By By JONATHAN CLAYBORNE
Staff Writer
Shopkeepers reported brisk sales on Black Friday, so called because business owners hope the day’s totals will help put them in the black.
Despite a chill wind, downtown Washington was peppered with shoppers at mid-afternoon.
“It has been brisk, very good,” Betty Stewart, owner of Stewart’s Jewelry Store on Market Street, said of trade.
“We’ve sold a variety of things,” Stewart said. “We’ve had people shopping for themselves and shopping for others.”
The positive showing surprised Stewart and her sales staff, whose business usually picks up closer to Christmas.
Stewart’s held an open-house affair with refreshments, and some customers were on hand as the doors opened at 9 a.m., Stewart related.
“I am so thrilled,” she said.
Stewart added she was grateful for the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce’s “Buy Local Beaufort County, NC.” The promotional program encourages residents to keep their dollars at home this season.
“The customers have brought that up,” Stewart said of the chamber’s push.
Around the corner at Cat Bamboo Ltd. on Main Street, Jean Thompson predicted sales would increase over the weekend.
“There’s traffic,” Thompson said. “Most people are at the big-box stores. Tomorrow is probably going to be better.”
For Thompson, Friday was an average business day.
“All days at this time of year are pretty good,” she commented.
The cash register was humming at Amy’s Hallmark at Washington Square Mall, indicated Laurie Dawson, manager.
People were waiting outside the store when the doors opened at 9:30 a.m., Dawson shared.
“It’s been real steady all day,” she said, adding that the day’s biggest sellers were items from the Vera Bradley line.
About 60 people were waiting outside Ace Hardware on John Small Avenue as the doors opened at 7 a.m., said Rich Robinson, store manager.
“For anything that’s not called Wal-Mart, that’s good,” Robinson said.
Ace wasn’t as focused on electronics this year, unlike last year, he said.
“I prefer not to because this is a hardware store,” he said.
The day’s most significant sellers were Shop Vacs and tents for children, Robinson related.
“Everybody seems to be in a good mood,” he said. “That really helps.”