Retailers Report Mixed Results For Holidays

With the legal holiday selling period at the back them, many retailers inthe local area mentioned they were gratified to see more people, andsales, than in 2010.

As a result, municipalities and the county have reportedincreased sales taxation collections compared to the formerly year.

Some business owners mentioned total were prosaic or even down,however, and are anticipating the new year brings a few new business.

The Missourian attempted to talk owners or managers fromroughly two dozen stores in the Washington area.

Gary R. Lucy Gallery

Sandy Lucy of the Gary R. Lucy Gallery in Downtown Washingtonsaid she beheld larger consumer certainty this past holidayseason.

“We were exceedingly gratified with our traffic,” she said. “Itappeared to me that there was a renewed certainty in thebuyer.”

Lucy mentioned traffic in the art studio was solid via Novemberand December.

“The year seemed to earn movement as it went on,” she said.”Every month, there was a renovation in people forthcoming out and shoppingmore and it unequivocally pennyless lax in November.”

Lucy, who moreover serves as mayor, remarkable an enlarge in the city’ssales taxation in November.

“The city’s part of the sales taxation was up $44,000 in Novemberover this time final year,” she said, adding that her store was not”unique” in saying an enlarge in business.

At the Lucy Gallery, one of the greatest sellers was a printcalled “Midnight Mass,” that moreover was existing on ornaments andChristmas cards.

“That played a considerable purpose in our success this season. It wasvery popular,” she said.

Lucy mentioned final year the art studio increased its marketing and in2012 will look at a few changes to the store’s layout.

Union Furniture

Mike Haberberger, owners of Union Furniture, mentioned the Christmasseason was sincerely strong.

“We had a great season, improved than it was final year,” he said,”but until you obtain the housing attention going again, it will be hardto obtain business rolling for us.”

Haberberger mentioned the seat business is heavily contingent onthe housing industry.

In the meantime, the store has been selling a lot of bedding “including box springs and mattresses ” and suit seat likereclining chairs and sofas.

“I are unaware what to regard this year is going to bring,”Haberberger said.

Brune Jewelry

Craig Brune, boss of Brune Jewelry in Washington, described2011 as an “okay year,” adding that during the XMas period “wehad the same number of customers as final year, but people were moreconservative and outlayed a small less.”

One direction Brune beheld of legal holiday shoppers was that “people puta lot of thought in to their gifts.” He mentioned many customerspurchased made to order or nauseating pieces.

Fancy-colored diamonds, such as black, blue, brownish-red and green,were renouned things this past year, he said, as was silver. Bruneexpects both of those things to go on to sell in 2012.

Brune moreover beheld an enlarge in repairs and replacement ofjewelry, that may be completed at the store.

In 2011, Brune mentioned he made considerably a few changes to streamlinethe correct department, that he hopes will help in the newyear.

Brune moreover hired other worker in 2011, so the companygrew.

The Fudge Shoppe and Main Street Gourmet

Kim Lutz, who functions with her mom Debbie Ballman at The FudgeShoppe and Main Street Gourmet in Downtown Washington, saidcombining the two stores was one of the bigger changes made in2011. The stores changed beneath the same roof tiles in February 2011.

Lutz mentioned the pierce made it simpler for customers who longed for giftbaskets that enclosed things from both shops.

“It gives them a ample wider operation of products,” she said.

Like the Lucy Gallery, Lutz mentioned she beheld an enlarge inconsumer certainty that helped the two stores have a goodyear.

“It’s taken a few years for a few customers to erect theirsavings back up, and they know what they can outlay for theholidays,” she said.

Lutz mentioned she beheld customers focusing on high quality overquantity of items.

Also similar to the Lucy Gallery, she beheld an enlarge in sales asthe year progressed.

In 2012, Lutz mentioned she wants to concentration more on getting the wordout about the ice thickk cream they sell. They have updated an old-fashionedice thickk cream soft drink to their menu.

Washington Sears

Holiday sales is to Sears Hometown Store in Washington, whichis the time period from only before Thanksgiving to afterChristmas, were up about 3 percent.

Demea Loyd, who owns the store with her spouse Jim, mentioned whilemany stores non-stop progressing than standard Black Friday, the WashingtonSears non-stop at 4 a.m.

“On Black Friday, you were up only a hair, but over that weekend,we were down,” Demea Loyd said.

“I was gratified overall,” she mentioned of business in 2011.

Fitness apparatus was a big seller compared to formerly years,she noted.

“Christmas is always big for appliances and TVs, but you alsosell thinkpads and not as big electronics,” Loyd said.

One direction she beheld in 2011 was that more customers wereshopping locally instead of going to St. Louis. Free shipping onmany things may have been a contributing reason to that, shesaid.

Loyd mentioned business was up in 2010 since a stimuluscustomers could take on appliances, that was not existing in2011.

“That was a complicated strike you didn’t have this past year,” shesaid.

In 2012, the Sears Store will look at new building skeleton that haveworked at other Hometown stores. Loyd mentioned the new building outline willhelp manifestation mattresses better.

A new tractor lineup moreover is scheduled to advance to Sears in2012.

Hillermann Nursery Florist

Sandi Hillermann McDonald of Hillermann Nursery Florist,Washington, mentioned prime is routinely the “make-it-or-break-it”time of year, observant that the firm does about 60 percent of itsbusiness between Mar and May.

However, she mentioned the business “didn’t strike its numbers” in thespring of 2011, and the weather was a contributing factor.

The drop period was “fantastic,” she said, observant that “fall andChristmas hold their own.”

Overall, she mentioned there was not an enlarge in business in 2011,but furious bird items, uninformed greenery and XMas plants did verywell.

“We have lots of new things programmed for 2012,” she said, notingthe hothouse will use more amicable media, QR tags and emissourian’sMarketplace to publicize the business.

Hillermann McDonald mentioned new departments, rearranging andremerchandizing items, new outward lighting in the landscapingdepartment and new plants are all programmed for this year.

The hothouse moreover will associate with Mercy Hospital Washington forits illness satisfactory and beginning its winter classes Feb. 23.

IB Nuts Fruit Too

Kristy Stoyer, co-owner of IB Nuts Fruit Too on FrontStreet in Washington, mentioned she and her mother, co-owner BarbHillermann, were both gratified with their initial legal holiday period atthe store.

The ladies paid for the store in September.

“We jumped right in to scheming is to holidays,” Stoyer said.”We are thankful to all our customers who helped us have a greatfirst season.”

Stoyer mentioned law present baskets, strikebreaker booze eyeglasses andMissouri wines were renouned legal holiday gifts.

The store is already expanding its preference for 2012.

This week Stoyer mentioned the store is adding reward liquorsincluding Grey Goose vodka.

“We’ll moreover underline featured item things inclusive Godiva liqueursand the new Chocovien wines, only in time for Valentine’s Day,” shesaid.

Stoyer mentioned there moreover are skeleton to offer smoothness service tocustomers.

That service will be scored equally in to the store’s website at www.ib-nuts.com , she said.

“Local businesses that would similar to to be on the highway can justcall us at 636-390-4438 to obtain set up,” Stoyer said.

Mattress Makers

Josh Patridge, owners of Mattress Makers in Washington, saidChristmas sales were slow, but in on the whole 2011 was good.

“It’s been a great year for us,” Patridge said. “It’s our secondyear in business and it was improved than the initial year.”

Best sellers add Tempur Pedic mental recall foam mattresses andlatex mattresses.

“People have been getting divided from the innerspring mattressesand going with the all foam mattresses,” Patridge said.

In 2012, Patridge mentioned he will be perplexing to refurbish products and”try to fit a few of the niches we’d been omitted before,” by addingnew styles of mattresses and more featured item bedding.

“We’re focused on featured item bedding that’s going to fit morespecifically in to people’s lifestyles ” inclusive assorted shapes,sizes and soothe levels people need,” Patridge said.

Urban Accents

Urban Accents, that had its initial full year at its new locationin the Washington Square Shopping Center in 2011, had a “prettygood year,” according to Pam Brandt, store manager.

The legal holiday period proposed off slow, that was expected.

“It was understandable, with the manage to buy the way it is,” shesaid. “Everyone waited until after Black Friday and then it pickedup.”

The complementary valuables was a great seller, she said.

“It’s unequivocally starting to take off. It’s a unequivocally great item forsomeone to obtain in to if they admire jewelry,” Brandt said.

The store hosted two qualification bazaars to benefit charities in thesecond half of the year and hopes to do more in 2012.

“We go on to add more newborn stuff and we’re perplexing to addstuff for teens,” Brandt said. “It is going opposite the house sothat hopefully any person can advance in and find something. We wish tokeep things local.”

Brandt mentioned the store expected will spread its valuables offeringsin 2012 too.

Other renouned things add nod cards and Seeds ofHappiness products.

“Prices at the store operation from 99 cents on up to aloft pricesfor things similar to seat and functions of art,” Brandt said. “We have awide cost operation that you hope can assimilate almosteverybody.”

Urban Accents moreover will be expanding online.

Brandt mentioned the objective is to upgrade communications withcustomers.

Discover Outdoors

Sales at Discover Outdoors in Downtown Washington were about thesame as final year, mentioned Ted Swoboda, store owner.

There wasn’t any one item that sole improved than others, he said,but not as big sheet things were more renouned than higher-priceditems.

Swoboda mentioned he expects 2012 to sojourn flat.

“Last year you did a lot more advertising, invested more radioand print advertising, but numbers have stayed the same,” he said.”I’m not awaiting a lot of expansion this year. Things proposed offflat and probably will sojourn that way.”

Sowboda mentioned he will concentration on perplexing to obtain business from localresidents in the new year.

“Most of our business comes from people from surrounding areaslike Warrenton and New Haven. We don’t see a lot of business fromlocal residents,” he said. “I’m perplexing to look at ways to obtain morebusiness from local residents and perplexing to figure out products Ican bring in to obtain repeat business.”

Another objective is to put more concentration on Internet sales tosupplement the brick-and-mortar business.

In 2011, the store attempted lengthened hours, but probably willreturn to a normal report this year, Swoboda said.

Brown’s Shoe Center

Sales at Brown’s Shoe Center, Washington, were improved than lastyear, mentioned Missy Carr, manager.

“Sales from all of final year were obviously up,” Carr said,noting that the store’s mercantile year ends in July.

“From July by right away we’re still saying an increase,” shesaid. “Foot traffic is unquestionably on the enlarge either it’speople forthcoming in for definite purposes or only wanting to browse.Usually January is dead, but it’s been flattering busy.”

The New Balance brand was the store’s greatest seller, followedby Dansko and Red Wing boots, Carr said.

In 2012, Brown’s Shoe Center hopes to bring in a few new vendorsto add new shoe lines inclusive the Naot sandal line in thespring.

“We’re always expanding our promotional plans,” Carr said.”We’re going to be carrying out a sale at the sanatorium in March, whichwe’ve never completed before, and we’ll be getting in to new healthfairs.”

The shoe core only teamed with the town of Washington and theShoe Man Water Project.

“We’re unequivocally vehement about that partnership,” Carr said.”People can drop off boots here or at the town recyclingcenter.”

The Art Center

The Art Center in Downtown Washington reported a solid year in2011, mentioned owners Jane Arnold.

“We were about the same as final year,” she mentioned about Christmassales and the year in general.

“It was nothing special, but sales were not down,” she added.”We were about even.”

Custom framing remained the shop’s greatest seller, followed byjewelry, according to Arnold.

“We moreover had a lot of paintings sell this year, that was nice.Flat art (two-dimensional works) and valuables sole well,” shesaid.

At Christmas, framing, jewelry, essential element art, and scarves were bigsellers.

In the forthcoming year, Arnold mentioned she would similar to to add moreaffordable artwork, either it’s valuables or organic art, wherepeople can suffer and use it.

“We moreover will attain out more to students,” she said. “We will behaving a few tyro shows and bringing people in (who) will enjoybeing in a art studio setting.”

Arnold hopes to have more shows and receptions than in 2011.

JW Cycles

Bob Jones, owners of JW Cycles, Washington, mentioned 2011Christmas sales and sales in broad were improved than the previousyear.

The shop’s greatest sellers were application vehicles similar to thePolaris Ranger and Kawasaki Mule.

Jones mentioned his objective for 2012 is “continued improvement.”

The emporium moreover will be appropriation a “major franchise” in the newyear, but Jones wasn’t ready to divulge any details.

Wal-Mart

Although the Washington Wal-Mart doesn’t obtain particular resultsfor the year, the store’s General Manager Blaise Warhurst saidsales were improved than in 2010.

“We go on to see a small expansion in business,” he said. “Lastyear was great for customers who go on to look is to essentials inthese difficult economic times.”

Customers are selling more for essentials and for special eventslike Valentine’s Day and Easter, Warhurst said.

“Though Christmas, wiring one after another to be big with itemslike DVDs, games, televisions,” he said, “all of that pricescontinue to lessen as technology continues to increase.”

In 2012, Warhurst mentioned he thinks Wal-Mart will go on to seegrowth in both essentials and seasonal events.

There won’t be any leading changes in the new year, he said.

“We conclude customers and partners (who) go on to workhard for our customers,” Warhurst said.

JCPenney

Sales at JCPenney in Washington ended where they werepredicted to be, mentioned Carolyn Bresnahan, store manager.

“They were not improved or worse than you thought,” she said. “Theywere improved than 2010, but we’d hoped for more.”

Through December, sales were very good, mentioned Bresnahan, addingthat with warmer winter temperatures things similar to coats haven’t soldas well.

“Kids clothing have completed very well and women’s clothing have doneextremely well,” she said.

So far, the store doesn’t have any projections for 2012 as acompany.

“But the minimum is to outline to be even to final year,” Bresnahansaid.

The firm will shortly be rolling out a new strategy.

“We’re rising an interesting new strategy Feb. 1 and we’reinviting everybody to come together us in celebrating the new direction ofour company,” Bresnahan said, adding that she is not at autocracy todiscuss definite sum yet. More data will advance in a laterpress release.

“As far as fashion, I still see lean jeans everywhere,” shesaid. “For spring people can design a lot of nice bright, freshcolors ” mainly heat in the dim and neon colors.”

Walgreens

While the Washington Walgreens store executive declined tocomment, Walgreens sales opposite the republic increased 2.7 percent inDecember 2011 over the same month in 2010.

Target

Target corporate process prohibits particular stores fromcommenting to the press.

Kristy Welker, Target communications, mentioned nationally thecompany did have several best-selling things during the 2011 holidayseason inclusive Beyblade and Lalaloopsy toys, “Cars 2,” “HarryPotter,” “Twilight” and “The Hangover 2″ movies, Adele, MichaelBuble, Justin Bieber and Susan Boyle albums and 8GB Apple iPodTouch devices.

The firm reported a 2.6 percent enlarge in net sell salesfor a five-week period finale Dec. 31, 2011, compared to theprevious year.

Shoe Carnival

A deputy from the Washington Shoe Carnival mentioned pressinquiries have to go by the company’s corporate office. Amedia meeting number couldn’t be found in the company’swebsite.

The firm did situation a new let go for investors statingthat fourth-quarter total won’t be existing until mid-March. Thecompany’s fourth entertain will finish Jan. 28.

According to the release, Shoe Carnival expects fourth-quarternet sales to be in the operation of $181 to $182 million with”comparable store sales” down 3 to 3.5 percent from the previousyear. Individual store sum weren’t released.

Mark Lemond, boss and arch executive officer, saidfourth-quarter sales and earnings were impacted “by a reject inthe sale of boots, particularly women’s boots.

“We blame on this reject in considerable part to unseasonably warmweather,” Lemond said.

In mercantile 2012, the firm aims to open 30 stores inclusive intwo new markets, Dallas, Texas, and Puerto Rico.

The Missourian did endeavor to meeting other retailers, butseveral declined to experience or referred calls to theircorporate office.

Staff writers Paul Hackbarth, Karen Myers and Evin Fritschleall contributed to this story.

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