The holidays will be history in a couple of weeks. Those for whom the season is critical must now look to the world of milers for inspiration and kick it in.
“Of course there are many activities and events going on,” said Steve Sansone, executive director of the Yonkers Business Improvement District (BID). “We have an assortment of holiday lights and bows up on the poles; we have been pumping music from our tree in the center of the square and we have Santa downtown every weekend.”
In addition to the holiday festivities, merchants are gearing up for last-minute shoppers.
“I think in the last two weeks folks are looking for gifts, but waiting for prices to go down,” Sansone said. “People are being cautious. The consumer is beyond educated now, and they”™re waiting until the last couple of weeks when prices drop, but I think people will eventually come out and spend the dollars.”
Yonkers is not offering free parking on the weekends leading up to Christmas as it did last year, but Sansone has been working overtime to draw shoppers to the downtown.
“We have been extending our sidewalk sales at the request of the merchants,” Sansone said. “We”™ve been doing more frequent e-blasts. This Friday, we will have carolers strolling around downtown. From the very affordable to the specialty shops, it”™s just a matter of making the shopping experience interesting.”
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Timothy McVey, owner of floral and event company Tapestry Design L.L.C. in New Rochelle, spent weeks decorating his storefront, Consign It on Main.
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The store features five Christmas trees, wreaths, garland and colorful lights.
“I am one busy boy for about three months,” said McVey, who has been helping decorate New York City restaurant Tavern on the Green for the past eight holiday seasons. “This year it”™s particularly crazy because I am decorating a castle for a huge wedding in New Jersey. Seven rooms in the castle have to be decorated for Christmas, which adds a little craziness to the holiday.”
Sudhir Gupta, owner of Eau de Luxe on Martine Avenue in White Plains, is offering holiday shoppers 20 percent off every item in the store as well as free shipping for those who prefer to shop online.
The fragrance shop specializes in hard-to-find and discontinued fragrances.
“If you go into the mall you can get the trendy fragrances, but they don”™t sell anything that has been discontinued or doesn”™t sell,” Gupta said.
That”™s where Gupta comes in. Nearby high-end department store Neiman Marcus often refers customers to Gupta”™s shop for specialty items, and he”™s been busy helping customers track down their long-lost favorite perfume.
“I do everything to make my customers happy, especially during the holidays,”™ Gupta said.
