Bay Area Mom-And-Pop Shops See Boost In Holiday Shopping Season
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – This holiday season, calls to "shop locally" have been heeded by Bay Area shoppers. Many small retailers are seeing a boost in business.
Black Friday may have brought the mobs to big box stores, but at Artillery Apparel Gallery on San Francisco's Mission Street the small shop has been busy.
"It's been pretty crazy in here," said Artillery's Rebecca Prieto.
The store sells local art, clothing and jewelry by local designers. In the year since Prieto started worked there, she has seen sales on the rise from customers with a purpose.
KCBS' Janice Wright Reports:
"They feel good about purchasing something that has been handmade and handcrafted," said Prieto.
"I like putting my money back into the community," said Dennis, who was shopping for his girlfriend.
At the Homesteader Shop in Oakland's Rockridge District, Brian Westendorff said the good weather has helped bring local shoppers in.
"Right now people are buying a lot of smaller gifts," he said.
Last year, there was wet weather early in the month that may have kept some shoppers indoors and ordering online.
While business has been better than last year, Westendorff said that he knows it could be a different story come January.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
