Almost as soon as Christmas sales are over, Cathy Linton will begin making plans for the 2025 holiday shopping season.
The owner of the Casabella boutique home furnishings, decor, women’s clothing and gifts store at Merchants Exchange Shopping Center (website here) will order next year’s supply in January, with some items shipping as early as May.
“We’re not like the chains,” said Linton, who has owned Casabella for the last eight years of its 22-year history. “We can’t order any more” after that.
Since September, she and her staff have been stocking the shelves of the nearly 12,000-square-foot store with Christmas items of almost every imaginable holiday gift idea in mind: from trees, ornaments and college-themed merchandise, to jewelry and handmade goods.
Casabella also is expanding its supplies of Judaica items as Hanukkah begins this year on Dec. 25.
In an area with plenty of national chain powerhouses to compete against, Casabella has carved out a loyal niche of customers focused on local attention, as well as novelty.
One of the more popular features at Casabella for the holidays is a mechanical reindeer who turns his head while songs of the season are played.
Linton said that “kids come just to hear that every year.”
“It’s the only store like this in this area,” said Linton, a former corporate executive who lives in East Cobb and touts her partnerships with nearby organizations and vendors, including craftswomen who put their personal touches on their work.
“Local mom, local mom, local mom, local mom,” Linton said, pointing to items on the shelves that truly are locally sourced.
It’s all part of an effort to sell customers on the idea of shopping locally, and supporting local businesses, some of whom may be neighbors or people they know.
While Casabella’s shop local mantra is year-round, the theme is especially emphasized during the holiday season. In addition to Small Business Saturday, Casabella also urging its customer base to support what it’s dubbing “Pink Friday: Local First” in lieu of the corporate-themed Black Friday.
“We are lucky to have so many amazing locally owned gift shops that support each other throughout the year,” states the Pink Friday promotion. “We are all owned by local moms. We hire local and support local schools, sports teams and charities.”
That includes giving them a shout-out on her social media pages, and even making referrals with Findlay Rowe, Ivy Lane, Little Red Bird and Signatures.
“We send people to each other all the time,” Linton said. “So many of our people support the local shops. We want them all to succeed.”
She noted several new restaurants that have come to Merchants Exchange recently, and said that while it doesn’t necessary affect her foot traffic, “I just want small businesses to survive.”
To get a head start on the season, Casabella held an open house with special sales in early November.
Linton also highlights special areas of merchandise—such as college-themed goods—on her social media pages.
For gift-hunters, there’s no shortage of ideas, even down to snack items and last-minute Thanksgiving food prep assistance.
One thing Casabella is not is an online store. Even during COVID-19, while it was closed for a few months, Linton and her son made home deliveries to customers who called in their orders.
“People want to come in and walk around,” she said. “They know the ladies who work here.”
Losing that personal touch, she added, would change the dynamic of the business and the shopping experience that she’s tried to maintain.
Casabella is located at 4400 Roswell Road, Suite 128. Hours are Monday-Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 12-5. Closed Thanksgiving.
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