Holiday shopping in Fairfield stores helps local economy

Holiday shopping, which kicked off with Black Friday last week, is good for businesses in Fairfield.

?It?s been a great season so far,? said Mark Nebel, owner and manager of Brown?s Shoe Fit Company. ?We?re excited. We?re up significantly from last year. The Black Friday weekend was the best the store has ever had.?

Nebel saw many new faces in the shoe store last weekend, leading him to believe more community residents were shopping locally before heading out of town.

?For a town our size, we have a lot to offer,? he said. ?If you give retailers here a chance and look hard enough, you can find everything you need.?

?Fairfield shops have such a eclectic selection,? said Pam Slowick, owner of Thymely Solutions. ?There are many items that you just don?t find at the mall.?

Slowick and Kim?s Kottage owner Kim Miller encouraged shoppers to shop locally.

?It enhances the economy of Fairfield,? explained Slowick. ?When you support the local retailers, it supports the local banks, it supports workers and their families ? it just goes ?round and ?round.?

?When you shop locally, you are supporting your hometown, your family-owned businesses, your friends and neighbors,? added Miller. ?I do as much shopping as I can downtown to support the community.?

Miller said the amount of shopping so far this holiday season at Kim?s Kottage has been ?wonderful ? up from last year.?

Miller said the store has been very busy with shoppers purchasing ?a little bit of everything? from Christmas décor, candles, clothing and more.

Slowick said the holiday shopping is just starting to kick in at Thymely Solutions.

?We have a strong clientele who buy health care products all year long, but they?ve put off gift shopping,? she said. ?The weather had been warm, so no one was in the mind set to shop for Christmas.?

For the complete article, see the Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.