but where are the shoppers?
With lights brightening its holiday wreaths and a red bow hanging from each lamppost along Fall River’s South Main Street, the only things that appear to be missing this season are the shoppers.
“I am afraid for the worst,” said Fernando Raposa, owner of Raposa Jewelry, located at 236 South Main St. “I think that this year people are afraid of the news they are hearing. There is talk about a slow economy ahead and I don’t think that people want to spend money. I am really afraid.”
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There is an air of apprehension being felt on main streets throughout Southern New England as a national economic slowdown and recent world events make this one of the most difficult holiday seasons to predict, or prepare for in years.
“You just don’t know what to expect,” said Nellie Mederios, owner of Fresh Flowers on Main Street in Bristol. “It’s been pretty steady so far, but you just never know.”
It seems that even those in the industry don’t know what to expect. In October, retail experts were calling for the upcoming holiday season to be one of the slowest in years. But now, only weeks later, that has changed.
“Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) was better than we expected,” said Paul DeRoche, executive director of the Rhode Island Retail Federation. “I think there was a lot of optimism that day and it spilled over into the weekend. The warm weather conditions have only made it better. I really think that consumer confidence and optimism is only going to grow during this holiday season.”
WESTERLY — If there is anything that will make this holiday season a successful one for merchants in downtown Westerly, it’s tradition.
“We have been here 97 years,” said Joyce Ruisi, of Woodmansee’s Gifts and Boutique on Broad Street in Westerly, one of the main thoroughfares in the area’s historic shopping district. “This year isn’t different than any other. We are filled with merchandise and are excited about the holiday season. People know us. They know the street. That’s what will make it successful.”
For third generation owner of Bea Smith’s clothing store, Raymond Smith, the season has already gotten off to a good start.
“I did a major promotion the day after Thanksgiving and ended up with the largest single day of sales that I have had in 18 years,” he said. “That to me is absolutely positive. It shows me that people came here instead of going to the mall. I think that people really want to stay close to home this year and that means shopping on Main Street.”
Sandra and John Gulino, owners of Polly and Woggs gift store, which recently doubled in size, are superstitiously knocking on their wooden counter.
“This has been absolutely amazing,” Sandra Gulino said. “We have heard a lot about a recession and it’s almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. But we haven’t seen it. People here are really positive and excited about the holiday season and I think that will continue.”
BRISTOL — With a warm salty breeze blowing through the area’s main retail street the first week in December, merchants find themselves as confused about the upcoming holiday shopping season as they are about the weather.
“You start to have a couple of good days, and then you have a couple of bad days,” Richard Glazier, said of business and his store Harbor Wicks ‘n Gifts located on State Street in Bristol. “I thought that as a result of the events of September 11 that people wouldn’t want to go to the mall, they would instead want to stay close to home. But that doesn’t appear to happening.”
Part of the problem, said Janet Wolfe, owner of Good Books, located around the corner from Glazier on Hope Street, is that people are almost being discouraged from shopping.
“The news that everyone is hearing isn’t positive,” she said. “We just keep hearing over and over that we are in a recession. On top of that we are still dealing with the effects of September 11. The result is that we have had to be much more conservative in preparing for this holiday season. We have to order a little less, and because it has already been a little slow, can only hope to keep our head above water.”
Still some of the area’s businesses are already having a good season.
Wayne Kneeland, owner of The Toy Shop on Hope Street, said his sales are already up from last year at this time.
“We have already made up for a slow period that we (experienced) as a result of September 11,” he said. “I think if the November numbers continue and the numbers increase, it’s going to look very good for us. Of course, it’s never a sure thing until it’s over, but I am extremely optimistic.”
FALL RIVER – Scattered between the windows decorated with holiday displays and lights are empty storefronts – an all too ominous sign for some merchants on South Main Street in Fall River.
“All you can do is run a sale, hang decorations, and hope for the best,” said Alan Leach Jr., owner of Summerfield’s Custom Framing and Art Gallery, located at 78 South Main St.
“I was really concerned in November because I seemed to take a hit, but people seem to be coming back. To be honest, most of my business comes from people working in the industrial area, I have learned not to depend on foot traffic,” Leach added.
The district’s inability to attract shoppers year-round has left some storeowners a little leery about the upcoming holiday season.
Bill Reis, owner of William’s Jewelry, say it’s difficult to predict what to expect leading up to Christmas.
“It’s going to be different, yes, but every season is different,” he said. “It’s hard to say what is going to happen, but I like to think that our personal service will bring people to the store. In retail it’s about repeat business and referrals. That’s what we depend on.”
Despite their difference all of the storeowners seem to agree on one thing — it’s too early to predict and too late to change their preparations.
“By this time we have usually seen people coming in for certain merchandise or to put things on layaway,” said Fernando Raposa, owner of Raposa Jeweler at 236 South Main St. “That usually tells us what and how much to order. This year we haven’t seen that. Maybe people are doing more last minute shopping, we just don’t know. All we can do now is wait.”
