As time grows short, Tallahassee area shoppers have begun swarming the area's retail stores in a focused runup to the year-end holidays. Locally owned and operated outlets have been especially busy.
One technique many hometown stores has found effective is to host special customer appreciation events. At the Lake Ella shops, this included complimentary wine and snacks along with special sale prices on various merchandise. Taylor Horowitz is the owner of Divine Consign.
"You know, some of these businesses have been here for decades. And so to be able to get together like this is just so sweet. Everybody's in a good mood. The weather's nice and all of these businesses are so pleasant and we have great customers here."
Katie Haggerty owns Quarter Moon Imports, nearly next door to Horowitz's shop. She has also been seeing lots of customers, although she notes this season includes a new complicating factor.
"Now we're dealing with tariffs. For us as an import shop not really knowing what's going on and none of our wholesalers really knowing what's going on or how things are going to change with tariffs. So we're actually dealing with that at our end that customers aren't necessarily seeing yet right now."
What customers ARE seeing, Haggerty says, are hometown neighbors selling unique products.
Some hometown business take that uniqueness to the next level by actually making the products they sell. Kimberly Taylor creates healthy dog treats at her Sugar Paws Bakery.
"We inherited a dog with an upset stomach and this came from having to feed him. Figuring out how to feed him without his dietary issues getting worse."
Without exception, the local merchants say having a personal relationship with their customers is the most satisfying part of the enterprise.
