Smaller Retailers Think Outside the Box

Big-box retailers stuffed a little entra something in customers' Christmas stockings this year: More store hours.

But not the little retailers.

The big retailers treated shoppers with a chance to visit their big-box stores a day before Black Friday. Toys R Us opened at 9 p.m. and -- including the supercenter in Lower Macungie -- opened at 10 p.m. on what some called Black Thursday instead of Thanksgiving.

The smaller retailers celebrated Thanksgiving at home with their families.

For owners of smaller retail stores in the Lower Macungie area, the move to extra store hours by the big-box retailers was met with a yawn.

None of those contacted adjusted from their normal shopping hours.

“The economy isn’t great right now," said Diane Frace, owner of in the Trexler Mall, which is sandwiched between Kohl's and Bon-Ton, which had early morning openings on Black Friday.

But Frace refused to budge from her store's usual 10 a.m. opening on Black Friday.

, at 5573 Hamilton Street, opened at the normal 10 a.m., said manager Polly Barr. “We don’t compete with the big stores,“ she said. “We are a resale shop, with slightly used clothing, furniture and our prices are one-third of new.’’

Barr wasn't sure her employees would welcome the late hours many big retailers demanded, saying "We're what an old American shop used to be."

at 3580 Brookside Rd., Macungie, opened at the usual 7:30 a.m. on Black Friday, said manager Ed Feist, adding that they didn't "do anything other than the usual."

“We’re doing as much as we usually do,” Feist said on Monday. “And there isn’t much on any Black Friday. Everybody’s at the mall. But following Black Friday, we had a good weekend.”

, 141 East Main Street, Macungie, was open the same time as usual on a Friday morning: 8 a.m.

“We’re a one-man band and try to service appliances the same day,“ said Jay Sherr, owner. "We work on washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers and other appliances."

He has seen no difference in his business since Black Friday or Cyber Monday, he laughed.  Sales aren’t his thing.

“No. Not with me,” he said. “Service is what we do here.”

Nancy DeBellis, a co-owner of at 109 E. Main Street, Macungie, is not intimidated by Walmart because “we are specialty sports in lacrosse and field hockey ’’and the big stores don‘t carry those goods.

"A field hockey stick can go from $27 to $200," she said. "A lot of things are sized."

They opened at noon on Black Friday, 12 hours after Walmart.

DeBellis felt no guilt. "We are specialty sports," she said.

  at 142 W. Main Street, wasn’t concerned about Black Friday hours. It opened the same time as usual: 9 a.m.

It is much busier a week prior to Christmas with flowing plants and fruit baskets, said owners Wanda Drey and Connie Sholl.

"We're not worried about being in the black now," Drey said. "It's the Christmas flowers and plants, and fruit backets that sell closer to the holiday.''

at 121 S. Main Street in Alburtis, displays art work and has hours by appointment only, said owner Peg McCormack.

"We don't have a lot of shop traffic," McCormack said. "Artists have classes here, and some of my artwork is for sale."

Even though there's not a lot of retail in downtown Alburtis, the community will come together Sunday for its third annual Christmas Festival which includes a breakfast with Santa, surrey rides, a doggie parade, a dinner at the Alburtis Community Center and a tree lighting ceremony.

It may not create a lot of retail business in the borough, but it’s bringing some excitement, she said.

at 5036 Hamilton Street, seldom has early plans for Black Friday, but they're ready by mid-day.

“Shoppers traditionally go to the big stores first -- and then they come here,” said owner Elaine Delong.

Twelve hours later.