Albany area businesses have post-Thanksgiving sales on tap for holiday weekend

ALBANY — Firing up Amazon or eBay for holiday shopping may offer convenience and a world of buying opportunities, but there’s also a world of commerce close to home where shoppers can find perfect gifts while helping the local economy.

A number of local shops have holiday sales coming up for the long Thanksgiving weekend, with special deals and events. Among them is Leigh Dyson at WildFlowers Boutique & Unique Gifts, where a couple of other vendors also will be on hand for a Friday and Saturday “Pink Friday” event.

Among the discounts will be a “stuff-a-bag” special in which customers can select multiple items from select clothing racks for $30.

“With the economy and the way everything is, I just want to be able to give folks a chance to get something that works within their budget,” said Dyson, who opened the business in August 2022. “I’m just going to have deals, up to 70% off. There will be swag bags with some treats.”

The Golden Link, which specializes in “permanent jewelry,” is one of the other vendors that will be on hand for Pink Friday.

“Apparently it’s all the rage,” Dyson said.

The other vendor scheduled to be at the 2349 Lake Park Drive sales event is Sheera Creations, which specializes in polymer clay earrings.

WildFlowers Boutique & Unique Gifts has a variety of merchandise, including Dyson’s hand-made soaps, hand-made candles, jewelry, homemade home decor as well as clothing and shoes.

“I have cute little options for secret Santas and gifts for teachers,” she said. “I feel like I have a little bit for everybody, and it’s unique.”

The weeks leading up to the start of the Christmas shopping season have been very slow compared to the same time period last year, Dyson said. She and other small businesses in town are hoping people will start focusing on buying holiday gifts after they finish up the turkey and dressing on Thursday.

The nearby Mayberry Diner, also located in the Lancaster Village Shopping Center, will host a Dec. 16. breakfast with Santa from 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. with proceeds going to a local animal rescue organization. In addition to Santa, the Grinch, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse also will be on hand, restaurant owner John Clay said.

“It’s just a festive day for the kids,” he said. “I wanted to help out an animal rescue because I had a boxer mix that was 13 years old I had to have euthanized this month. Beau was a rescue dog.”

Some other Black Friday events can be found at the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau website at https://visitalbanyga.com/events/search/.

The largest directors of local businesses can be found by visiting the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s website at albanyga.com, Chamber President and CEO Barbara Rivera Holmes said.

The member directory is located toward the top left of the home page.

“Retail is a big component of the Albany area economy,” Holmes said. “Shopping locally for goods and services helps the economy and keeps the money here.”

Studies show that 60 cents of every dollar spent locally stays in the local economy, she said, whereas little if any money spent on out-of-town online businesses helps the local economy.

“There’s a healthy volume of goods and services available within the Albany area,” Holmes said. “It’s an eye-opener just to see what’s available locally. A lot of our local shops also have an online component.”

Buying close to home also benefits the community through sales tax dollars that allow local governments to provide services.

“When you think of the sales taxes generated, that is what funds city and county governments and roads and emergency services and schools,” the chamber president said. “That’s why it’s so critical.”

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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