Respondents to an Argus-Courier online poll about holiday shopping Nov. 27, 2008 gave a slight edge to Petaluma stores over out-of town stores.
Asked where they are buying their holiday gifts, 61.5 percent said in local stores and 38.5 percent said they were going out of town to shop. An equal number (23.1 percent) said they were shopping online and going to craft fairs. Some 15.4 percent said they were not buying gifts. This question allowed respondents to give multiple answers.
Asked how much they are spending for holiday gifts compared to years past, 53.8 percent said “less” and 46.2 percent said “about the same.” No one said they were spending more than last year.
Here are some of the comments from those who participated in the survey:
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“Petaluma first! Out of town or online, second. Makes no difference if its Christmas or not!”
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“My holiday shopping is easy ” there is none. Years ago, 33 people on my gift list and I agreed not to exchange gifts. We know that we love one another, so we do not need a profit-driven arbitrary “holiday” full of wretched consumer excess and crass commercialism in order to express love. Instead, we share and celebrate the real and meaningful life events ” birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. I feel relieved, unburdened and free from the pressure, the expectations, the hassle and the expense of ‘holiday shopping.’ It’s a wonderful feeling. I highly recommend it.”
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“Petaluma shops are not diverse, and do not offer me what I would like to buy for the holidays.”