It’s doubtful that dozens of Oak Harbor residents woke up this weekend feeling like they desperately needed to buy multiple poinsettia plants, but that’s the thing about Black Friday sales: they force people to go crazy for items they never even knew they wanted.
Oak Harbor residents Andrew and Ashleigh LaMaster left their house Friday morning with no shopping list in mind, but after browsing for a few minutes at Walmart, they had a cart full of stockings, decorations and what looked to be four or five of the infamous 99 cent poinsettias.
“We don’t have much shopping to do, but we just wanted some stuff for us,” Ashleigh LaMaster said.
“We didn’t really have a plan for Black Friday,” Andrew added.
In addition to their festive items, the couple said the best deal they scored was a new Blu-ray disc player for nearly $100 off.
Coupeville resident Elizabeth Bishop also visited Walmart on Friday without much direction, but she too managed to fill up a cart.
“I’ve just never been out on Black Friday, so I thought it’d be fun to go,” she said.
Walmart employees were dressed up in Santa outfits, donned holiday hats and wore jewelry made of wrapping paper to welcome the shoppers. Additionally, balloons marked with discount prices were handed out throughout the store.
Though their corporate office no longer permits employees to discuss figures with the media, a nine-year Black Friday veteran said the store remained as busy as ever despite the current economy.
It wasn’t just the larger chain stores that enjoyed steady business this weekend. Many employees of the smaller shops on Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor said they were plenty busy.
“It’s been fairly brisk in here,” Wind & Tide Bookshop worker Trista Cook said. “There’s been a lot of people in and out.”
Cook was pleased to see a few tourists stop in the shop on Friday and said they make up a large portion of holiday sales.
Another bonus for island stores this season is the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s shop local campaign which launched Friday. To encourage residents to keep shopping in the community, chamber members created the contest.
Chamber Special Events Coordinator Tammi Petty said, “We want to keep people shopping on the island to keep our local community thriving.”
For every $50 spent within the 98277 zip code between now and New Year’s Eve, people can receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win the Holiday Gift Tree, a tree decorated with local treasures and gift certificates.
To participate, people can turn in their local shopping receipts to the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Angelo’s Caffe or on Saturdays at Albertsons between 10 a.m. 2 p.m. The prize drawing will be at 1 p.m. on Dec. 20 at the Elks Lodge. For more information, people can email board member Jon Holland at j.holland@alaskausa.org or James Johnson at james@seatacshuttle.com.
