Stores big and small have recently cut prices to attract customers in the midst of the recession.

Shops in downtown DeKalb have experienced the same trend in price reduction in the last few months.

Although many shop owners were reluctant to comment on the issue, some such as Vickie Obermiller, remain optimistic in the coming months.

Obermiller, owner of children’s toy and clothing resale shop Kid Stuff, 149 E. Lincoln Highway, said business has been better than usual.

“This has been the best Christmas this year,” Obermiller said.

She said she saw greater foot traffic this past holiday season than in the past 10 years because more people were looking to save.

“People are being more conscientious of recycling and saving money,” Obermiller said.

With gently used children’s toys, clothes, books and furniture on sale for half the price of new products, Obermiller has seen many new customers looking to buy practical items such as winter coats or boots and to save money on luxuries such as toys.

Other thrift and resale stores have not been as fortunate. A few doors down from Kid Stuff, Lavish Thrift, 153 E. Lincoln Highway, has a sale sign posted out front advertising their slashed prices. The economic situation has affected them somewhat negatively but manager Brandon Wiley remains positive.

“I guess I have to be,” Wiley said, “because we can’t just pull up stakes and leave.”

Lavish Thrift’s greatest earnings in past years have come in August when students return to NIU. This year was the exception. Even with advertisements in local newspapers, sales were still poor. Lavish Thrift also posted their products on Web sites such as eBay and Craig’s List in an effort to gain more customers.

With about one-third of its clientele comprised of new customers and two-thirds repeat customers, Lavish Thrift has not had to cut too many corners. The store still buys the same amount of goods and hopes that by February, when more people venture outdoors, business will pick up.

Mike Groark and Carolyn Canon, owners of MCR Framing, 137 E. Lincoln Highway, have also maintained an optimistic view. They noticed people are more value-conscious, and they made adjustments in their DeKalb store and at their Genoa store, Cattywompus, to accommodate their customers. Groark said MCR Framing has very loyal customers with only 10 to 15 percent new customers.

Groark and Canon strongly believe by increasing the quality of products and services and by adding new technology to help cut labor costs, they’ve been able to cut prices, and their stores and customers have benefitted.

“2008 was a good year for us, but the economy isn’t helping anything,” Groark said. He felt prepared for the recession by making changes early in 2008.

When asked about his current outlook for the upcoming months, Groark said the general consensus from his customers, and people across the country seem to be more hopeful especially in the recent days since Barack Obama’s inauguration.

“[It’s] a hopeful wait and see,” Groark said.