KELLY FARRELL

081126ME-SHOP Katherine Ebaugh organizes the products at The Spa Hilton Marco Island, a new state of the art spa. The full service salon offers massage, facials, body treatments, nail and hair service. Gift certificates to one of several Island salons may be among the popular gift options available without going too far from home. Kelly Farrell/ Staff

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

More Business

• Business Spotlight: Rollsecure Shutters
• Fix investment: new car sales slump boosts repair shops' business
• Chico's appoints new president and CEO

Share and Enjoy [?]

MARCO ISLAND — Some Island store owners say they wish they could close off the Jolley Bridge Black Friday to keep all the locals from departing Marco as they attack their Christmas shopping list.

Perhaps closing the main artery to the island seemed a bit over the top, so instead, most area stores are running better specials Thanksgiving weekend than they ever have before.

Marco Island Clothing Company is having a sale on their entire store Friday and Saturday, with free gift wrap and free shipping, said owner Joyce McFarland.

“This is something we’ve never done before. People are looking for value and we want to fend off the surge of people going over the bridge to shop,” said McFarland.

Kay’s on the Beach is having similar “groundbreaking” sales, said Jeane Hylt.

Jackets and tops are $20, giving a 50 percent discount through Christmas, she said.

“We call it the recession-proof special,” said Hylt.

Merchants are kicking off the shopping season with sale prices hoping to keep Islanders in the area as they enjoy Christmas Island Style’s event “Santa’s Arrival,” Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Shops of Marco on the corner of South Barfield and San Marco Road with give-aways, raffles, pictures with Santa, letters to Santa and live entertainment. Stores will be open until 9 p.m., Friday. Many stores within the Shops of Marco also plan to stay open late on Thursday evenings through Christmas.

The motto “Shop Marco first” has been around for more than 20 years, but is being repeated even more this year, said Shelley McFarland, who owns McFarland’s of Marco Men’s Clothing Store.

“I find everything on the island. We have two hardware stores which sell appliances, linens in Town Center ... everything,” Shelley said.

Sister in-law Joyce McFarland shared Shelley’s sentiments.

“Just shop Marco first. If you don’t find what you’re looking for then go off island,” she said.

Joyce stressed the importance this year. “We don’t get bail outs like big businesses do. We need to support each other. Our shops are owned by families who live right here on the island,” she said.

Whether shopping for electronics at Radio Shack, jewelry at Schilling’s or flower arrangements ordered through Marco Island Florist, merchants and community supporters are urging shoppers to look close to home.

Police, fire, the YMCA and other community groups at times find they need support and it’s often been the business community that steps up quickly to help out, said Steve Stefanides, chairman of Christmas Island Style.

“The businesses are the backbone of what goes on in supporting the community,” he said.

Save time, save gas and keep the tax revenues on the island by shopping here, says Stefanides, along with other community supporters.

While people may have had their reasons to leave the island as they shopped for Christmas in years past, merchants are working to take those possible reasons away.

The Marco Radio Shack is having a sale on some of the hottest items of the year. Hovering at the top of this year’s Marco wish lists are the iPod, the XBox 360 and children’s computers, all on sale at the Radio Shack this Friday and Saturday.

“I have to buy a lot smarter now. I’m not taking as many risks with the high end products. I’m listening to customers and making adjustments,” said Bill Oberdorster of Marco River Marina.

Oberdorster said the marina’s store is a 6,000 square-foot “mini department store.”

Located on Bald Eagle Drive, the marina has men’s and women’s clothes, boating accessories, fishing gear, jewelry, shoes, fragrances, a gift department and specialty foods such as Rose’s Ribs and a full line of Keywest treats.

“If we don’t have it, you don’t need it,” Oberdorster said.