GREAT FALLS — For many people, the holiday season has already begun - and that means holiday shopping is underway.
Real Deals owner Monique Meehan is optimistic about the 2020 holiday shopping season: "I think more people are staying around home I think they've kind of learned home is a priority right now, and family is, so I think we'll probably be where we were in years past.”
According to the National Retail Federation, trying to forecast this holiday shopping season is like trying to put together a puzzle without all the pieces.
In February, the organization expected retail sales overall in 2020 to be up between 3.5% and 4.1% compared to last year, but that was assuming the coronavirus wouldn't become a global pandemic.
Meehan is counting on a busy holiday season: "We always have a bunch of events, so this is kind of the time of year when we do more of those to attract people."
At Klover, owner Kristina Remsen is not sure what to expect this year. "I think this holiday season is just another example of how we're figuring out new ways to do business,” she said.
Those new ways include options such as private shopping parties and private shopping appointments.
"Holiday season is kind of a make-it-or-break-it moment for small businesses in terms of our year, so we're hoping that it's going to be busy. We're hoping that we can make our customers feel comfortable coming out and shopping and supporting local business,” Remsen said.
So get your wallets ready, and let the shopping begin...if it hasn't already.
