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Show Vernal shoppers welcome YySe Watmf!y. shPPlng blitz for ?Mav glvers opened in Vernal and Saturday. :ldays wre good ones for local , ' whose comments on the 5 ere Positive. Only one store Nnv! reDorted shopping was "so- icat eri rom last yea1--" and in" :(re competition was probably rom afternon Lloyd Hatch, L yd's Shoe Store, said he'd nj0 busy days. rrnoi Batty of Basin Sportsman said Friday and Saturday were "the best two days for after Thanksgiving that we've had so far." At Gibson's the parking lot was full both days and customers reported waiting in lines to check out. Dennis Kidwell, manager, said sales were up at least 30 percent over last year. Smith's manager Rob Bloxham commented that total store sales at Smith's were about average, but in nonfood non-food items and at the camera bar sales were up. "Both days our sales ran at least $2000 over what they did last year," said Shara Dawn Batty, owner of Ben Franklin. Sprouse Reitz also reported good sales, as did Yellow Front and other merchants. Most agreed that more shoppers were busily buying on Friday than on Saturday. Irvin Haws, manager at Penneys said business Friday and Saturday was "fantastic, crazy," He said Penneys was stocking heavily for the Christmas season. "In spite of the economic crunch and in spite of inflation, Vernal is not suffering," Haws commented, "Employment is good. The outlook is good. We're planning on a good holiday." Ashton's reported that they were extremely busy, especially Friday. "Sales were up from last year," said John Schwisow, manager. When asked why, he replied, "probably for a combination of reasons the weather, a holiday and just more people in town. There were lots of new faces, plus lots of familiar ones." Schwisow commented com-mented that he felt the impact in Vernal had been positive so far. "If the first two shopping days are any indication, in-dication, this Christmas season will be a very good one," he concluded. r |