Business & Tech

Small Businesses Expect Steady Black Friday Crowds

Small business owners aren't expecting the crazy crowds that big businesses attract, but things will be busy with the start of the holiday shopping season.

As shopping malls and big-box stores braced for an onslaught of eager shoppers, some Woodbridge retailers retailers expect brisk business with far less chaos on Black Friday.

“I will come over here on Friday and open early, but nothing too crazy [should happen],” said Ellen Eisenberg, owner of the.

For independent retailers, the holidays are a marathon rather than a frenzied sprint seen on Black Friday. Business has been steady in the past week and will continue to rise until Christmas arrives.

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“The last two weeks we’re open late every night,” Eisenberg said.

At the top of a steep flight of stairs is a Christmas room full of ornaments and decorations. In the offseason, all that’s there is a sales room of discounted goods.  In the past week, Eisenberg has seen more people making the trek upstairs. Some people said they only go up there for the holidays.

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“I don’t feel like I’m competing with the malls,” she said. “People want to support the locals stores because some are going out of business.”

Arabella Perry, owner of the , has been in business for more than 20 years, and once worked out of the Red Barn. She sees a big seasonal uptick in the holidays, but it’s not just because of the gift shopping.

“People are knitting scarves as gifts but they’re also knitting because it’s cold,” Perry said.

Like clockwork, business improves once summer is over. She has some holidays sales planned and while Black Friday will be busy, it won’t be like what the chain retailers see.

“It’s a different kind of business,” she said.


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