Local retailers ready for holiday rush

LYNN – While area malls and mall anchor stores are bracing for the Black Friday onslaught, three longtime local independent stores want shoppers to know that holiday bargains can be found closer to home, and that most of the money spent at local stores stays in the community.?If you spend $100 locally, $62 stays right in our community,” said Pauline Spirito of Lynn, who is celebrating 30 years in business as owner of Infinity Fashion Boutique and Skate Skins Boutique in Swampscott. “If you spend that same $100 in a national chain, only $42 stays in our community. And if you buy online, zero is returned to our community.?So buying locally is the right choice for our schools, our families and for our community,” added Spirito, who began as a designer of wearable art in 1979 and opened her first boutique in Swampscott three years later.Infinity and Skate Skins – which sells girls? and women?s activewear – are separate boutiques at the same location at 427 Paradise Road, in Vinnin Square.Spirito said the hype about Black Friday is centered on the big box stores, but that local shops like hers have plenty of bargains.?We have a Black Friday sale going on here, we?re offering $15 coupons,” Spirito said, adding that American Express, for the third year, is offering cardholders who register a $25 statement credit if they spend at least that amount on their card on Nov. 24, which is “Shop Local Saturday.”Spirito said cold-weather accessories – hats, scarves and gloves – are always big sellers this time of year. “As well as the color red. The power of red is always big during the holidays.”Infinity and Skate Skins is open 10-6 Monday-Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday.Richard Covert, owner of Richard Covert TV & Appliance at 334 Broadway (Wyoma Square), Lynn, said his store?s many brand-name flat screen televisions are priced to move for the holidays.?We?re expecting a boost (on Friday). We?re pricing our merchandise aggressively trying to compete with the big stores, and of course, we offer the personalized service when somebody buys something from us. We try to give them immediate delivery and setup, and we have layaway – if you buy something on sale now you can take it at Christmas.”Another plus about shopping at independent stores like his, Covert said, is “I never put a deadline on customers and tell them they have to be here at a certain hour or they?ll wait too long and lose a deal. I wouldn?t shop that way and I wouldn?t expect my customers to shop that way.”In addition to the brand name televisions with up to 60-inch screens, Covert said there?s an up-tick in sales with some appliances, particularly stoves and microwaves, over the holidays.Covert TV and Appliance – in its 43rd year of business in Wyoma Square – is open Friday 9 a.m. to7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to2 p.m. “But we?ll stay later if customers come in and need help,” he said.Meanwhile, a landmark independent Lynn footwear and apparel store, LB Pennyworth?s, 137 Boston St., also anticipates a big boost in holiday shoppers beginning Friday.?We?ve run a lot of ads, in The Item and elsewhere, and we?ve created a lot of sales to go with those ads,” said Pennyworth?s manager Barry Galer.He said the store, in its 67th year of business in Lynn and 12 years at its current location, has weathered the recession well and is fully stocked for the holiday season, with brand names including Ugg boots and North Face outerwear.?You have up days and down days, but our up days are outnumbering the down days,” Galer said. “We have the right items at the right price.”Galer added, “We try to steal (customers) from the malls as much as we can, but we don?t open at midnight, all of that is crazy and just out of control.”Pennyworth?s, which also offers gift cards and layaway service, will be open Black Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.Leslie Gould, executive director of the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of local commerce.?Shopping loc