improvement sector, Pelletier emphasized the hope that new construction will come more into the forefront in 2014. “For the last couple of years [people] have been remodeling,” he said. “I would like to hope that we get back into construction again.”
One of S.W. Collins’ highlights of last year was opening a new location in Lincoln, which Pelletier said is working out very well, and there are plans to expand in 2014 to a new store and drive-through warehouse in that community.
“There are a lot of changes being made and I believe Caribou is going to move forward from here,” he added. “Caribou has a lot to offer, and we want to draw people in.”
Tasker, too, sees the city headed in the right direction for the new year. “While there are some people who are loath to be optimistic about the future of our area, I look forward to being an agent of change and being proved right,” he declared.
“I’m an optimist by nature. I moved here on purpose quite a few years ago, and I think that the lifestyle here is something that more people will discover in the coming years.”
