Dec 22, 2010

Locally owned shops innovate to compete with online storesBy Melissa RepkoDallasNews.com

Locally owned, independent retailers are getting creative to compete with online sales this holiday season. Holiday spending is on track to be 3.3 percent more than last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Online holiday shopping is already up by 12 percent from the same time a year ago, according to digital analyst ComScore, and Cyber Monday saw a record high of over $1 billion in sales.

To compete with free shipping and other Web promotions, small retailers in Dallas-Fort Worth have stocked up on unique gifts, offer a wide range of prices and host free events to attract new customers.

Donald Fowler, buyer and manager of Dallas home decorating store Nest, hopes to attract customers who are willing to pay a little more in exchange for a special present such as glasses from Morocco or art from Italy.

“The days of sort of spending money without too much worry and consideration are gone,” he said. “I’ve had people literally hold up their iPhone and say, ‘I can get this on Amazon for $29.99. Can you match it?’ “

“It makes me say, ‘Why are they going to find it here? How can we make the shopping experience different?’ “

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