SYRACUSE — Business owners in Syracuse’s Armory Square are expecting a holiday season that brings more than just cheer. Some retailers tell CNYBJ they expect to see a jump in sales in the period from Thanksgiving to the New Year compared to the same time last year. “It’s going to be insane, just crazy,” says […]
SYRACUSE — Business owners in Syracuse’s Armory Square are expecting a holiday season that brings more than just cheer.
Some retailers tell CNYBJ they expect to see a jump in sales in the period from Thanksgiving to the New Year compared to the same time last year.
“It’s going to be insane, just crazy,” says Cathy Pemberton, owner of Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen at 266 W. Jefferson St.
For Pemberton, the holiday season has always been busy. She began making cookies by herself — primarily using a church kitchen — and selling them at junior league events and craft fairs three years ago. But this is the first full holiday season she has a brick-and-mortar store, which she says makes her business more visible and allows her to have more resources to make more cookies. She opened the store just after Christmas last year.
Pemberton made about 200 dozen cookies last holiday season. This year, she expects to produce well over 500 dozen.
“We’ve always had a tremendous holiday season, but with the store, I think we’ll triple or more what we’ve done in the past,” Pemberton tells CNYBJ.
So far, about 60 percent of Pemberton’s business comes from walk-in traffic, she says. The rest is from local businesses who order cookies for their offices in bulk. Her biggest customers are doctor’s offices, she notes.
Jesse Wilson, owner of Ish Guitars at 410 S. Franklin St., also expects sales to surge this holiday season. While it’s too early to crunch the numbers for the entire period, Wilson says the high-end guitar store had its best Black Friday to date, doubling sales compared to last year.
“The whole country is spending more money and people are just being looser with their money, both for the low-priced gifts and also for the high-end items,” Wilson says.
Ish Guitars has a strong online presence, which Wilson says helps boost sales. The best-selling products tend to be gifts for those just starting out, such as ukuleles and guitars for beginners. The more expensive items also have been selling well, Wilson says, because people are splurging on gifts for others or themselves during the holidays.
Nick Shelton, general manager at The Sound Garden, an independent record shop at 310 W. Jefferson St., says sales have been solid, but he hasn’t seen a noticeable increase from last year so far. He adds that he hopes by the end of this holiday season, sales will eventually top last year’s numbers.
“So far, it’s been good, but we’re waiting to see,” Shelton says. “Everyone always anticipates and hopes for a good season.”
The two weeks before Christmas are generally busy, following a slower period just after Black Friday, says Shelton. Classic vinyl records, such as those from The Beatles and David Bowie, as well as popular releases typically sell in higher numbers.
Nationally, holiday spending is expected to increase as well. The National Retail Federation forecasts that consumers will increase spending by 3.6-4 percent this holiday season compared to last year.
Post
Share
Tweet
Print
Email
Get our email updates
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
SYRACUSE — Business owners in Syracuse’s Armory Square are expecting a holiday season that brings more than just cheer.
Some retailers tell CNYBJ they expect to see a jump in sales in the period from Thanksgiving to the New Year compared to the same time last year.
“It’s going to be insane, just crazy,” says Cathy Pemberton, owner of Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen at 266 W. Jefferson St.
For Pemberton, the holiday season has always been busy. She began making cookies by herself — primarily using a church kitchen — and selling them at junior league events and craft fairs three years ago. But this is the first full holiday season she has a brick-and-mortar store, which she says makes her business more visible and allows her to have more resources to make more cookies. She opened the store just after Christmas last year.
Pemberton made about 200 dozen cookies last holiday season. This year, she expects to produce well over 500 dozen.
“We’ve always had a tremendous holiday season, but with the store, I think we’ll triple or more what we’ve done in the past,” Pemberton tells CNYBJ.
So far, about 60 percent of Pemberton’s business comes from walk-in traffic, she says. The rest is from local businesses who order cookies for their offices in bulk. Her biggest customers are doctor’s offices, she notes.
Jesse Wilson, owner of Ish Guitars at 410 S. Franklin St., also expects sales to surge this holiday season. While it’s too early to crunch the numbers for the entire period, Wilson says the high-end guitar store had its best Black Friday to date, doubling sales compared to last year.
“The whole country is spending more money and people are just being looser with their money, both for the low-priced gifts and also for the high-end items,” Wilson says.
Ish Guitars has a strong online presence, which Wilson says helps boost sales. The best-selling products tend to be gifts for those just starting out, such as ukuleles and guitars for beginners. The more expensive items also have been selling well, Wilson says, because people are splurging on gifts for others or themselves during the holidays.
Nick Shelton, general manager at The Sound Garden, an independent record shop at 310 W. Jefferson St., says sales have been solid, but he hasn’t seen a noticeable increase from last year so far. He adds that he hopes by the end of this holiday season, sales will eventually top last year’s numbers.
“So far, it’s been good, but we’re waiting to see,” Shelton says. “Everyone always anticipates and hopes for a good season.”
The two weeks before Christmas are generally busy, following a slower period just after Black Friday, says Shelton. Classic vinyl records, such as those from The Beatles and David Bowie, as well as popular releases typically sell in higher numbers.
Nationally, holiday spending is expected to increase as well. The National Retail Federation forecasts that consumers will increase spending by 3.6-4 percent this holiday season compared to last year.
" />
SYRACUSE — Business owners in Syracuse’s Armory Square are expecting a holiday season that brings more than just cheer. Some retailers tell CNYBJ they expect to see a jump in sales in the period from Thanksgiving to the New Year compared to the same time last year. “It’s going to be insane, just crazy,” says […]
SYRACUSE — Business owners in Syracuse’s Armory Square are expecting a holiday season that brings more than just cheer.
Some retailers tell CNYBJ they expect to see a jump in sales in the period from Thanksgiving to the New Year compared to the same time last year.
“It’s going to be insane, just crazy,” says Cathy Pemberton, owner of Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen at 266 W. Jefferson St.
For Pemberton, the holiday season has always been busy. She began making cookies by herself — primarily using a church kitchen — and selling them at junior league events and craft fairs three years ago. But this is the first full holiday season she has a brick-and-mortar store, which she says makes her business more visible and allows her to have more resources to make more cookies. She opened the store just after Christmas last year.
Pemberton made about 200 dozen cookies last holiday season. This year, she expects to produce well over 500 dozen.
“We’ve always had a tremendous holiday season, but with the store, I think we’ll triple or more what we’ve done in the past,” Pemberton tells CNYBJ.
So far, about 60 percent of Pemberton’s business comes from walk-in traffic, she says. The rest is from local businesses who order cookies for their offices in bulk. Her biggest customers are doctor’s offices, she notes.
Jesse Wilson, owner of Ish Guitars at 410 S. Franklin St., also expects sales to surge this holiday season. While it’s too early to crunch the numbers for the entire period, Wilson says the high-end guitar store had its best Black Friday to date, doubling sales compared to last year.
“The whole country is spending more money and people are just being looser with their money, both for the low-priced gifts and also for the high-end items,” Wilson says.
Ish Guitars has a strong online presence, which Wilson says helps boost sales. The best-selling products tend to be gifts for those just starting out, such as ukuleles and guitars for beginners. The more expensive items also have been selling well, Wilson says, because people are splurging on gifts for others or themselves during the holidays.
Nick Shelton, general manager at The Sound Garden, an independent record shop at 310 W. Jefferson St., says sales have been solid, but he hasn’t seen a noticeable increase from last year so far. He adds that he hopes by the end of this holiday season, sales will eventually top last year’s numbers.
“So far, it’s been good, but we’re waiting to see,” Shelton says. “Everyone always anticipates and hopes for a good season.”
The two weeks before Christmas are generally busy, following a slower period just after Black Friday, says Shelton. Classic vinyl records, such as those from The Beatles and David Bowie, as well as popular releases typically sell in higher numbers.
Nationally, holiday spending is expected to increase as well. The National Retail Federation forecasts that consumers will increase spending by 3.6-4 percent this holiday season compared to last year.
