Jul 29, 2007

Local retailers prep for holidays; Small-business owners scour country for the next hot productBy Dave GallagherBellinghamHerald.com

It’s finally starting to feel like summer in Whatcom County, but many retailers these days are thinking about mistletoe, hot chocolate and holiday cheer.

The next few weeks will be a retailers’ version of a shopping spree, as many descend on vendor shows to find products they think will be the hot-selling items during the holiday shopping season this winter. Others already are perusing catalogs and Web sites, trying to figure out what they will be stocking on their shelves.

“It’s strange to be shopping for winter products in 80-degree weather, but it’s something I really enjoy,” said Jonni Gonzales, who owns Berry Fields, a Lynden gift store, with her husband, Gary. “The challenge is figuring out what will sell at your store.” While going to gift shows to be courted by vendors and suppliers can be an appealing change of pace for small-business retailers, it is also a critical time to keep a level head.

The fourth quarter is usually a make-or-break time for retailers. In the fourth quarter of 2006, retail trade (a subset of total retail sales that focuses on store sales) in Whatcom County was $384.4 million, about 20 percent higher than the first quarter of 2007.

“The holidays are very important for small retail stores, not only because you’re competing with big box stores, but also because the following months from January to April tend to be lean in terms of sales,” said Diane Ferree, owner of the two LuLu clothing and accessory stores, in downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven. “It’s very important to build that customer loyalty throughout the year and hope those customers come to see you during the holidays.”

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