Into the black: Local businesses have successful Friday
Staunton — Big box retailers were not the only ones to capitalize on high sales during Black Friday.
Several small, local businesses reported they too saw significant spikes in customers for the day-after-Thanksgiving shopping splurge, which has been called the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.
“We were busy all day, and I don’t think there was any time when we were without a customer,” said Judy Cook, assistant manager at The Emporium, in downtown Staunton. “It was definitely a good way to kick off the season.”
According to preliminary figures released Saturday by ShopperTrak, a research firm that tracks more than 50,000 outlets, sales rose 0.5 percent to $10.66 billion Friday, compared with a year ago. That was on top of a 3 percent increase last year.
Although much of Black Friday centers on national retailers, such as Wal-Mart or Target, small businesses throughout the area said the shopping rush carried over to their stores at levels equal to or higher than last year’s Black Friday turnout.
Rebecca Watson, who owns Turtle Lane, an antique and gift shop in Staunton, said the store extended its closing time until 9:15 p.m. Given the economic instability and high unemployment rates, Watson said Friday’s turnout exceeded her expectations.
