Holiday shopping season was good in Marion
A quick survey of Marion merchants following the Christmas holiday found unexpected results — business was better than anticipated, in fact it was good.
Negative publicity in the national media, blaming poor business on the Sept. 11 terrorist tragedy, didn't appear to hold true in Marion.
Debbie Buchholz of Marion Health Mart Pharmacy said "business was up, sales were better than last year." She explained that last year was also up, following four years of downturns. She said sales in 2001 were "better than anticipated." However, Buchholz said, "being open on Sundays did not prove to be productive." She indicated they will need to face that issue next year.
At Seacat True Value Hardware, recently moved from downtown to a new facility on U.S.-56, Brad Seacat said sales were much better than when they were downtown last year, and better than anticipated but need to continue to improve to justify their huge investment.
Anita Seacat agreed, "and we sold a lot more home improvement items."
They are busy with details to make the newly relocated store complete, when they will hold a public open house.
Restaurant owners in and near Marion were in agreement that their holiday party business was not as good as expected. "Too many employers took their staff to expensive parties in other places." One owner suggested that local businesses should do a better job of supporting local businesses.
A quick survey of several stores in the business district found only one which reported that business was down this holiday season.
"It was definitely down," Duckwall's manager Janie Meierhoff said. She felt the warm balmy weather had a big bearing on it. "Folks went out of town." She reflected that last year's ice storm helped. But, on a happy note, she said the two days after Christmas had been "fantastic" at the store in Marion.
Berniece Beach of the HRK Store said it was the best Christmas shopping season she could remember in the 19 years they had been in Marion. "It went smoothly, there were fewer than the normal number of grouches, and people seemed to be in the Christmas spirit."
She said the first week, following Thanksgiving, was poor — probably because of the balmy weather. But the last week was "fantastic."
"People were back to the basics," she said, "and there was a friendly atmosphere." She said the sale of toys was the best in the past three years. "People were in the mood for Christmas."
The Marion County Record annual Christmas promotion "Christmas on Us" also was a success. There were fewer people at the drawing on Saturday, but prizes were claimed quickly. The big winner, Forrest Kelsey, spent his $1,000 prize at a participating store: Baker Furniture of Peabody. A quick accounting indicates that nearly a half-million dollars in sales was produced by the contest..
