It鈥檚 easy to get lured by the sweet promises of Black Friday savings but battling the deal-hungry crowds may not be worth the extra few loonies in your pocket.
Local shops often offer the same or similar merchandise, pass on the same or better savings and have staff who offer a warm smile and helpful advice that in itself makes it worth the visit.
鈥淏y shopping with a local store you鈥檒l still get the same sale prices, but you鈥檒l get a much more personalized service,鈥� says Stephannie Bulman.
She and husband Clint own Castle Sewing, one of the largest and oldest sewing stores in Canada. The family-owned company has been serving the community for 76 years and there鈥檚 no signs of stopping.
The secret to their success?
鈥淓verybody is important, whether you buy a $99 machine or a $10,000 machine,鈥� says Bulman.
Whether you like sewing, embroidery or quilting, they will find the right machine for you, offer lessons, and connect you with others who love this hobby as much as you.
And there鈥檚 more:
- With every purchase of a machine, customers receive free one-on-one lessons with industry experts in a private, comfortable space in the store.
- Customers are encouraged to come back and ask follow-up questions and get tips and support with all their sewing, quilting and embroidery needs.
- Castle Sewing offers two- to three-hour workshops for people of all ages, at prices as low as $19.99.
- The choices of machines are as competitive as other stores, with new merchandise arriving year-round.
It鈥檚 all about that personal touch, Bulman says, bringing back the warmth of neighbourhood markets that you just can鈥檛 find at chain stores.
鈥淥ur clients become friends, they like to stop in and show us their latest creations. They take one-day retreats and workshops and commune with other sewers.鈥�
In short, Castle Sewing isn鈥檛 just a store but a community.
And they understand that everyone always loves a good deal, which is why on Black Friday and Saturday, Castle Sewing will offer 25 to 40 per cent off regular-priced machines, fabrics, supplies and accessories on top of their usual support.
Pre-shopping is the best way to go, suggests Bulman, this way shoppers can ask all the right questions and tailor their choices to their quilting, sewing and embroidery needs.
They can also pre-order machines so they鈥檙e ready for pick up on the day of the sales. And if something鈥檚 not right, there鈥檚 always someone there to help you.
鈥淚f you have a problem or questions, you don鈥檛 have to bundle it up and ship, it you can bring it and have a real face at the counter when you bring it,鈥� says Bulman. 鈥淪hop local, because you鈥檒l get the support.鈥�
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