Northeast Arkansas Businesses, Officials Optimistic About Black Friday

The weather is expected to be nice over the Thanksgiving weekend and retailers are hoping it translates into even nicer sales for businesses in Northeast Arkansas.

Ashlyn Kohler, marketing director for Gearhead Outfitters in Jonesboro, said the recent cold weather helped the clothing and running equipment store sell a lot of outer wear.

The business has two locations in Jonesboro – on Main Street and in the Mall at Turtle Creek. Kohler said the downtown store gets a lot of customers from the Jonesboro area, while the mall store sees a lot of people from Northeast Arkansas.

As for getting ready, Kohler said the business usually starts in August training employees for the holiday rush.

The stores will be open Thanksgiving night and early on Friday to deal with the onslaught of customers, Kohler said.

Mark Sanders, store manager at Sissy’s Log Cabin in Jonesboro, said recent good news with the economy has put a little more money back into the hands of customers.

Sanders said the Christmas holidays usually bring in customers wanting to buy a Christmas gift or an engagement ring.

Sanders echoed the statement made by Kohler. He said the Jonesboro store draws customers from Northeast Arkansas, West Tennessee and Southeast Missouri.

Sanders also said it was too early to tell what the major gift will be this year, but said his store sees a lot of traffic.

“We don’t do much e-commerce. We have people who want to hold the jewelry in their hand (before buying),” Sanders said.

SHOPPING ECONOMICS
According to our content partner, The City Wire, the National Retail Federation’s Thanksgiving Weekend Expectations Survey noted Monday some possible differences in shopping this year.

According to the survey, 61% said they will or may shop Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday this week while another 32 percent said they would wait on deals before shopping.

Locally, officials are hoping for a good season.

Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce president Mark Young said the stores and restaurants in Jonesboro will likely see an uptick in sales this weekend.

In addition to Black Friday, it is also a big weekend for college football.

ASU will play its final home game of the season Saturday against New Mexico State, with a bowl bid in the balance. Also, the Arkansas Razorbacks play a nationally televised road game Friday against Missouri.

“It will be a big, big weekend. There will be lots of activity. Anytime, people purchase a good or service, it is positive for the economy,” Young said.

Both city and county officials are also hoping for a strong holiday season.

Craighead County Treasurer Terry McNatt said the county has rebounded somewhat in sales tax revenue this year after a slow start.

“It has trended up, but at a snail’s pace,” McNatt said.

After negative numbers in January through March, the county has seen increases in seven of the last eight months.

McNatt said the county collected $1,522,104.75 – a 4.3% increase in revenue over the same time in October 2013.

As for December, McNatt said he is hopeful the county will see roughly the same amount.

Jonesboro also hosts the Northeast Arkansas basketball tournament during Christmas, which draws a lot of people to town.

“People go to Jonesboro for their shopping needs,” McNatt said. “It is going in a positive direction, but people are still very cautious. In the new economy, people are cautious in their purchases but buy what they need.”

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin said his city collected a little over $1 million in sales tax revenues in October – a 5% increase compared to the same time in 2013.

Perrin credited the increase to more retail options in Jonesboro.

“I would have to attribute it to retail. We hope to continue the growth commercially. We have also budgeted conservatively,” Perrin said.