You’ll discover everything from unique furniture pieces to fine linens and accessories for the home at Vintage West Home. “We are very proud to carry the full line of Magnolia Home from Joanna Gaines including furniture, home décor, rugs and even paint. We have the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint as well as Hunter Douglas window coverings. We can help you make your home your own from top to bottom!” said owner, Teresa Daniel.
“We are also excited to launch our 12 Days of Christmas on Monday, Dec. 5…twelve days of great specials and a few surprises. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Vintage West Home for all those details!”
CULLMAN – The term Black Friday has long been associated with the day following Thanksgiving. The first recorded use of the term was coined, not about holiday shopping, but in reference to the crash of the U.S. gold market in 1869. The story goes that two of the most world’s most notoriously ruthless Wall Street financiers, Jay Gould and Jim Fisk, schemed to buy up as much of the nation’s gold as they could get their hands on, in an attempt to drive the price through the roof, and then sell it at astronomical prices, resulting in huge profits for themselves. On Sept. 24, 1869, the conspiracy fell apart, sending the stock market plummeting and bankrupting much of the nation. Suddenly, from Wall Street moguls to blue collar workers and farmers- anyone who had invested in the stock market was broke.
However, most people associate the term Black Friday with retail sales and because, after operating at a loss through much of the year (known as operating “in the red”), the day after Thanksgiving is such a huge shopping day that many retailers can recoup some of their losses on just that single day. It started back in the ‘50s, when police in the city of Philadelphia coined the term to describe the pandemonium that began on the morning after Thanksgiving, as masses of shoppers and tourists took over the city in advance of the Army-Navy football game, traditionally played on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
It wasn’t until the mid-80s, that retailers started referring to the day as Black Friday because their books suddenly went from being in the red to being “in the black,” or turning a profit.
These days the one-day sales blitz has morphed into a four-day bargain extravaganza, adding Small Business Saturday (and some places on Sunday) and Cyber Monday to the holiday.
In Cullman, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are much anticipated events, officially kicking off the start of the holiday shopping season. Buffed and glittering with holiday décor in every window, and cheery ribbons and greenery festooned on street corners everywhere, the city is ready for visitors!
According to a 2016 pre-holiday survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF), American consumers plan to spend an average $935.58 during the holiday shopping season this year, according to NRF’s survey conducted by Prosper Insights. Nearly six in 10 plan to buy for themselves, spending an average $139.61, up four percent from last year and marking the second-highest level of personal spending in the survey’s 13-year history.
The NRF expects retail sales in November and December (excluding autos, gas and restaurants) to increase a solid 3.6 percent to $655.8 billion. Online sales are forecast to increase between seven and 10 percent over last year to as much as $117 billion. Retailers are expected to hire between 640,000 and 690,000 seasonal workers this holiday season, in line with last year’s 675,300 holiday positions.
Traditionally, Cullman goes all out for this holiday extravaganza, with retailers making sure that they price merchandise at deep discounts, while savvy shoppers search high and low for the best bargains in town, resulting in a win-win situation for everyone.
According to Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce Director of Small Business and Workforce Solutions, Ben Smith, this is going to be a great opportunity for shoppers and businesses.
“As the holiday season quickly approaches, the Chamber is looking to help support local business endeavors by providing promotion and support,” he said enthusiastically. “One of the best ways we can do this is through promoting Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26!
“This holiday season, Cullman’s small businesses and large retailers alike are eagerly preparing for the biggest holiday shopping weekend for the year.” Smith went on to add that, “While Black Friday has long been known as a day where great deals can be found, Small Business Saturday is quickly building its own reputation as a shopper’s paradise.
“Holiday purchases that are kept local go on to stimulate Cullman’s economy in a variety of ways, primarily creating seasonal jobs and allowing tax dollars to stay within our community,” Smith emphasized. “Rightfully so, many small businesses in the Cullman area view this holiday weekend as an essential puzzle piece to their overall success for the year.”
Teresa Daniel, owner of Vintage West Home, and one of the many business owners in Cullman who will be participating in Black Friday/Small Business Saturday, is looking forward to the first Black Friday in her new location.
“We are excited for our first Black Friday in the new location. We will be offering numerous special from 15 percent off home décor, rug and Christmas décor to our red and yellow dot sale. If you see a yellow dot, the item is 15 percent off, a red dot means 25 percent off that item!” said Daniel. “The move to Highway 31 has been great for so many reasons: parking, visibility and space. We are now able to display even more of our beautiful décor and accessories for our customers to see!”
Rita Dean, owner of two trendy women’s and girls’ apparel stores located in Cullman’s popular Warehouse District says that What a Girl Wants and J K TAYLOR will be two of the participating stores in Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Their hours are as follows:
Black Friday – What a Girl Wants 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; J K TAYLOR 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Small Business Saturday – What a Girl Wants 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; J K TAYLOR 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Owner Iryna Harris says that Nadiya's Patio Store will be open Friday and Saturday 8.30 a.m.-6 p.m.
“We are located at 423 Second Ave. SW in Cullman. Come and find great looking patio furniture and accessories at Nadiya’s Store!”
Online store Art with a Soul will have great prices on Cyber Monday. Cullman artist and business owner, Laura Willingham Walker, will have a 25 percent off sale on all completed artwork (excluding custom orders) on Cyber Monday.
Walker has been in Cullman with a brick and mortar presence at the Art Shop Around the Corner since 2006. In 2011, she started a shop on Etsy.
“I have never participated in Cyber Monday before, although I do have regular sales on my Etsy and Facebook pages,” said Walker.
The coupon code for Etsy and Facebook will be Cyber25. Walker’s available art can be viewed on her Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/laurasshop; check out her two photo albums: Laura Willingham Walker's Art and Laura's Spiritual Art.
Walker’s Etsy shop is located at http://www.etsy.com/shop/cullmanlaurasart.
To locate businesses participating in Small Business Saturday, shoppers can visit https://shopsmallnow.americanexpress.com/shopsmall#/. For more information, or directions, contact the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center at 256-734-0454.
To find Black Friday deals from large chain retailers and big box stores, visit https://www.theblackfriday.com/.
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