Local cash registers were ringing up sales at the same pace or better than last year during the post-Thanksgiving start to the holiday shopping season, area merchants said Wednesday.
``We were up over last year _ we're doing fine,'' said Jess Haggerty, co-owner of Haggerty Ace Hardware at 5390 State Route 28 in Cooperstown and at the Price Chopper Plaza in Delhi. ``That's all I was looking for.''
Haggerty was among local retailers who said they would strive to keep up spending momentum by offering more sales and sending out fliers about specials.
The level of business locally reflected a report from the Retail Council of New York State that the season made ``a respectable start in the face of economic adversity,'' a media release from the organization said.
Fifty percent of surveyed merchants said their sales for the Black Friday weekend were equal to or better than the same period in 2007, the council said, and more than half of merchants said they were satisfied or pleased with results.
``The encouraging statewide results demonstrate how difficult it is to truly predict what consumers will do when they hit the stores for the holidays,'' said James R. Sherin, council president and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement. ``The bottom line is that this Black Friday weekend proved to be better than many expected and far better than most analysts predicted.''
Nancy Scanlon, co-owner of Sport Tech at 166 Main St. in Oneonta, said consumers indicated they would be shopping locally, which was unusual.
``We had a good weekend _ we were very pleased with the traffic,'' said Scanlon, chairwoman of Main Street Oneonta, a merchants organization.
Two other downtown retailers indicated satisfaction about sales, she said, and the restaurants were busy, which is a good sign.
However, the Retail Council said top purchases indicated consumers' concerns about the economy. Shoppers bought basics such as cold-weather essentials, including coats, gloves and sweaters, and other lower cost-items, including books and accessories.
``Everybody is watching their spending,'' Haggerty agreed.
But if consumers see values, they are willing to spend, she said, and shoppers haven't held back on buying lights and cords for holiday decorations.
``Consumers are cutting back on big-ticket items,'' said Victor Hanson, owner of Etc, Etc at Southside Mall.
Black Friday was ``excellent,'' he said, and traffic tends to be slow during the week. The retailer, which recently relocated within the mall, sells video games, lottery tickets, board and educational games.
``We'll be busy this weekend,'' Hanson said.
