Decked for hauls: How local businesses charm holiday shoppers
Ornaments hang for sale at Novel bookstore in East Memphis, one of the many local shops preparing for holiday shoppers. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
As far as holiday traditions go, post-Thanksgiving shopping is almost on par with a turkey dinner for many Americans.
The National Retail Federation said it anticipates a record number of shoppers this holiday weekend: 183.4 million, up from 182 million in 2023.
“Even though holiday shopping continues to pull forward, some of the busiest shopping days of the year are during the five-day Thanksgiving weekend,” said Katherine Cullen, the federation’s vice president of industry and consumer insights.
Local, independent retailers said they’re optimistic about drawing in-person shoppers this holiday season by offering unique items and personalized gift recommendations in a warm, welcoming environment.
Laura Salvati of One Cozy Home, a home decor shop in Collierville’s Carriage Crossing, said she’s curating an attentive in-store experience for her customers.
One Cozy Home sells throw pillows and blankets, wall decor, decorative objects, kitchen and bath accessories and some found and vintage pieces. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
“When people come in, they can ask me questions and I can help them pick the perfect gift,” she said. “It’s a personalized, cozy shopping experience you can’t get when you add something to your cart on Amazon.”
This is the second holiday shopping season for One Cozy Home, which opened about a year ago.
“A lot of new people are finding me, so I’m hoping foot traffic will increase now that the holiday season is here,” Salvati said.
Topics
Novel Memphis Paradox at PeCo holiday shopping Fannie Weinberg Nicole Yasinsky Cooper-Young Carriage Crossing Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
Subscribers to The Daily Memphian help fund our not-for-profit newsroom of nearly 40 local journalists plus more than 20 freelancers, all of whom work around the clock to cover the issues impacting our community. Subscriptions - and donations - also help fund our community access programs which provide free access to K-12 schools, community organizations, and more. Thank you for making our work possible.
Aisling Mäki
Aisling Mäki has spent the better part of two decades writing about Memphis. A former digital journalist for WMC Action News 5 and staff reporter for Memphis Daily News, her work has also appeared in The Commercial Appeal, High Ground News, I Love Memphis, Inside Memphis Business, The Memphis Flyer, Memphis Parent, Memphis Magazine and Tri-State Defender.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.