News

Many visitors return for more shopping

Sherman’s Sports owners, Rex Banadyga and Becky Sherman Banadyga, display merchandise on the sidewalk.

By , Published: August 31, 2012

The Apple Festival is a big weekend for many local merchants.

Big crowds on Main Street for four days gives shops a reason to stay open later, hold sales and try to capitalize on exposure to thousands of visitors. Store owners adjust for the higher volume by adding more employees, updating storefront windows and throwing end-of-summer sales.
Most stores downtown use the weekend as a way to showcase close-out summer inventory, putting it on sale and in front of their stores, to make room for new fall inventory.
Becky Sherman Banadyga and Rex Banadyga, the owners of Sherman's, 126 N. Main St., prepare for the weekend by setting out their traditional sidewalk sale and showcasing their summer inventory for bargain prices.
"It is a good way to promote the end of summer," says Becky. "It's a really big weekend for us, since the Apple Festival brings both locals and tourists to the store."
Hendersonville's specialty boutiques are part of the town's charm. When tourists visit, they enjoy shopping in places they normally wouldn't encounter at home, and buying the unique items these stores offer.
While the Apple Festival may bring tourists to Hendersonville, the town atmosphere and local shops are what will bring them back a second time. Merchants view the Apple Festival as a chance for bigger sales this weekend and also as a builder for future shopping.
"It's like the grand finale of the summer," said Debbie Connor, owner of Think Pink, a Cancer Support Boutique at 231 N. Main St. "We can definitely tell the economy is not what it used to be. We don't have much repeat local interest, so Apple Festival is really good at bringing in new crowds."
Since Think Pink is a charity organization, it will also have a booth on Main Street with items for sale.
Many times, the success of Apple Festival and the local shops depends on the weather.
"Last year, it rained all day Monday of Apple Fest, so our sales were horrible that day," said Alex Arienti, owner of the Women's & Kids Boutique La Vida Loca, 236 N. Main St. "Hopefully we will have good weather this year so people still come."