Volusia-Flagler retailers geared up as holiday shopping season looms

Despite rising costs of food, housing expenses and other essential consumer goods, area retailers expect shoppers to still be out in force for the Black Friday rush that marks the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

For some, such as Sherry Graffagnino, owner of the Molto Bella Boutique in Ormond Beach, the influx of holiday shoppers is already well underway.

“They started looking in August,” said Graffagnino, who has been busy in recent weeks re-stocking sold-out items. “For us, they started shopping mid-October, which really blew my mind. This year, people are buying early. I’m actually getting nervous because I’ve run out of a few things.”

That early-bird mindset fits with a nationwide trend, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation, which reports that 43% of consumers planned to start holiday shopping before Nov. 1.

The survey also reflected that consumers plan to spend $875 on average on gifts, decorations, food and other seasonal items this year. That’s an increase of $42 over 2022 holiday spending. A majority of that total ($620) will be spent on gifts, with the remainder going toward seasonal items that include decorations, candy or food.

At Molto Bella, a shop that specializes in fine gifts and jewelry in the Ormond Beach Marketplace shopping plaza on Nova Road, hot selling items range from imported plush animal figures to silk pillowcases and pajamas, Graffagnino said.

Jellycat plush animals, made in London, have been flying off the shelves at Molto Bella, which is the product’s exclusive dealer in Volusia County, Graffagnino said.

“We’re out of polar bears and we’re almost out of Christmas trees,” she said. “We’re also almost out of reindeer. The polar bears have been gone for weeks, but I think I can get more.”

Supplies also are running low for high quality Silken Pure silk pillowcases and pajamas, at costs that range from $78-$98 for the former and $188-$298 for the latter.

“It’s pure mulberry silk, the best you can have,” Graffagnino said. “When you have it on a pillowcase, it’s literally good for your skin and your hair. We’ve sold tons of the pillowcases, tons of the pajamas, and it’s because of the quality.”

At Bass Pro Shops, Black Friday shopping starts early

The outlook also is optimistic at Bass Pro Shops at the One Daytona retail, dining and entertainment complex in Daytona Beach.

There, doors will open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday to welcome an anticipated long line of shoppers that still participate in the old-school pre-dawn brick-and-mortar shopping ritual. The motivation is an assortment of deep discounts on everything from flannel shirts to high-tech fishing gear and bolt-action hunting rifle packages.

In addition, on Monday, the store began offering hundreds of deals on an array of other outdoor-related items. The store opened early at 7 a.m. Monday-Wednesday this week and also will open at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

“We feel like it’s going to be a very successful season,” said Chad Clow, the store’s general manager. “People are being a little bit more careful with their money, but we don’t see that as a bad thing for us.

“That Christmas spirit when it comes to fun items is hard to slow down significantly,” he said. “Even when you’re being conservative, Santa Claus is very much important for a lot people. We’re about the things they do for fun. It’s hard to live without fun and that’s what we sell.”

The outlook also is bright at Destination Fun, the toy store at Tanger Outlets mall, where owner Kevin Kasch said that the year’s big-screen “Barbie” fascination is alive and well in toy store aisles.

“It’s up there, for sure,” he said of Barbie’s popularity. “We have tons of Barbie, tons of PAW Patrol. Hello Kitty is doing really well, and so are anime action figures and posters. We’ve also really expanded our man-cave selection of signs. We’re really big into Jeep right now, with both T-shirts and signage.”

Kasch also has noticed an influx of early shoppers that he expects to increase starting on Black Friday.

“It’s been a really good month so far,” he said. “It’s really taking off early.”

After being closed on Thanksgiving Day, Tanger Outlets will be open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Black Friday, then from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26.

Volusia Mall merchant 'geared up and ready to go'

At Volusia Mall, meanwhile, stores also will be closed on Thanksgiving, with doors opening at 7 a.m. on Black Friday.

In addition to photos with youngsters, Santa's Workshop also will offer photo ops for pets on Mondays, throughout the holiday season.

For one mall merchant, Maui Nix Surf Shop, the competition from online retailers will be more of a factor than anything related to inflation.

“It’s the online shopping more than anything else, but there’s no shortage of product and we’re geared up and ready to go,” said Travis White, store manager. “We’ll have all our normal Black Friday promotions ready and we’re expecting the best.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Black Friday holiday shopping expected to be strong in Volusia County