Sidewalk Sales without the sidewalks? Discounts moved indoors yesterday as stores did what they had to do to battle the sweltering heat that kept shoppers panting — and not just for bargains — during the annual Yankee Homecoming Olde Fashioned Sidewalk Sales.
“It’s too bad it’s as hot as it is,” said Karen Newell of Byfield, as she braved temperatures in the 90s to sort through bins. “It keeps the crowds away. I am here looking for bargains, and they have good-quality products.”
Some shop owners noticed a difference in traffic yesterday and hoped moving some sale merchandise inside would help.
“It’s quiet, but I think it’s all weather related,” said Malcolm Bell, owner of the Monkey’s Fist, who moved the sale inside for the first time in 17 years. “I would be at the beach.”
Josette Walker, co-owner of the MillWalk Collection, also kept her sale indoors — to protect her merchandise from the heat and dust but also for the shoppers.
“Women need to be cool and relaxed when they try on clothing,” said Walker, whose store offered discounts up to 70 percent yesterday.
Despite these oases of coolness, the heat still affected spenders. The bagless Kelli Bean of Newburyport lamented her lack of motivation when it came to searching for deals.
“It’s too hot — I don’t want to try on any clothes,” she said, while resting on an Inn Street bench in the shade.
Some shoppers, who braved baking in the streets, found the sales, not the weather, hindering their purchasing.
“It used to be better,” said Maria Piraino of Newburyport. “There used to be a lot more bargains, a lot more merchandise and a lot more stores.”
However, other shoppers found more than enough reason to open their wallets. Priscilla Gordon of Greenfield spent about $200 on 50 percent off Snowbabies, collectible figurines, at Partridge in a Bear Tree.
“You can’t beat that — not on Snowbabies,” said Gordon, who’s vacationing in Gloucester with her husband.
While shopping may have been easier indoors, some shops couldn’t give up the outdoor booths — like Gilda Tunney, owner of French Lessons.
“Our business is definitely better inside where the air conditioner is,” Tunney said. “But we refuse to go in. It’s exciting when there are booths out, and there are definitely less booths this year.”
Jackie Guilmette and Dianne May, co-owners of The Ruby Slipper, went for ultra-traditional in their outdoor sidewalk sale, featuring bins with hair accessories for 50 cents and $150 shoes marked down to $10.
“This is an incredible deal,” said Ellen Goethel of Hampton, N.H., as she tried on the shoes.
May said she and Guilmette wanted to recreate the Sidewalk Sales they grew up with and have been hoarding items all year long for it.
“I wanted it to be the way it used to be,” May said. “If you can’t have fun, what good is it?”
The deep discounts caused a stir, keeping a steady stream of customers for hours.
“Women are calling their friends and creating a buzz,” Guilmette said. “I told one woman, ‘We are actually paying you to take it away.’”
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Heat cools Yankee Homecoming sidewalk sales
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