Cyber Monday gives C.O. businesses holiday boost

There might not be a place in Bend that resembled Santa’s workshop more than the Nashelle warehouse on Cyber Monday.

Employees hammered away creating jewelry to keep up with those filling orders and boxing up necklaces, rings and other pieces.

“We anticipate it, we look forward to it and it’s fun to create a social media buzz behind it,” founder and owner Heather Nashelle said Monday.

The handmade jewelry company offered 30 percent off online orders in celebration of what’s becoming a highly-anticipated day of holiday shopping deals.

Nashelle said between Cyber Monday and Black Friday, her company has so far doubled its holiday sales. She said Cyber Monday is only getting more popular.

“It’s getting a bigger following — more excitement,” Nashelle said. “People are interested in coming off the holiday weekend with their family and kind of sitting down at the desk back at work — there’s definitely an increase every year.”

Meanwhile, a Bend-based motorcycle accessory and gear shop, Giant Loop, makes about a third of its sales online, according to owner Harold Olaf Cecil.

“Our Cyber Monday special is selling the complete, built bike, already set up and ready to go tour around the world,” Cecil said, pointing to a Honda motorcycle.

Cecil said winter is typically a slower season for his company, but the holidays always offer a nice boost.

“This customer is in Argentina,” Cecil said pointing to a box. “The holidays become that nice little bump at the end of the year, where people are maybe getting a gift or using a year-end holiday bonus to get themselves a gift.”

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will shell out $3 billion online this Cyber Monday. Online spending is expected to surpass in-store sales this holiday season.

To make sure your packages arrive safely and don’t get stolen, you can have them delivered to your work. You can also request a required signature before the package is dropped off, or ask a trusted neighbor to collect your box.

For other safety tips while shopping online, you can read more here: http://www.bbb.org/western-virginia/news-events/news-releases/2015/11/bbb-tips-cyber-monday-shopping/