The heads of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association and the Connecticut Restaurant Association are cautiously optimistic roughly halfway through this holiday season that this is shaping up to be a good year – as long as the weather continues to cooperate.
Tim Phelan, who has headed CRMA since 1995, said in a phone interview, “I feel like we’re in a good place. The holiday season got off to a good start. The first weekend was really solid with a lot of promotions and buildup. It proved to be a successful weekend in the malls and along Main Street.”
But Mother Nature could still have an effect on how this retail season turns out. The weather has been cooperative but one major storm could have a profound impact. “One of the worst things that can happen to retail in an unknown season like this is a day or two lost to weather. You can’t make those days up,” he said.
Phelan clarified that point by explaining that the shopping will still get done but not as enthusiastically. Shoppers who are pressed for time won’t linger and buy impulse items. Also, those early-bird shoppers won’t venture out for additional gifts.
Nicole Griffin, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said her members are seeing an upswing. “The holiday season is proving to be busy,” she added. Restaurants seem to be doing well this year even on slow nights like Mondays and Tuesdays, Griffin said. Businesses may be opting for holiday luncheons instead of the more expensive dinners but other private parties are picking up the slack.
Members of the association have weathered the down economy, she said, by using the entrepreneurial spirit made them start their own businesses to begin with. “They’re creative and come up with ideas to keep customers coming back,” Griffin said, adding that restaurant gift cards are selling well.
One holiday tradition that needs more time is Small Business Saturday, which was launched in 2010 by American Express. “[It] needs to mature a little bit to get on consumers’ and retailers’ minds and calendars,” Phelan said, to become part of the holiday shopping routine like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “We appreciate that American Express is doing it but it seemed to be off from last year,” Phelan said..
Employees unionize
Sales associates and other employees at seven Bob’s Discount Furniture stores have voted to join the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) with their co-workers, and soon will be negotiating a first contract.
The privately held company is controlled by Apax Partners LLP and the furniture store has undergone vast expansion. The stores are located in Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York.
Sales associates in Orange and Manchester were among the first to form their union, with Stamford, Conn., Manchester, N.H., Glendale, N.Y., Freeport, N.Y. following in recent weeks. UFCW officials said in a press release, “According to Furniture Today, Bob’s Discount Furniture had ‘estimated 2010 sales of $584.6 million’ at its 40 stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. The company recently expanded with three new stores in Maryland and Virginia, and opened its third distribution center in Perryman, Md.”
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‘Spend Local’ begins
For the second consecutive year, the Waterbury Regional Chamber has launched its economic development “Spend Local” program. The president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, Lynn Ward, said, “This program was initiated in 2010 and it provides area residents with opportunities to help preserve jobs by supporting local businesses and putting money back in their own pockets. In 2010, [more than] $75,000 was registered at our chamber’s www.spendlocal.net website from purchases made at local small businesses throughout our 13-town region.”
Ward stated that, “Although the Chamber encourages consumers to shop at Waterbury Regional Chamber member businesses, consumer can make purchases at any local business in our 13 town region, and send in their receipts. Simply by submitting receipts from any purchases made [through] Dec. 23, 2011, those consumers become eligible to win cash prizes. By visiting the website www.spendlocal.net, area consumers can find detailed information about the cash back program.”
Receipts are accepted from people who have shopped at businesses within the 13 towns encompassing the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s geographic area, which includes Southbury, Oxford, Middlebury, Woodbury, Bethlehem, Watertown/Oakville, Thomaston, Waterbury, Wolcott, Cheshire, Prospect, Naugatuck and Beacon Falls.
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Two openings
The South Windsor Chamber of Commerce announced the grand opening of Ganache Premium Cakes & Confections, located at 194 Buckland Hills Drive, Suite #1126, Manchester. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Dec. 2. For more information, contact owner Doaa Ammar of Ganache, Premium Cakes & Confections, at (860) 436-4852…. On Nov. 11, the McDonald’s of Bristol celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 646 Farmington Ave. in Bristol. As part of the celebration, the McDonald’s of Bristol donated $500 to the Bristol Library.
