Oskaloosa Business Owners Enjoy A Successful Start To Christmas Shopping Season

Holiday shoppers have enjoyed the extra effort local retailers have put into welcoming them into their store.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The day after Thanksgiving, many people have a plan for those Black Friday specials. They load up the car with several friends and battle for the best holiday shopping specials.

There is a new approach to that holiday shopping mayhem that is catching on, and a group of Oskaloosa merchants worked for weeks to help shoppers once again enjoy their shopping experience.

On Friday, several area merchants hosted Plaid Friday, which took its name from the weaving of the individual threads that are small businesses together.

Many shoppers adorned their plaid and received discounts from area merchants as part of the fun.

Cyber Monday is the online world’s equivalent to Black Friday, but those same area merchants want you to come and visit them for Cider Monday.

Visiting the retailers will get you discounts and other offers, as well as some hot cider to keep you in the holiday spirit.

April Gorsky from the Book Vault in Oskaloosa said, “Plaid seems to be paying off. We’ve been busy today.”

“A lot of people are excited about shopping local,” added Gorsky.

Gorsky was one of those who helped to spearhead the Plaid Friday merchant effort.

Their plans came from a grassroots effort to help their fellow merchant and in turn help themselves from the extra attention they were able to generate for themselves.

The idea of the woven fabric of merchants was the driving factor for Gorsky. With their marketing plan in place, the shop owners forged a new path for themselves beyond the traditional advertising routes.

Gorsky was happy to see the many shoppers in her store wearing plaid, and somewhat surprised at the success they have found together. “Happily surprised.”

With that trend of people moving away from the big box mart stores, Gorsky hopes that people are seeing that by supporting the local merchants, you’re also helping the community, but also those people employed locally.

Across the square, at the Oskaloosa True Value store, Glenda Booy and her staff were finally getting a chance to catch their breath after a very busy morning and afternoon on Plaid Friday.

Booy said that people were waiting outside the True Value doors to get in at 6 am.

The flow of traffic into the store slowed down by late afternoon, but Booy was pleased with the efforts Gorsky and the other merchants like herself had done to make the day unique for shoppers.

“Extremely glad to be able to participate,” said Booy. “That was the one thing I wanted to do when I first came up here, was participate in the events that go on downtown, and other events throughout the community.”

With that group of business owners, Booy says its enjoyable and beneficial to have so many retailers working together.

Besides the customers, Booy said her employees enjoyed the day also, as they got to have some fun as well.

Cider Monday is November 27th, and the Oskaloosa Lighted Christmas Parade is November 30th, with events happening all over Oskaloosa.