Oskaloosa Merchants Excited With The Start Of Holiday Shopping
Oskaloosa, Iowa – For many retailers in the Oskaloosa area, the start tof the Christmas shopping season was a good one.
At the Book Vault, shoppers were finding their way into one of the most unique shopping locations in Oskaloosa. April Gorski, Manager at the Book Vault, said things had been busy like they hoped.
“They are buying gifts, and we’re wrapping and helping folks. It has been a lot of fun,” said Gorski.
Gorski said that shoppers are looking “at a bit of everything”, which includes puzzles, games, kitchen items, and, of course, books.
Diane Green at Gardner Collier Jewelry said that there were a lot of people around, “planting a lot of seeds, because men are typically those last minute shoppers.”
“Diamonds” are what’s popular at Christmas time, says Green. “Diamonds are definitely the number one seller at Christmas.”
Next door at G Strings Guitars and More, owner Pat Flaherty added, “Today has been a great day”, when looking at Black Friday shopping in his store. Flaherty says they had already beat last year’s Black Friday totals by noon.
At Brown Shoe Fit Co., Black Friday sales were “starting off with a bang”, expressed manager Brian Myers. “It’s been unbelievably great for us.”
Myers believes that the warmer weather, coupled with promotions, were keys to the success they were experiencing as a retail store.
“It has been great so far”, says Oskaloosa True Value owner Glenda Booy of the start of the Christmas shopping season. Booy said that she’s excited for the Christmas season, as a retailer on the square. “To see everything that’s going on. To see all the people. It has been lots and lots of fun.
Booy echoed the sentiments of the Book Vault. “Shoppers are looking for a bit of everything this holiday season.”
“The community support that we’re getting; I just love it”, says Booy. “I love being uptown.”