Brenda Black was one of many sellers at this year’s GnomeMade Market. Money raised from sales went to benefit Relay for Life. Black said the most popular items at her craft booth were special lanterns and custom signs.

NEW ULM — The weekend Holiday Shopping Opener was a success in New Ulm, with downtown shops and vendors in the GnomeMade market reporting similar or higher shopping turnout than in past years.

The New Ulm shopping opener and GnomeMade Market is held every fall in November to coincide with the Minnesota DNR Deer Hunting Season Opener. The weekend event is an opportunity for non-hunters to get a jump start on the holiday shopping season. The COVID pandemic limited the number of locations, but GnomeMade Market continued with nine locations Saturday and four locations Sunday. The New Ulm Armory hosted several craft vendors, many of whom were excited to have a place to show. Other craft fairs were forced to closed due to COVID restrictions. The GnomeMade Market was one that was able to stay open.

Tupperware sales person Jessica Emmeck has been part of the GnomeMade Market for 10 years, but was usually operates a booth at Jefferson Elementary. With the school not an option this year, Emmeck was excited to work out of the Armory. The top selling tupperware item this year was the pick-a-dilly container. The pickle containers kept selling out. Emmeck theorized the popularity was due to an increase in vegetable canning.

Mike Pautzke of Upcycled Wood Creations said he believed there was an uptick in vistors from last year.

“It was a beautiful day for it and it is going real well,” Pautzke said. “I think people just want to get outside and enjoy the weather.”

Upcycled Wood Creations specializes in using recycled or repurposed wood to create new items. Smaller block signs were selling well, but Pautzke said he had sold a few cabinets as well.

Outside the GnomeMade market, several downtown businesses saw increased business.

A to Zinnia Floral & Gifts is always popular with holiday shoppers. Owner Heather Hacker-Hammer said they had Christmas items out before Halloween was over to prepare for the shopping opener weekend. Business was strong starting Thursday and continue through the weekend.

Hammer said German-themed Christmas items were selling well, including the cut-out ornaments and gnomes. New this year, the store had several decorations themed around old red pickup trucks for those looking for vintage farm decorations.

With COVID an ongoing concern, A to Zinnia arranged the store to give greater walking space. The shop will continue to hold craft classes, but is moving some to a virtual format.

Guten Tag Haus had a strong weekend of sales. Staff said the store sold a ton of German glass ornaments and the smokers were also top sellers.

Inspired had a steady stream of customers. Inspired employee Sharon Hubly said the store was wonderfully busy. “I think people need to get out,” she said. “I think the weather helped.”

Several businesses credited the warm weather for bringing out shoppers. This was one of the warmest shopping openers in recent memory. Saturday, the temperatures held at 70 degrees throughout the day and multiple businesses, including Bailey Creek Boutique and Gallery 512, were able to keep their front doors open.

The warm weather did impact the sales of some winter clothes such as hats and gloves, but Bailey Creek and Gallery 512 both reported high sweater sales.

Overall, this year’s shopping opener was a relief to many artisan crafters and retailers who were hit hard by the COVID pandemic. The annual event brought a sense of normalcy in a strange year.