An A. C. Moore Arts & Crafts (ACMR) mention in this article about the crafts business. I'll likely join you in this issue today. The stock has acted well so far in December. I like the crafts sector for 2009 and beyond as a play on a simpler lifestyle that I think many are now facing.
Dee Archer of AC Moore Arts & Crafts at Pine Island and Pondella roads in Cape Coral, has experienced high traffic, particularly on weekends. "The hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. are what we call 'Moore Time,' when the store is flooded with our most loyal customers," she said.
Sales have been strong since the store first opened in mid-September. "People are making things at home instead of buying them," she said, noting that customers buy molds to make their own chocolates and are doing more baking, and giving the gift of goodies.
The staff of AC Moore anticipated the trend. "We thought people would be hand-making gifts just to save some money. We talked about it months ago, figuring people would do more home baking."
Archer knows it was the right call. "They've been flying off the shelves," Archer happily reports. "People are definitely looking for the best price. That's clear this year.
Christmas decoration sales have also been strong. "I've never seen them go so fast. We're pretty much picked clean." Still, she says, "It does have a different feel this year."
AC Moore shopper Betsy Hays, 52, of North Fort Myers, bought bags for chocolate-covered pretzel rods. She started the project for her daughter to give as gifts at school and thought she might like to give them to teachers at Tropical Isles Elementary, where she's a speech pathologist.
The economy has affected Hays' holiday spending. "I'm trying not to charge anything. I'm trying to not to incur any debt. I'm thinking about the future. I'm being more careful. It's also a good lesson for my daughter. I don't want her to be irresponsible one day."
She and her fifth-grade daughter, Rebecca, thought it would be a fun project to do together.
"I can't say I've ever given food gifts," she said, "but I wanted to be able to give people something they would appreciate while I stretch my gift giving dollars."
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