Season's green

Businesses in Winter Park, Maitland and Baldwin Park are gearing up for what has the potential to be the biggest holiday shopping season in recent years.

The nation’s economy is slowly recovering, and the holiday retail market is likely to improve with it, University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith said.

“It’s a gradual improvement,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a blockbuster holiday season, but I think it should be better than last year.”

According to the National Retail Federation’s Holiday Forecast, sales are expected to increase 2.3 percent this season. This is compared to a 0.4 percent increase last year, and a 3.9 percent decline in 2008.

“I still think that retailers are going to have to give discounts,” he said, “and Black Friday specials to try to get consumers to spend a little bit more because consumers are still a bit hesitant in the wake of the recession.”

That’s exactly what many local retailers plan to do.

Winter Park Village

Learning Express Toys, located in the Winter Park Village, will be one of many local retailers opening their doors at the crack of dawn for shoppers on Black Friday, store manager Rachel Harrison said.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 28, everything in the store will be 20 percent off. Those who come early on Black Friday, when they open at 6 a.m., will also receive special door-buster deals with an additional extra 10 percent discount, Harrison said.

The store will also partner with the Winter Park Village in one of their ongoing holiday events, making Christmas crafts on select Saturdays in December.

In addition to craft nights, the Winter Park Village plans to hold several holiday events to draw in shoppers. Strolling Dickens carolers, balloon benders and a breakfast with Santa are all on the calendar for December.

Maureen Andres, the general manager for the Winter Park Village, said the outdoor mall will also be giving away a $300 shopping spree to two shoppers who register online.

Regal Cinemas will also host free movie showings of “Elf” starring Will Ferrell the weekend of Dec. 5.

“That’s what people look to the Winter Park Village for, we’re doing all these little special events that draw people in and make the customers feel special,” Andres said.

Park Avenue

Ten Thousand Villages, a fair-trade shop on Park Avenue, is finding its own way to celebrate the season of giving by offering specials throughout the season.

“We hold several shopping benefits where we donate a percentage of our sales to local nonprofits,” co-owner Lisa Donaway said.

Throughout the last week of November, and first week of December, Ten Thousand Villages will host three different shopping benefits: one for Hands On Orlando on Nov. 30, the Winter Park Garden Club on Dec. 1, and the Bach Festival Society on Dec. 2.

Brian Wettstein, co-owner of Bullfish in Baldwin Park and Doggie Door in Winter Park, said he’s already seen an increase in the number of shoppers early in the holiday season.

“It’s huge for us — we’ve already seen it this past weekend,” he said. “Business has been great.”

With extended hours and gift-wrapping, he hopes the post office located inside Bullfish will help keep customers coming. Both shops will also be open for holiday pet photos all season.

He’s not crossing his fingers yet, but Wettstein is hopeful that this holiday shopping season will be better than the last.

“It’s too early to tell,” he said, “but it definitely looks like — and we’re planning on — it being an increase from last year.”