The key words during the holiday season in La Grange were “shop local” and it appears that customers took heed.
The La Grange Business Association is calling the holiday shopping season that extended from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve a success.
“Our merchants reported much higher satisfaction with the holidays,” said Nancy Cummings, executive director of the association. “It seems there was a lot more buzz about shopping local.”
Though Cummings said no comprehensive sales figures are yet available, she said the business association asked local businesses to let them know how they performed during the holidays.
Jayne Boutique, 20 W. Harris Ave, reported a 60 percent increase in sales over 2014, The Urban Mutt, 31 S. La Grange Road, had a 30 percent increase, Ceramic Art Café, 26 S. La Grange Road, reported a 15 percent increase, Vino E Birra, 15 W. Burlington Ave. and Primal Oceans Salt Cave, 8 S. La Grange Road, each had a 10 percent increase.
Two businesses that opened in 2015 reported their sales were better than expected. Anderson’s Bookshop reported a 5 percent increase over projected sales, and Olivaceto, 77 S. La Grange Road, reported a 50 percent increase over their projection.
Josie Revas-Garcia, co-owner of Olivaceto, said Small Business Saturday, a nationwide event that promotes shopping at small businesses, was a big hit.
“You couldn’t even walk in the store,” she said. “It was such an abundance of people and 90 percent didn’t know who we were. We had fantastic sales.”
This is the first year for the store, which sells virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, teas and honeys, so Revas-Garcia said they didn’t know what to expect for the holiday season. They kept their projections conservative but were pleased to exceed them by such a great margin.
The store was so busy Revas-Garcia offered to deliver gift baskets personally to towns within a certain radius including La Grange Park and Western Springs so customers would not have to wait.
One of those who shopped local was Carolyn Kline of La Grange Park. She purchased 8 gift baskets.
“I love the flavors at Olivaceto and how much fun the gift baskets are to give,” she said.
She prefers to shop at small businesses because of the increased customer service.
“The service is definitely so much more personal,” Kline said.
Cummings credited a marketing campaign dubbed Unwrap La Grange for a Hometown Holiday as one reason the holiday season was a success. It was the second year of the campaign that featured special events, giveaways, raffles and TV appearances by local merchants and LGBA representatives. Shoppers who spent at least $300 during the campaign were eligible to receive certificates worth $30 to spend at LGBA member businesses.
More than 25 shoppers earned those certificates, Cummings said.
La Grange Finance Director Lou Cipparrone has said the promotion had a positive impact on sales tax receipts in its first years. Sales tax revenue jumped to $182,848 in December 2014 compared to $160,943 the prior year. Receipts in January 2015 were $130,883, compared to $127,799 for January 2014.
Anne Bourjaily, manager of Alixandra’s Collections, 126 W. Calendar Ave., said she appreciates the promotion done by the LGBA.
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“It always helps whenever they do something like that,” she said.
She said her store did not see a big jump in sales, but performed well.
“I’m thrilled that it stayed on pace with last year,” she said.
The warm weather didn’t hinder sales even through Bourjaily believes shoppers go to the large malls when the weather is warm because there is not as much snow and cold to hinder walking around.
Sally Araceli, who owns Aracely Bakery, 15 W. Harrison Street, said she’s hoping the afterglow of a successful holiday selling season will extend into the future. She believes downtown La Grange is seeing more visitors in general.
“I just see a lot more traffic,” she said.
The next big holiday for many of the retailers is Valentine’s Day and Bourjaily expects her customers from La Grange to make it a point to visit her store.
“La Grange is a supportive community,” she said. “They support their businesses.”
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