Sales this holiday season were a success for many local businesses around Humboldt County

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif.(KIEM)- Local business took a significant hit last year as sales were down due to covid as some stores could not fully operate and had to adjust to curbside pick up or focus on selling online. 

But this holiday season, many local businesses were able to open their doors to customers.

“It was a really good year for us again at the mercantile, and I think everyone on the main street here in Ferndale had a really good time,” said John Kreitzer, Owner of Golden Gait Mercantile.

Despite supply chain shortages and the new omicron variant, many consumers stayed home and chose to shop online, but sales were still better than the previous year.

“There were supply chain issues all year long we had items that were back-ordered since April that came in in early December with some very exorbitant shipping cost attached to them,” said Gordon Green, Owner of Ferndale Emporium.

This year some folks might have had extra cash in their pockets. Many received stimulus checks, child tax credit, and wages went up as well.

“Our sales this year are probably matched around 2018…definitely more than last year. Definitely more than last year probably not quote-unquote normal but getting there for sure,” said Camille Borrowdale, Manager at The Rocking Horse.

Mastercard spending pulse reported that holiday sales had risen 8.5% from a year earlier. They expected a 7.4% increase.
“It was a really good year, and it’s going to be interesting to see what happens next year,” said Gordon Green.