Christmas rush benefits local economy as residents hurry fill
their lists
Personal electronics may be popular gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwaanza, but more “traditional” gifts are also selling this year, at least in Morgan Hill, and many retailers say this is a good year.
“We’ve been busy, lots of people shopping,” said John Castro of South Valley Bikes. “We have a lot of bikes on hold.”
Morgan Hill business owners have urged residents to shop in town, rather than heading south to visit the outlets and the “big box” stores that have been springing up around Gilroy, or north to San Jose, Los Gatos or Mountain View to shop.
The shop-locally message may be working, at least for some businesses.
“We’ve been very busy,” said Shelly Fast, co-owner of the Goddess Bead Shop. “Our business has doubled. We just moved into a new space in the downtown mall building, and we’re very happy in the new location. We have a lot of people coming in to create their own Christmas gift, but we also make a lot for people. And if you need something in a hurry, we have beautiful pre-made jewelry, plus lots of accessories.”
Downtown merchants are not the only businesses reportedly having a good Christmas shopping season.
“I’m actually a little ahead of last year,” said Pam Leonardi, owner of Facial Retreat, just north of Vineyard Town Center on Monterey Road. “Things are busy, but not crazy. Sometimes there will be, a few days before the holiday, a mad rush, like people realize, ‘I’m spending all this time getting things ready for other people, I’ve let things go,’ or, ‘I’ve got a big party coming up, and I haven’t had any time to do anything for myself.'”
Leonardi, who offers waxing and tinting services as well as facials, said the holiday season is busy for most people, and sometimes they don’t take time for their routine cosmetic care. She said often she is busier after the holiday season, when people are redeeming gift certificates and taking advantage of her annual sale.
The days just before Christmas can be hectic for many, not just retailers, and between shopping, decorating, cooking and holiday parties, some residents need a lift, Leonardi said.
The Morgan Hill Tobacco Company helped make one long-time Morgan Hill resident’s day.
“I just bought my last gift – and I’m so happy – at the cigar shop downtown” said Carol Szczepaniak. “It feels really good to be finished.”
Szczepaniak said she tries to support Morgan Hill retailers by doing most of her shopping in town.
At the Tobacco Company, holiday sales are “about the same” as last year, according to part-owner Steve Boyce.
“Fathers’ Day, or right before Fathers’ Day, is usually our busiest time of the year,” he said Monday. “Although we do get busy around Christmas, too.”
Foot traffic downtown, Boyce said, is “getting better every year,” though still not what most downtown business owners would like to see.
“It doesn’t compare to Saratoga, or Los Gatos, for example,” he said. “But all these new shops and businesses, that could improve traffic.”
No matter how appealing the stores, however, some people don’t start shopping until just days away from Christmas.
Marge Wynatt, coming out of the TJ Maxx in Vineyard Town Center, said she felt “flustered.”
“There is so much more I have to do,” she said. “I let the time get away from me, and now I’m rushing around like a crazy person. But I guess it just wouldn’t feel like Christmas for me without the last minute things.”
