By: Andrew Walsh
Awalsh@wbcowqel.com

Christmas Day for 2013 has come and gone, but the holiday season is still here as people enjoy time off with family and friends. For local businesses this time frame is an important time to do some post-Christmas business.

Christmas sales, come to a halt on December 24, but the days following Christmas can be busy with returns and exchanges. This is also a good chance to move on some of the inventory that may not have sold for Christmas, and leads to those enticing “After Christmas Sales”.

At U Be Dazzled, proprietor Sue Logsdon has 30-50% off on certain items, and all Holiday items are 50% off. Not only is the goal to sell more holiday items, but it is to prepare the store for the next shopping season: Valentine’s Day. This means they have to make space in the showroom for the spring merchandise by the end of January. For U Be Dazzled, Valentine’s Day also coincides with their anniversary, which will be nine years in 2014.

A little down the street Norton’s Flowers is similarly situated. They are running 50% off their Christmas merchandise to get ready for Valentine’s Day. Norton’s did not have the strongest Christmas so they are working on moving out what is left as Valentine’s Day is a very important season in their sales calendar.

Barb Ley at Ley’s Jewelry is continuing her Christmas sales of 25% off of watches, diamonds, and gemstones. For the Jewelry business, this period is important for getting rings sized appropriately. Gift givers often purchase rings without knowing the proper size, and the after Christmas period is a good time to have that shiny gift receive the finishing touches.

So for all of you who have some time off, and can spare a minute between bites of Holiday treats, there are great deals to be had all around town as shops look to solidify their Christmas season and prepare for the next.