Rogers Small Business Owners Plan for Holiday Shoppers
By: Kyle Leyenberger
Updated: October 25, 2012
It's starting to look a lot like Halloween, but a group working to revitalize the historic downtown district in Rogers is urging local shops to look a little further down the line to prepare for the holiday shopping season.
"We're calling it holiday hoopla, there will be all kinds of events going on for the public on every Thursday and Saturday," says Dana Mather of Main Street Rogers. "We're bringing in people for all these family friendly activities."
The events start after Thanksgiving, but Mather wants shop owners to start thinking about capitalizing on those crowds.
"We want the business to be prepared," says Dana Mather. "We're talking to them about things like inventory selection, what kinds of items are you going to offer to your customers."
But that's easier said than done, when Mather started visiting the shops, she was surprised to find many without marketing or business plans.
"A lot of them have started their business as a hobby or a part time type of activity and they've grown to a full-fledged retail store," she says. "They might not have taken that step of being prepared and planning for their future."
Julie Colgan started a flea market booth to sell off some furniture after a move, and after eight years of collecting antiques Colgan decided it was time for more. She opened The Rusty Chair last year.
"I just kinda got hooked," she says. "I love the history of things, you know I love old things, I always have."
Colgan says she tries to focus on unique pieces, standing next to a lamp made from the foot of a giraffe.
"I picked this up because it's not something most people in Northwest Arkansas are going to have."
She says business is great, and the Main Street Rogers events are a huge help.
"I always stay open late for events whenever we have something going on downtown," she says. "You're getting new people in that maybe have never been downtown."
She also appreciates Mather's advice.
"It's just nice to have a different point of view," she says. "You get more done as a group."
"We're calling it holiday hoopla, there will be all kinds of events going on for the public on every Thursday and Saturday," says Dana Mather of Main Street Rogers. "We're bringing in people for all these family friendly activities."
The events start after Thanksgiving, but Mather wants shop owners to start thinking about capitalizing on those crowds.
"We want the business to be prepared," says Dana Mather. "We're talking to them about things like inventory selection, what kinds of items are you going to offer to your customers."
But that's easier said than done, when Mather started visiting the shops, she was surprised to find many without marketing or business plans.
"A lot of them have started their business as a hobby or a part time type of activity and they've grown to a full-fledged retail store," she says. "They might not have taken that step of being prepared and planning for their future."
Julie Colgan started a flea market booth to sell off some furniture after a move, and after eight years of collecting antiques Colgan decided it was time for more. She opened The Rusty Chair last year.
"I just kinda got hooked," she says. "I love the history of things, you know I love old things, I always have."
Colgan says she tries to focus on unique pieces, standing next to a lamp made from the foot of a giraffe.
"I picked this up because it's not something most people in Northwest Arkansas are going to have."
She says business is great, and the Main Street Rogers events are a huge help.
"I always stay open late for events whenever we have something going on downtown," she says. "You're getting new people in that maybe have never been downtown."
She also appreciates Mather's advice.
"It's just nice to have a different point of view," she says. "You get more done as a group."
