Locals support town businesses by shopping small
Page 4 • Wednesday, December 3, 2014 • The Hammonton Gazette
SHOP, from Page 1
people prefer to holiday shop in town. The
Gazette traveled to seven select local businesses to talk to store owners and shoppers
about why it is important to purchase in town
instead of going to the mall or a “big box”
store.
Donna Boyer of Galloway Twp. was shopping at Encore for the Home, located on
Route 30 across from Pastore Farm Market.
Boyer is friends with store owner Stacey
Rodio and she discussed that she doesn’t buy
a lot during the Christmas holiday, but when
she does she makes sure she shops locally.
“I believe in supporting local businesses,
particularly people I know, like Stacey. I just
think it is important. The big box stores you
can get stuff at a reasonable price, but I think
shopping locally is more personable, it is
sweeter, it is more fun and I enjoy it. I would
probably spend more locally, but I don’t have
a lot of people to buy for. I hardly go to the
mall or any of that,” Boyer said.
A steady crowd filed in to shop at The
Golden Feather, located on Route 30 as well
as part of the Sindoni Lane plaza. Owner
Terri Sliwecki talked about the benefit of
shopping, locally, at stores such as hers.
“It helps the economy and all the other
businesses in that specific plaza as well.
Today, we are getting a lot of business and
it’s good to see. Black Friday we were down
a little bit, but I think because of this event
today people waited to come out. I am hoping the holiday shopping season brings more
shoppers out. Each year we have
done better and better with sales.
Hopefully with some recent news
about the economy being better it
will bring people out feeling more
and more confident,” Sliwecki said.
Sears of Hammonton, located in
the Blueberry Crossing Plaza on
Route 30, is always prepared for the
holiday shopping season. Owner
Robert Thornewell offered his take
on the importance of shopping in
town and how business has been so
far during the early stages of the holiday shopping rush.
“You get better personalized service. It brings people in the community and everyone together. I had
high expectations coming into the
holiday shopping season, but so far
it hasn’t been as good as I thought it
would be. We will see what happens.
Hopefully it will increase as we go
on. I think the economy is still the
reason why. Look how many people
got laid off at the casinos. It is a
trickle-down effect,” Thornewell
said.
Hammonton
resident
Lisa
Kendall was shopping at Brand Jewelers on Route 30. Kendall said
shopping locally benefits the local
economy, and she always makes
sure to keep business in-house.
“I really don’t even go to the
malls, believe or not. I am not a mall
person. I make sure to shop locally
and it helps out the local economy,”
Kendall said.
Most downtown businesses participated in Small Business Saturday
as well. GorJess and LoveLee boutique store owner Leah Rodio says
local shopping is vital because small
businesses need the community’s
support.
“We wouldn’t have our businesses
if it weren’t for the community support. So far this holiday season I
think people are catching on to the
HAMMONTON—The Hammonton Fire Department Christmas Parade will be held on
Saturday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
The parade marches down Bellevue Avenue through the residential
neighborhood into the downtown
area. Registration begins at 6 p.m.
at the Hammonton Middle School.
shopping locally. I think they are realizing
that their money stays in the town. The first
customer here today said she was staying
away from the malls and shopping locally
first. I think the business owners have done
a good job promoting this,” Rodio said.
Winslow Twp. resident Donna Busch was
shopping at Behind the Moon in the downtown area of Hammonton as well. Busch said
it is always a good idea to shop locally.
“Usually the store owners live in the town
and it is great to support them. I just think it
is nice. I th [