It is regular for small companies to promote holiday-themed objects this time of yr, however in Merrickville, Ont., shops take issues to the following stage.
“Merrickville is kind of the quintessential Hallmark Village with stunning buildings, stunning backdrop, for something vacation associated,” mentioned Winston Card, the co-owner of Chaiya Décor, a gardening retailer within the city positioned southwest of Ottawa.
In town’s most important avenue, almost each store is totally coated in Christmas decorations. Card says that is the case for each vacation through the yr.
“We love to embellish up the village for varied holidays. All of us attempt to work collectively within the spirit of cooperation. It truly is an incredible place to reside and work,” Card mentioned.
Some do not cease at decorations outdoors. Nellie’s Room transforms their total store right into a Christmas retailer.
“We convey the whole lot in from storage and we set all of it up,” mentioned Janet Gaskell, who co-owns the shop along with her sisters. “The three of us love Christmas. We at all times have. So it is a huge time of yr for us.”
Merrickville is a city of only a few thousand individuals, relying closely on outdoors guests to help the companies all year long.
“We take pleasure in having our neighbours are available from in and across the area,” mentioned Merrickville Mayor Michael Cameron.
“It is thrilling occasions in Merrickville.”
One retailer specifically thrives this time of yr.
The Merry Christmas Store, co-owned by Heather Dallaire, sells Christmas-themed objects all yr, setting them other than different shops.
“October, November, December are the most important enterprise for us right here,” Dallaire mentioned.
The shop’s partitions are lined with tree ornaments, shows with Christmas mugs and sweaters at each flip.
However how does the enterprise function through the canine days of summer season?
In keeping with Dallaire, since Merrickville brings in vacationers all yr, they get a stunning quantity of enterprise from individuals who know they probably will not be again to the city earlier than Christmas.
“In the summertime it is a completely different market. It is guests they usually’re not right here at Christmas, so they have a tendency to select up whereas they’re right here,” she mentioned.
