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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2003 THE NEW TANNER Christmas, Boxing Day sales soar... continued from page 1 adding what she appreciates is the personal service, the wide selection and the prices. "Thope more people shop in Acton instead of going to Wal-Mart," Wilson said, adding with all of the new stores opening in town, she can always find what she's looking for. Gift certificates for spa treatments were the runa- way Sales item at the newly opened Blue Springs Spa on Mill Street, according to owner Kristine Cieslok who said holiday traffic and sales were "phenomenal." "Tt was mind-boggling," Cieslok said on Saturday, adding she sold 400 gift cer- tificates, double what she'd anticipated. "Tm totally elated and thrilled, and I thank God every day," she said, adding business is booming be- cause Blue Springs offers services not available lo- cally until now, including full service packages to couples, groups, and, popu- lar this year, mother and daughter spa visits. At Country Reflections, owner Judy MacDonald, said sales were "wonder- ful." "Tt was very good. I was busy non-stop. I did so many gift baskets -- it was just<" a -sareat year," MacDonald said, adding she was busy the entire week prior to Christmas, not just on the 24th, when things are usually hectic. ~One.of the biggest sellers at Country Reflections was Bradford Exchange collectibles, along with Tilley hats, socks and un- derwear. MacDonald said she is now closed on both Mon- days and Tuesdays, because she needed more time to ac- tually run the business when customers aren't there. Olde Hide House presi- dent John Brison, fresh from a restructuring that saw the founding Dawkins family divest itself of the business, said they are "quite happy" with Boxing week sales. "We're happy with traffic levels. We're happy with conversion of customers to sales, and quite honestly, given the fact that it's been extremely warm and we are in the outerwear business, business has been very, very ' good," Brison said on Mon- day. He would not divulge specific percentage in- creases in sales, but said-he was "happy with the results, and that they are very fa- vourable to last year from the same period." Brison said Boxing Day was not quite as busy as the previous year, but sales the week before Christmas more than made up for it. In the Acton East plaza, _ Pet Valu franchisee Rhonda 'Fox said business was up 100 per cent over last year. "Edon't know why," Fox said «on Monday when asked 'to explain the huge™ sales increase, adding sales SUZIE Q WINNER: Taniz Crook right, accepts herjo* Christmas "stocking" from! proprietor Susan Quinn at the Willow St. store on Monday Dec.22.Tania had her pick of $100 worth of merchandise from the store when her name was drawn on Dec. 21 for a shopping spree. She selected jeans, overalls, pants, shirts and stockings from the store's selection. Dress For WinTER. Wear a Hat! 60% or Bopy HEAT 1S LOST THROUGH wan |S'o| A in peak] CES an Dec 31" (New Years Eve) -Jan 2" Re-open 130 Mill Street East, #103, Acton (519) 853-0079 have been up generally since she took over the fran- chise on April 30th, this year. "Sales were excellent -- it's far exceeded what we thought. We knew the busi- ness would grow over the years, but I mean it's like 'wow.' We're very pleased with how well it has taken off for us," Fox said. Next door at Pharma Plus Drugmart, manager Jason Canney said they did "fairly well" in Christmas sales, but wouldn't know the ac- tual percentage increase in sales until he gets the num- bers from head office by the end of the week. "Our customer count was up seven per cent, so our sales were up," Canny said on Monday, adding their sales have been "trending up" ever since they opened almost two years ago. 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