From ukuleles to archery lessons to full rain suits for children, shoppers this Christmas season can find a variety of unique gifts in local stores, many of which are seeing the fruits of a growing “buy local” ethos.
Clark County’s own “buy local” movement seems to be catching on with shoppers at a time when consumer spending is on the rise, said Mary Sisson, co-owner of Kazoodles toy store in Vancouver and president of Buy Vancouver USA.
“The first week of November kind of blew us away,” Sisson said, noting sales were up 46 percent from the first week of November last year. “We’re kind of hoping that the trend continues.”
Growth in retail spending, both nationally and locally, certainly helps. The National Retail Federation predicts retail sales nationwide to increase 4.1 percent to a total of $616.9 billion this season, which runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, compared with the 2013 holiday season. Clark County, which recovered later than many areas from the economic downturn, may exceed the national trend.
Clark County’s increase in retail sales in this year’s second quarter, from April 1 to June 30, was among the fastest of any county in the state. When adjusted for inflation, retail sales at stores jumped 5.7 percent over the same time period in 2013, to $561 million for the quarter, said Scott Bailey, regional economist for the Washington Employment Security Department.
“It was pretty rapid growth over the year,” Bailey said. “We’re seeing really good job growth, and that’s spilling over into spending increases.”
In addition, online sales by businesses in Clark County totaled about $18 million. That’s a 20 percent increase over last year, Bailey said.
Clark County has almost caught up to pre-recession sales numbers, when inflation-adjusted sales in retail stores peaked at about $578.8 million in 2007, Bailey said. The current growth rate is likely to slow down as people move beyond deferred spending during the downturn, he noted.
“I’m thinking that there’s a fair amount of catching up that’s going on right now,” Bailey said. “I think there’s probably a fair amount of people who put off purchases while times were tough.”
But even with rising sales, Clark County still struggles with shoppers who prefer to cross the border into Oregon, where there is no sales tax. Bailey said about a third of retail sales dollars leak across the river.
Local merchants say there are plenty of good reasons for Clark County residents to spend their dollars in their home communities.
“If you’re buying at a local store you’re really supporting the local economy,” said Gabby Navidi, owner Navidi’s Olive Oil and Vinegars in Camas. “There’s also a lot that small businesses do in giving back to charities. It’s a good cycle. It stays within the community and it’s going back through the community.”
She also said it’s more convenient to shop at independent stores.
“When people shop locally, they don’t have to worry about going to the big malls and fighting for parking and traffic to travel so far,” she said. “The best thing is just revitalizing and keeping your downtown areas very unique and personalized.”
Sisson is encouraged by the growth in customers shopping at local stores offering products that are out of the ordinary.
“I think people are realizing that there’s really something to this whole buy local thing,” she said. “They really do support their community by supporting local businesses.”
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Looking for some local gifts this season? Local retailers offer their suggestions for what are expected to be hot-ticket items this season in four price categories: Under $25, under $50, under $100 and bargains/over $100. Be sure to check hours before heading out to shop — some of these retailers have limited hours.
Under $25
• By the Bottle, 108 W. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver; 360-696-0012; www.bottledbrews.com:
Winter ales, $6-$16. With names like Cabin Fever and Shimmergloom Stout, a locally brewed beer might be just the gift for this season. Arlene Nuñez, owner of By the Bottle, of course recommends the Big Newton, the brown winter ale brewed with figs to be released from the Old Ivy Brewery and Taproom, which is owned by her husband, David Nuñez.
But, she added, By the Bottle carries a wide variety of local beers and that support for one is often support for all because most people will venture to try multiple brews.
“l think now more than ever with the onslaught of all the breweries that have come in the downtown area, support of those breweries is mandatory for them to succeed,” she said.
• Canine Utopia, 2309 Main St., Vancouver; 360-737-7881; www.k9utopia.com:
Smoked Dog Bone, $16.99. Humans aren’t the only family members you can shop locally for. Canine Utopia offers some fun options for your furry friends. The oversized smoked dog bone is a popular one.
“It’s the whole leg of a cow, it’s huge,” said Evan Smith, the store’s owner. Many shoppers want to put a bone under the tree for the dog. “It’s a big fun gift,” he said. “They could have a dachshund and they could buy it because it’s so funny.”
• Kazoodles, 13503 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver; 360-823-0123, www.kazoodlestoys.com:
Flipzles: $17.99-$18.99. Created by Vicki Lewis of Woodland, these puzzles use both sides of the brain, said co-owner Mary Sisson. On one side of each piece is the jigsaw puzzle picture to complete. Flip the pieces over and they’re figurines for imaginative play. They come in six designs and in two different sizes.
Under $50
• Beacock Music, 1420 S.E. 163rd Ave., Vancouver, 360-694-7134, beacockmusic.com:
Ukulele, $43.99 and up. Have a music lover in the family? Or maybe someone who is looking for a little challenge and something different? Why not a ukulele?
Beacock Music co-owner Russ Beacock said they have been flying off the shelves. They come in a variety of colors and graphics and are an easy-to-learn, relatively inexpensive musical device.
“It’s kind of a fun gift that’s unique,” he said. “The uke craze has been going for a few years now and is still going strong.”
• Oakiwear, 14413 N.E. 10th Ave., Vancouver; 360-573-5000; www.oakiwear.com:
Rainsuits, $42.99. You’ve heard of the raincoat and the umbrella but how about a full-on rainsuit for the children? Benjamin Brewer, general manager of the children’s outdoor wear company, said the suits come in sizes from 12 months to size 7. Quite suitable for the Pacific Northwest.
“They can run around in the rain and stay completely dry,” he said.
• Dave’s Killer Magic Shop, 1707 Main St., 360-448-9022; www.killermagicshop.com:
Magic kits, prices vary. Have a little magician in the family? Dave’s Killer Magic Shop has a plethora of kits to teach the tricks. Some have DVDs and all are for beginners.
“We have a wide variety of different kits,” said Dan Waterman, employee at the store.
Under $100
• Erik Runyan Jewelers, 900 Washington St., Vancouver; 360-699-1917; runyansjewelers.com:
Charm bracelet: $40-45 for the bracelet and $20-$25 for a charm.
Runyan said charm bracelets are always a hit in the holiday season. Whether it’s buying a new bracelet and getting it specially engraved or picking out some favorite charms for a friend, the nearly 100-year-old shop has a wide variety.
• Navidi’s Olive Oil and Vinegars, 322 N.E. Cedar St., Camas; 360-210-5921; navidioils.com:
Mini oil and vinegar bottle set, around $68. With more than two dozen each of vinegars and oils, you can pick and choose 10 mini bottles to put into a wooden holder for the cook or food lover in your life. All you really need is a loaf of bread to go along, owner Gabby Navidi said.
• Oakiwear: By far the most popular gift at Oakiwear is children’s waders from $83 to $93, said Benjamin Brewer, general manager.
“We go through boxes and boxes of those a day, it’s incredible,” he said, adding they are camouflage and protect kids from the cold. “You could stand in the cold stream in these things and you wouldn’t even feel it,” he said.
• Kazoodles: The Mini Micro Classic Kickboard Scooter, at $79.99, is a hit with shoppers, Sisson said. The three-wheeled scooter helps kids learn balance and coordination as they go, she said.
Over $100
• Archery World, 803 Grand Blvd., Vancouver; 360-693-7510; www.archeryworld.net:
Know someone who is into archery? Or maybe you are looking for a new family outing for the holiday season.
For $125 you can get 24-hour access to all the ranges the shop has to offer from its 20- and 30-yard indoor ranges. The shop also rents bows for $20 an hour.
Owner Joe Mallicoat said the holidays are great time for visitors or families to try something new. “Families find something that they want to do together and archery is one of those things,” he said.
• Beacock Music: The store offers music rentals where you can rent an instrument — everything from a trumpet to a complete drum set — with the money going toward the purchase. If the musician decides it’s no longer for him or her, the customer can bring it back. It takes some risk out of the adolescent musician phase.
“What we’re trying to do is all this stuff is frankly available anywhere, we’re trying to make ourselves stand out a little bit and offer it a different way,” co-owner Russ Beacock said.
Like other store owners across the county, Beacock is preparing for an influx of shoppers this year. “We’re expecting big things and it’s feeling really good,” he said.
