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Stocking up

Small, unique and local a definite Durango plus during Christmas

Durango merchants are preparing for an influx of holiday shoppers.

Christmas, one of the busiest seasons in retail, has many local shopkeepers dusting off their “help wanted” signs and stocking copious gifts for the season.

Nancy Juliana, co-owner of Beads and Beyond, hired an extra employee to work through the holiday season.

Because of the nature of the store, a more craft-oriented shop, she experienced an increase in traffic in early October. Most of the shoppers are do-it-yourselfers who gathered materials to make jewelry, she said.

“Traditionally we haven’t done anything on Black Friday, but we’ve been contemplating a do-it-yourself promotion or beading circle,” she said.

So far this year, Juliana said traffic has been about the same as last year.“People who make their own stuff come in a little earlier, but December shoppers want already-made gifts,” she said.

The shop plans to have plentiful inventory of various gifts and trinkets by Noel Night, Dec. 5.

Beads and Beyond celebrated its 22nd anniversary the first of the month. The key to its success?

“For downtown Durango, service is key,” Juliana said. “That’s what differentiates us from the big-box stores.”

Tim Wheeler, owner of Durango Coffee Co., said he started preparing for the holiday season by building inventory in October.

On occasion, Wheeler said he will rehire former employees to work part-time for the holiday season.

The coffee shop sells gourmet kitchen merchandise.

The shop’s top-selling items can vary, but stocking-stuffers, such as chocolates and bagged coffee are important for the shop. The “Be Local” coupon books also are a big seller, and will be available for purchase at the end of this week.

“A lot of people like to give a bag of coffee to the person they don’t know what to get,” Wheeler said. But if you want to be fancy, the shop has a variety of tea kettles, French presses and espresso machines.

“December is a pretty critical month and can make or break your year,” he said.

Wheeler said for the business to have a successful holiday season, owners should remind customers that they are there for them.

“Meet their expectations, and keep them happy,” he said.

Cathy Wakeman, owner of Animas Trading Co. on Main Avenue, said the store is currently hiring extra help for the holidays, particularly because college students on staff tend to go home for Christmas.

Monday afternoon, Wakeman was in the middle of restocking.

The top-selling items at Animas Trading this season are tights, infinity scarves, hats, gloves and sweaters, she said.

The holiday season is the second-busiest season for her store, she said. The busiest is summer.

Wakeman said her foot traffic has been about the same as last year.

She attributes the success of her business to good employees, keeping up with fashionable trends and having a good stock of unique merchandise.

vguthrie@durangoherald.com



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