Shoppers crowd downtown sidewalks on Black Friday
Downtown merchants received a rush from locals and tourists alike on Black Friday and hope to receive even more business for today’s Small Business Saturday.
Lauray’s The Diamond Center, 402 Central Ave., owner Toddy Pitard said Black Friday is a kickoff for the Christmas season.
“It’s called Black Friday because it gets retailers from red to black,” Pitard said.
This year has been “the best year that we have ever had at Lauray’s. Last year was the best and we beat it this year,” Pitard said.
Anne Marcus, co-owner of the Toy Chest, 348 Central Ave., said Black Friday is their busiest day of the year.
“One of the best parts is we get to see the same customers year after year,” she said. “We get to see (generations) grow up.”
Marcus said that as a “specialty choice” store, there aren’t any “hot” items because all the items are timeless and classic.
“Really everything (is a hot item) because people want to share the excitement of familiar toys with their children.”
This is the first holiday season the Toy Chest has had without Marcus’ father, co-owner Imy Marcus, who died in August.
“My father was the heart and soul of the Toy Chest and we think of him daily,” Marcus said. “Customers have the nicest things to say about him and we all miss him.”
Belle of Hot Springs Riverboat Tours, 5200 Central Ave., owner Kelly Thacker said everything in the store is 25 percent — a sale that will last until Christmas Day.
“It’s the down season. We are just trying to get people downtown,” Thacker said.
She said Black Friday is important because it is a way to get people out and down to the stores.
The store has been at its current location for two years and Thacker said other downtown merchants have told them that this year has been the slowest year for downtown businesses.
“I think every store is going to tell you that,” she said.
Historic District Antiques, 514 Central Ave., 0wner said Suzanne Tucker said that Black Friday for her store is a “big shopping day” for the downtown area.
Tucker said the store does not have any Black Friday sales because the customers always ask for discounts.
“It’s the nature of the antique store business,” she said.
Tucker noted the store, which has been there for 25 years, has seen an influx in sales over the past two years.
All Things Natural, 416 Central Ave., employee Becka Brown said Black Friday helps the store’s sales because more people are walking downtown.
Brown said some of the store’s Black Friday sales included crystal skulls, amethyst stones, silver chains, cages and bismuth.
Store owner Lisa Carey said last year the store just had items that were for sale, but this year they do have a couple of specials.
“We have our crystal skulls and our amethyst for half off,” Carey said.
Stella Mae’s Out of the Ordinary, 410 Central Ave., owner Leslie Gibson said the store does better on Small Business Saturday than on Black Friday.
“The only thing that I would say that is good about Black Friday is that it really encourages people to really shop one day more than others,” Gibson said.
Snazzies, 236 Central Ave., manager Tanya Jaramillo said Black Friday is important because the business likes to include “all types” of customers every day, and having sales brings in more customers.
“It’s always a fun time to come in and ask for the sales,” Jaramillo said.
She said some of the store’s sale items include scarves, cardigans, backpacks, sweaters and jewelry.
The DeSoto Rock and Gift Shop did not have any Black Friday sales, but shop project manager Carrie Ruden said there will be a Small Business Saturday sale of 20 percent off a $200 purchase.
Ruden said the shop carries rocks and minerals from all over the world, including from Arkansas, jewelry made of gemstones, large rocks and crystals for home décor, and metaphysical rocks with healing properties.
She noted they also carry more exotic and rare specimens for collectors.
The shop has been downtown for six years but recently moved from the Howe Hotel building at 201 Central Ave. to the previous location of The Galaxy Connection at 626 Central Ave.
Petals, Purses, Etc., 516 Central Ave., co-owner Juanita Ryan said their Black Friday sales are meant to draw attention downtown for Small Business Saturday.
“Locals don’t shop downtown; 80 percent of our business is (from) tourists,” Ryan said. “Hot Springs is beautiful and so is its downtown, and it’s changed a lot. Locals need to come see the changes (that have been made).”
She said some of the store’s “hottest” items include Anuschka bags, as they are the only Anuschka dealer in Hot Springs, and handcrafted Chala mini purses, imported from India.
Chez Julie Gifts, 412 Central Ave., owner Julie Smart said what “works best” in gaining business during the week is to simply stay open. She said she always opens her store on Thanksgiving, and it is always worth it.
“Good days are at the mercy of the weather,” Smart added. “It depends on the prettiest day, (but) Small Business Saturday is usually the best (day), but Saturdays are always the best day of the week.”
She said her store’s most popular items include leggings, sweaters and anything leopard printed.
Bathhouse Soapery, 366 Central Ave., manager Pam Clark said they attract business by having a “doorbuster” sale, posting it on Instagram and Facebook to advertise, and by having different sales on Black Friday than what they have on Small Business Saturday to bring customers back both days.
Clark said popular items include any gift under $30 and bath bombs and scrubs; but with everything being handcrafted, anything bought will always make for a “unique gift.”
Evilo, 360 Central Ave., manager Nicke Harper said their bestselling items include the garlic mushroom olive oil, the garlic balsamic vinegar and the bourbon smoked sugar. She said the sugar is being used to make Meyer Lemon Sugar Cookies on the “big green egg” outside of their store all weekend.
Bathhouse Row Emporium, 515 Central Ave., assistant manager K’Lynn Pruitt said they do not have any Black Friday or Small Business Saturday sales because the emporium is nonprofit and all proceeds “go back into the park.”
However, she said their customer numbers are still up on these days and popular items being bought this year are national park-themed items, Junior Ranger items, passport books and natural-made items made locally.
The Savory Pantry, 214 Central Ave., owner Keeley DeSalvo said they have had an online sale of 20 percent off and free shipping on purchases over $80 since Wednesday, and it will last through Monday.
“We stick with our regular business formula,” DeSalvo said. “Online sales do well because we have a large mail-order business and it’s what customers look for.”
She noted she feels that people need a chance to be with family for Thanksgiving, so the store isn’t open extended hours for Black Friday or Small Business Saturday.
“Both days are usually huge for us, but with Thanksgiving being so late this year, the cycle is a bit skewed,” she said.
DeSalvo said popular items include Christmas Cookies from Spain, Gift Box Chocolate from Barcelona, Shortbread from Scotland and Sweet and Spicy Pecans from Lambrecht Gourmet.