DUNCAN — Shawn Lockstone knew this Christmas would be a difficult one for sales, but the attitudes of customers who come through his door have brought pleasant surprises.

Terry Schlein also has enjoyed this holiday shopping season, even though sales are down.

Both own two of Main Street Duncan’s oldest businesses. Lockstone has R&S; Good Neighbor Pharmacies #1 and Schlein is proud to carry on the tradition of offering fine jewelry services that his grandfather, L.E. Eaton, first started in the 1930s.

The surprise is that more customers are visiting downtown Duncan, even if they aren’t immediately opening their pocketbooks or buying big ticket items.

Main Street Duncan Director Tammy Johnson had member merchants complete a survey after the Holiday Stroll in late November and found that nearly all the store owners are saying “there’s more foot traffic, but sales are down.”

She’s not complaining. She said that can be a positive indicator for the future.

“More people are coming downtown this year than last year,” she said. “The image perception of Main Street is four banks and an office supply store. So, when they come down here, they are finding items they may have not found somewhere else.”

Schlein also is happy to see more customers, even if they aren’t buying. His attitude is that maybe they will return.

“We’re really lucky with the economy being as bad as it has been, our shop has stayed busy,” he said Thursday.

“We’ve probably had at least 100 people in today,” he said. He admits not all bought something, but just getting them in the door is good. And with Christmas only one week away, that’s 100 potential customers who aren’t driving out of town. The money they spend in Duncan generates tax revenue for Duncan, Johnson said.

Lockstone believes that shoppers spirits are also upbeat, in spite of hard times.

“We’ve had good traffic. It’s still a little early to say what sales are going to be like. Obviously, it’s not as good a Christmas as we would like, but people are buying,” Lockstone said.

“We don’t seem to be selling the big items, but our sales have been decent,” Schlein said. He attributes that to quality customer service and two other little known factors — an on-site designer, Grover Snider, and the store is certified as a gold brokerage.

Johnson compares Duncan’s downtown to a book that hasn’t been open.

“You’re seeing the cover of the book but missing the contents of the book because you aren’t coming down to check it out,” she said. “They’re missing the boutique and specialty stores. Teenagers here in town think they have to go to the mall in (another city) to buy an Ed Hardy shirt. What they don’t realize is they can get that shirt right here on Main Street.”

Johnson also worries about Duncan and Stephens County’s own residents wrongly branding Main Street. She’s quick to point out that while there are some antique stores downtown, that isn’t what Main Street is only about. She said there’s such an eclectic offering that anyone could shop there and come away with great unique gift items.

“People are coming window shopping, waiting for paydays and coming to get ideas. The positive thing is they are being exposed to what is downtown.”

From gourmet kitchen items to Sooner sports, western and Christian merchandise, Johnson said shoppers really can find good bargains at the many stores on Main Street. She said she’s visited R&S; twice this week to get items for gifts — at a better price then at other retailers.

“You don’t have to go to Norman because the Sooner related items are right here on Main Street,” she said. That also gives people more time by staying close to home to be able to enjoy the holidays more with their families.

“Come down and look because you may not realize that the deal you’re going to find will be here on Main Street,” she said.

Schlein’s store is proof of that.

“One thing we’ve tried to do is to have more unique pieces, that they can’t buy anywhere else,” he said. And, for about 10 years now, Eaton’s Jewelers has offered Christmas sales of many popular pieces and still believes in advertising.

“Customers are being a little choosier about what they buy — checking things out a bit better, asking more questions about the product.”

He hopes the time invested in that personal customer service will equate to more sales in the last few days of holiday shopping, as do many of the merchants. Johnson noted that the customers are taking the merchant’s time, sometimes up to 30 minutes, and while they may not buy something at the moment, she’s sure many return on payday.

“Downtown is still great. All in all, I wish it could be better for everyone, but if you run a good business and people trust you, that’s keeping downtown vibrant,” Schlein said. “I still think advertising helps to a certain degree. When the economy is tight, people put off to the end buying for Christmas.”

And for both merchants, that’s OK, as long as people continue to remember what true meaning of Christmas is and that they enjoy themselves.

“It’s quite difficult this Christmas season, but I don’t like this doom and gloom. People seem to be in good spirits,” he said.

Many of Duncan’s Main Street businesses will be open this weekend for shoppers.

“We hope they’ll come downtown and discover the jewels we have,” Johnson said.



Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com.