Some local shops notice fewer Black Friday customers during coronavirus pandemic
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Some downtown Columbia shops say they're not seeing as much traffic this year for a Black Friday taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Some, such as Makes Scents, have closed their stores to the public and are hosting their Black Friday sales strictly online. Speckled Frog Toys and Books in downtown Columbia requires that shoppers make an appointment.
An employee at Tallulahs said the shop is trying to meet customers' shopping needs, be it in-store, curbside or online.
"It's whatever the customer prefers, it's whatever the customers want," said one employee.
Fringe Boutique in downtown Columbia saw less foot traffic Friday than in previous years.
“I would say it’s been a little bit slower, it’s still early, but so far I feel like it’s been slower than it’s been in the past," co-owner Morgan Pingel said Friday morning.
New coronavirus cases are being diagnosed at record rates as the fall surge continues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled Black Friday shopping a risky activity and encouraged consumers to shop online to reduce the chances of spreading the coronavirus. Health officials in Boone County encouraged shopping local but using curbside pickup.
The National Retail Federation is forecasting an increase in sales this holiday season of between 3.6% and 5.2% despite the pandemic and its drag on the economy. Sales increased 4% last year, the federation said. Online and other non-store sales are expected to jump 20% to 30%.
In Boone County, businesses are under capacity restrictions and mask requirements associated with the county's COVID-19 health order.
Pingel said Fringe Boutique had a special online sale that started earlier in the week.
"We did a sales tab online and we started that on Wednesday, actually to encourage people to start shopping early, maybe encourage less people coming in the store as much," Pingel said. "Usually we have quite a bit of a crowd on Black Friday, but we’re happy to see people in-store of course."
Pingel said the store wants to offer options to help customers feel safe however they choose to shop. Pingel said Fringe is also looking forward to Small Business Saturday -- an answer to Black Friday that focuses on locally-owned stores.
"I feel like people typically go to more box stores on Black Friday and then they come to shop small on Saturday so I feel like that will be a good tell (regarding sales volume) then," Pingel said.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
