News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Teegan Birch, left, and Rusty Petunias Market owner Laura Shearer look at Christmas tree ornaments displayed on a Christmas tree in the store in Alpena on Wednesday. Shearer said the revenue from holiday business helps carry her through the slow months later in the winter.

ALPENA — Small businesses in Northeast Michigan depend on the revenue generated during the holiday season to supplement them year-round, proprietors said.

Although there are other times of the year when business is strong, like when summer tourists visit the area and during extended holiday weekends, a solid Christmas season sets the stage for a strong balance sheet, the business owners said.

Laura Shearer, owner of Rusty Petunias Market in downtown Alpena, said she does her best to capitalize on special events downtown during the holiday shopping season. She said the store has also created its own special events, such as its holiday open house that draws in shoppers from around the state and bolsters business.

Shearer said sales this time of year are important and help overcome slower times of the year.

“We have to make enough money from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 to make it from Jan. 1 to April 1,” she said. “We have to be able to pay for everything we purchased and pay the bills until summer gets here. It really is very slow during the winter after the holidays.”

Teegan Birch, a manager at the store, said business so far this year is comparable to last year and people seem to be in a giving mood. He said the number of people traveling to shop in downtown Alpena seems to be on the rise.

“We have regular customers from everywhere,” he said. “From Presque Isle, Oscoda, Onaway, and even as far away as Traverse City.”

Hayley Rose, owner of Harborside Bath and Body in Rogers City, said this is the third holiday season for her store and, so far, she believes business may be lagging a touch this year — not by much, but just a little. She said the holiday season brings in most of the store’s revenue, which helps it through slower times of the year.

“Roughly 40% of our gross revenues come in the fourth quarter of the year, so the holiday season is hugely important to us,” Rose said. “This year hasn’t been horrible, but I chalk the small drop to the current economy and maybe people’s fear of a recession.”

Stacy Kimble owns the Illuminate Wellness Centre in downtown Alpena. This is the store’s first holiday season downtown after moving from the shop’s old location on U.S.-23 South. The store features stones and crystals and a host of other items, including products that complement medical care for a variety of illnesses, aches, and pains.

She said business seems to be up and down this Christmas season, but she doesn’t have anything to compare to, yet, because she has only been at the new location since May.

Still, she said, she is getting more people into the store than she did at her former location.

“It has really been unpredictable so far,” she said. “Some days are really busy and other days I don’t see a soul. I was here for tourism season and when the cruise ship came in, and that was big for us. I think people are just beginning to learn where we are and what we have to offer.”