Holiday Market vendors brace for uncertain shopping season
By Molly Blancett KVAL News
EUGENE, Ore. - Heidi Fisch pays about $700 for the season to sell her designs at the Holiday Market.
A new Gallup survey suggests Americans will spend $250 less than last year on Christmas gifts this year. For vendors like Fisch and Gil Dunaway, who have to pay money to make money that could make for a lackluster holiday season. "The buzz around town here, around vendors, is that we're all hoping to get back at least what we put into it financially," said Fisch. "We all have watched the news every day and read the papers," said Dunaway. "It kind of feels different." Market organizers said the price of a booth went up about dollar a day this year, but that was decided long ago. "Our booth prices were set before anything happened," said Market Promotions Manager Kim Still. To make up for consumer pessimism, vendors are doing what they do best, getting creative, with pricing, that is and telling themselves the market is not always about the money. "I kind of knocked my prices down according to what I thought people would be willing to pay," said Fisch. "I think the exposure is half the reason why I'm here.") "We have to do it," said Dunaway. "It's what we do for a living." One reason the Holiday Market might weather the financial storm? Organizers said Eugene consumers are environmentally conscious and interested in supporting community businesses. So people may be more inclined to buy from local vendors keeping that money in the local economy. |
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