Holiday sales get rave review
by Cheryl Gilman

If shopping malls seemed empty this year, it was because Santa and his reindeers were busy in downtown Ojai. Contrary to national news reports of dismal holiday shopping, the merchants on Ojai Avenue are smiling about a better-than-expected season.
Jeff Rains, of Rains Department Store, felt people were feeling positive. "I heard lots of times, 'I'm shopping locally this year,'" he said.
Although customers waited in long lines to check out at Rains' famous after-Christmas sale, Rains said, "This is nothing compared to the day before Christmas - which really surprised us. We were swamped!"
Hallie Katz of Human Arts said, "Things really picked up in the last few weeks in December and, all I know is that we wrapped a lot of boxes! Ojai has been very fortunate because it has been somewhat removed, and still many people came up from L.A."
Kim Phillips and Laurie Harvey opened the doors of The Pink Crow during Ojai Day this year, and can't believe their good fortune. "I'm stunned, in fact," said Phillips. "We did fabulous. But we're brand-new and didn't know what to expect. People are coming in to buy more of the gifts they got on Christmas day. The tourist business has been amazing and the Holiday Stroll even surpassed Ojai Day for us."
Ginger Cochrane at True West also said, "Holiday business has been much better than expected. People are still shopping for small luxuries."
Nancy Pierson said that business at Punky's Provence and Down Home Furnishings has been fantastic this year. "Perhaps people are staying home and splurging on themselves and their homes. They are coming to Ojai rather than traveling abroad. One man said he had canceled a trip to Turkey and came to Ojai instead."
"Christmas shopping at Primavera was far ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, which is unusual," Khaled Al-Awar reported. "We are very grateful to Ojai because 75 percent of our business comes from the community."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

Back to the news