NEWBURYPORT — Of all the events for which Yankee Homecoming has become known and loved over the years, there are few that have garnered as much annual enthusiasm as the three-day shopping extravaganza held on the sidewalks of downtown Newburyport.
When the Homecoming Sidewalk Sales kick off this morning at 10, there will be hundreds of savvy buyers who descend on the city to get the best prices on some of the boutique items found in some of Newburpyort's favorite stores.
From a cursory visit to some of those downtown shops yesterday, where merchants were busy slashing and red-marking various items for the annual sale, it appears the deep discounts will make a trip downtown worth your while.
"We try to make it good so people come back," said Kim Lively of Lively Kids on State Street, who is deeply cutting prices on one-of-a-kind items for tomorrow's sale, as well as offering rare discounts on her most popular Tea children's clothes line. Along with that, Lively will have a vast selection of spring and summer items on the sidewalk discounted as much as 70 percent off the original price.
"Inside the store, we're going to have our new Daily Teas on sale, buy five, get one free," Lively said. "It's their everyday mix-and-match line."
A number of other merchants are planning to offer sales inside and out to help clear out merchandise and make way for new lines.
At the Alpine Shop, where owner Kathy Salmonson has slashed the cost of her Bogs boots by 50 percent for her sidewalk display, discounted new North Face and Marmot jackets for winter, and everything on the stores shelves will be 20 percent off through Saturday, along with four racks of 50 percent off winter and summer items from Horny Toad and other favorites.
A ladies' fake fur trimmed North Face jacket that was once $199 can be had for the cost of just $99, and a number of Isis and Woolrich coats have been similarly discounted.
Over at the British Store on State Street, the entire back section of the store that houses a large collection of popular Barbour coats, boots and clothing has been discounted by half. And a bin of popular Kangol hats, made famous by the likes of Samuel Jackson, will be priced as little as $4.
French Lessons is bringing in 150 items for the sale collected from their four store locations across New England. And at Pawsitively Best Friends, dog collars that typically fetch $20 will be available for $10 and a number of other items on sale at bargain basement prices, store owner Pamela Corkum said.
At Azure on State Street, manager Catherine Baker said she's going to lure shoppers with sales and other enticements.
"We're going to have some music so you can dance," she promised.
The store staff was busy yesterday getting ready for the sale and said that tomorrow they plan to start their day with plenty of caffeine to deal with the anticipated crowds of shoppers. They're planning to discount by 70 percent some of their lines of Nicole Miller and Desigual dresses, focusing on the fun.
"We pump it up," Azure owner Belinda Kaya said.
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