West Newsmagazine 11-18-20

32
HOLIDAY WISH BOOK
By JESSICA MESZAROS
The holiday season is a time to search
for gifts as perfect and unique as the loved
ones they’ll be gifted to, and if said gifts
can be purchased from local businesses,
it’s a win-win situation on all fronts.
According to data intelligence company
Morning Consult, 51% of shoppers
are open to exploring new brands when
buying gifts for the 2020 holiday season,
and 64% of shoppers said they still plan to
shop in-store. Many local businesses are
still open for the holidays and are stocked
with locally made or hard-to-find products
perfect for stuffing stockings or stowing
under the tree. All it takes is a little planning
upfront to help keep holiday shopping
equal parts seasonal and safe.
Be prepared to shop
Trying to juggle mask mandates and
social distancing can leave some shoppers
too discombobulated to open the front door.
To prevent confusion, many local retailers
have added signs or arrows showing how
crowds are meant to flow through the store,
including where entrances and exits are
located.
“All along, we’ve followed
every single recommendation
that was put
out there to provide
a comfortable
shopping
environment in
this pandemic,”
Mike Curran,
general manager
of Timberwinds
Nursery, said. “We
do control the flow, we
do control the entries and
exists, and those are all clearly
marked. In fact, if we anticipate a particularly
heavy traffic day, we usually have
people manned at the doors to explain to
people, ‘OK, this is how you get in, here’s
how you get out. How can we help you?’”
Shop local online
With the rise of e-commerce, many local
retailers also have created websites that
individuals can patronize to find unique
gifts when leaving home isn’t an option.
Many places, such as C.R. Frank Popcorn,
are offer online ordering in conjunction
with curbside pickup, which gives the consumer
multiple options depending on their
schedule comfort level.
“Our website has always been available
to use for tin orders; however, most people
November 18, 2020
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
Celebrate community SHOP LOCAL!
Three French Hens
in the past have used it only to place orders
to be shipped,” Susan Woltering, CEO of
Select Drink Inc. and C.R. Frank Popcorn,
said.
Ask for advice
Nobody knows a business’ best-sellers
more than its owner. When it comes to
holiday gift ideas, they can provide recommendations
for individuals
of all ages and interests.
This can not only help
cut down on idle
browsing time,
but build connections
with business
owners that
will carry over
into future visits.
“My customers
walk in the door,
and I know what many
of them are shopping for
because they often buy the same
things, and they have their favorites,” Deborah
Patterson, owner of Patterson Family
Farms in Wildwood, said.
Pick up curbside
Curbside pickup options and procedures
have become somewhat streamlined in the
past few months, but still may vary from
business to business.
Before ordering, touch base with a company
or check their website to find out what
their curbside procedures are. In the case of
C.R. Frank Popcorn, customers don’t even
have to leave their car.
“We ask that our customers call from the
parking lot, tell us what it is they want and
we gather their items and deliver it to their
cars,” Woltering said.
Even as C.R. Frank Popcorn looks at reopening
its showroom on Nov. 27, curbside
services will remain available for orders
as well to maintain customer comfort and
safety.
“Masks will be mandated and social
distancing (will be) enforced,” Woltering
said. “Once our customer has placed
their order, we will ask them to return to
their cars and we will bring the completed
order to them. We have created a path
through the showroom so traffic all flows
in one direction.”
Make it uniquely yours
Small business owners have more control
over the products and inventory in
their spaces, meaning more leeway when it
comes to customizing gift boxes or orders
to suit a customer’s wants or needs.
Patterson Family Farms
(Source: Adobe Stock)
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WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
“I think communities want to have small
businesses that they have those relationships
with, that they can trust, that they can
customize and they can call and ask ‘Can
you do this for me?’” Patterson said.
Those customization and personalization
opportunities even extend to corporate
gifts.
“We use (the company’s) logo, and that
represents that the gift is coming from them
and also that they are supporting local by
shopping at Patterson Family Farms,” Patterson
said. “That the items within the box
are also from local companies.”
Call ahead
If the availability of a specific item or
gift is causing shopper hesitation, picking
up the phone and calling can yield the
quickest answer.
“If people are looking for a specific something,
the best thing to do is call,” Curran
said. “There are many ways for us to get in
and see if we have a particular item.”
Many businesses also have Facebook
pages where customers can message a store
with questions and receive live replies.
According to Curran, multiple communication
channels proves that many businesses
are not only devoted to staying open,
but are continuing to find safe and effective
ways to keep customers serviced during
the pandemic and beyond.
“I’m very impressed by the responsiveness
I’ve seen through Facebook,” Curran
said. “It’s reminding people that these are
the stores that are there at the last moment.
These are the stores that employ people
you know. These are the stores that keep
the local economy going.”
(Jessica Meszaros photo)