Retailers find relief in late shoppers

Published 4:05 pm Thursday, April 30, 2009

By Teresa Herriman, The Courier-Herald

Bonney Lake retailers are breathing a sigh of relief this holiday season. It appears most stores experienced average holiday sales, but it was the last-minute shoppers who saved the season.

Michael Garrett, store director for Fred Meyer on state Route 410, reported sales ahead of last year.

"It's nice to see given the fact of the economy and also the latest round of Boeing layoffs," he said.

He also reported the mood among customers seemed a bit cheerier this year. The approximately 209 employees at the Bonney Lake Fred Meyer store always support those among them in need during the holidays. Typically, the employees assist between five to 10 families, he said. This year, however, only two employees needed holiday meals and gifts. "It was a really good season," he said.

Game Stop manager, Nick Frankie said sales were slow heading into Christmas, but "the week before Christmas was huge."

The store, located at Cedarview Plaza on state Route 410, didn't feel like Christmas until a few days before, Frankie said.

Alyce Gerard, co-owner of Backyard Birding and Nature Center near the Office Depot on state Route 410, said holiday sales for the specialty store were about the same as last year leading up to Christmas. She also reported an surge of last-minute shoppers. "I had a big Christmas eve," she said.

Teresa Herriman can be reached at therriman@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald