Holiday gift sales impacted by COVID-19 restrictions

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION)

In Downtown Hollister, Sunday, locals rushed to get their holiday gift shopping done before the new Stay At Home order was to go into effect for San Benito County at midnight.

“It definitely dampens the spirit of Christmas and I really don’t know how small businesses are going to survive so I’m just trying to support that," says one local shopper.

For local toy and trinket shops that make most of their yearly profits during the holidays, the owners said this new order adds to the financial challenges they've faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s hard to get employees right now, we’ve lost actually a couple of employees because they want to be able to stay safe. It’s just me and one part time employee and we’re trying to adjust," says Kathina Szeto, owner of Bene Gifts.

Szeto says about 30 percent of her yearly profits come from holiday gift sales.

Bill Mifsud, owner of Bill's Bullpen says the most difficult thing for him is losing customers due to capacity restrictions along with having to compete with big chains.

“Unfortunately, we are told that we are not an essential business. We want to make sure we can open up and do whatever everyone else is doing and if we can’t, make sure stores like target who sell similar products as us, that they shut that area down just because of competition," says Mifsud.

Around the town, locals expressed outrage for the new order and concern for struggling businesses to Mayor Ignacio Velasquez.

“It’s very frustrating, I understand how people can be very upset about this. At the end of the day, we all have to work together to put an end to this virus," says Velasquez.

Business owners say although it is not ideal with cold temperatures, they will be moving their services outside in hopes of keeping customers in.