TRAVERSE CITY -- Becky Thatcher found a new home for the holidays, and she hopes holiday shoppers will find it, too.
Northern Michigan merchants big and small are busy gearing up for Thanksgiving weekend, including the post-holiday Black Friday that kicks off the Christmas shopping season. Thatcher, a noted jewelry designer based in Leelanau County, will kick off the shopping season by opening a store Friday at 234 E. Front St. in the former home of DeYoung's craft store, a move from a site on West Front Street.
"We needed a change. We just didn't get the kind of traffic we were expecting," said Thatcher, who's also seen slower business at some of her other locations.
She hopes downtown attractions like the State Theatre and popular restaurants will translate to more customers.
"It's a great feel, and it's a building with a wonderful history," she said. "It's exciting to see everything coming together."
A few doors down, Bob Long pieced together a train set in the front window at Trains & Things Hobbies, where a model train display has entertained downtown shoppers for years. Long said he's optimistic about holiday shopping prospects, but acknowledged a bit of apprehension as tough economic times continue to dog many Michigan residents.
"This year, we don't know what to expect," said Long, the store manager.
Last year's shopping season started strong but ended "abruptly," he said, pointing to factors ranging from an especially wintery December last year to the sliding state and national economy.
As a result, Long said the store trimmed its inventory of higher-priced items and this season expects to move less-expensive toys, models and other hobby items.
"We're hopeful," he said. "We had a very busy summer, and we didn't expect that."
Retailers can find plenty of mixed messages in national holiday shopping projections. A survey this month of more than 8,000 consumers by the National Retail Federation showed that 134 million people will head out for holiday shopping this weekend. That's up almost 4.7 percent from the number of Thanksgiving holiday weekend shoppers last year.
More than 60 percent will head to discount and department stores, while 41 percent will visit electronics stores and 36 percent will hit clothing and accessory stores.
Other holiday shopping forecasts are more cautionary. A national Consumer Confidence Index released this week by The Conference Board showed shoppers are slightly more optimistic this season compared to last year, but remain concerned about rising unemployment rates that top 15 percent in Michigan and 10 percent nationally.
A board survey showed U.S. households plan to spend about $390 on Christmas gifts this season, down almost 7 percent from last year.
Major retailers will open their doors early and offer steep discounts to lure holiday shoppers. Kohl's along U.S. 31 in Garfield will open at 4 a.m. with "early bird" specials including 50 percent off a wide selection of toys, 60 percent off selected jewelry and $10 off coupons for every $50 spent.
"We are being very competitive on pricing," said Debbie George, who manages the Traverse City Kohl's. Store preparations will be completed by the close of business today and employees will arrive at 3 a.m. Friday to prepare for the rush.
"We're looking forward to it," George said. "It's our most-favorite day of the year."
Plenty of holiday shoppers also will be up early on Friday hunting for bargains. The NRF survey showed almost 29 percent of Friday shoppers will be in stores before 6 a.m., while 28.2 percent will hit the stores between 7 and 9 a.m.
More than a quarter of those surveyed also said they will shop online over the weekend.
But blitzes and bargains aren't for everyone. Dozens of shops in smaller northern Michigan communities will leave price slashing and midnight sales to others while they try and carve out their own retail niche.
Elk Rapids' merchants including Jane Whiting of Mill Creek Gifts plan a Holiday Open House on Saturday, hoping to attract consumers looking for a quieter, more personal shopping experience.
"The Black Friday thing is just not an issue here ... we're not a destination for big bargains," Whiting said. "We try to make it up with ambience and service."
