ORANGE PARK – Vintage 1 Furniture and Decor and Wood You Furniture, a hybrid retail space that leases storefronts to local vendors as well as furniture and antique dealers, found relative financial success during the Christmas holiday season. The establishment’s unique approach to retail, coupled with uncompromising resilience, defied economic headwinds.

“Traffic was really good. Early on, it was a bit softer, but as we got closer to the end of Christmas, sales were picking up, and our traffic was there. I was pleased with the end of the month, the new store and our dealers,” said owner Brett Blankenship.

Blankenship said business for his dealers was a little down compared to 2022.

“I’d say we’re down, but not down by double digits,” he said. “If you can get ahead of the wave and the economy, you can have success, and we did.”

Blankenship said he saw more of a difference in “per-ticket” purchases.

“We track and measure just about everything. The average ticket is down, but the overall dollar is strong, which means we have more customers, and we’re selling more products with more turns,” he said.

One of the store’s draws is the unfinished furniture in the back from Wood You. Blankenship’s dealers provide unique, specialty, small gifts that are hard to find elsewhere, which helped drive sales during the holiday season. According to salesman Andrew Van Hook, “Christmas sales were pretty good. People were buying a lot of small gifts.”

Southern Grace Manor of Keystone Heights rented space to sell homemade jams, pickles and salsa. Michaela Lecas, a Dixie Belle paint supplier, offered furniture painting services, craft items, décor and other unique products to the community. Layla Bouswaa sold handmade luxury soaps. Other vendors sold a wide variety of goods such as jewelry, artwork, textiles and snacks.

The dynamic approach led to a solid Christmas season.

“This Christmas, we’re up over last year,” Blankenship said, despite rising costs.

“Absolutely, our costs have risen,” Blankenship said. “Our raw materials are easily up 50% from last year.”

He’s one of many business owners and customers who said they feel the effects of a sluggish economy. A big part of that is due to the supply chain. Blankenship gets raw materials from suppliers in countries like China, Mexico, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia.

Maria Newkirk rents a booth at Vintage 1 Furniture and Decor and Wood You Furniture, and she said sales benefited from so many local businesses under one roof.

“Christmas sales in this particular shop have been amazing. It’s been better than some of the booths I’ve worked in for the last five to six years,” she said.

Newkirk’s line includes vintage collectibles and antiques, which comprise 80% of her products, and contemporary, vintage artworks hanging on the walls. The vintage collectibles, highlighted by Christmas ornaments, comprised most of her holiday sales.

“I sold a lot of my vintage ornaments,” she said.

While her sales were down compared to last year, she said she had more sales in Clay County than the malls in Jacksonville.

“I know the economy is not good, so you just have to put a lot of energy into what you’re doing, and the good thing for me is that I love what I’m doing,” she said.

Blankenship said most retailers don’t feel the optimism of an improving economy.

“I would consider that a victory, with the way the economy is now. The current recession is being hidden underneath all of the bonds and yields, but we’re in a full-fledged 1981-1982 recession,” Blankenship said.

Island Girl Cigars, a local cigar bar on Fleming Island with six locations throughout the area, also reported positive results.

Rick Jester said the store sold more than $2,000 before 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30.

“All sales within the store are up,” said general manager Liz Miller. “You can’t buy the cigars too early for the holidays, or they will dry out. The wives like to come get them for the men for Christmas (at the last minute).”