More than a year after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks flattened the national and regional economy, more shoppers are “buying local,” pleasing merchants and economic development officials alike.
“We’re off to a great start,” said Ken Porter, sales manager at Gottschalks department store, 200 W. First St., Port Angeles. “We are one of the company leaders for performance in November.”
Porter said he is seeing a sales trend of home department items, such as comforters and small appliances for gifts this holiday season.
Gottschalks is one 71 chain stores in Washington, California, Alaska, Oregon, Nevada and Idaho.
Like other larger department stores on the Peninsula, Gottschalks will open at 7 a.m. Friday to launch the shopping season.
The only major retailer to open earlier in Clallam or Jefferson counties is Wal-Mart, east of Port Angeles.
The store will open at 6 a.m. and remain open until 11 p.m. through Christmas Eve.
Mike Mudd, marketing manager for Swain’s General Store in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend, is as upbeat as Porter about this holiday season.
“With one week less shopping this year, I think it’s going to be a pretty dynamic season,” Mudd said. “People are going to realize they’ve only got five weeks now to shop.”
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The rest of the story appears in the Thursday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE, above, to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.