Bright red apples hang from an ornament tree at Honeybeez & Co., Inc. with words like hope, peace, believe and love – all words Garner business owners are clinging to this holiday season.

The Friday after Thanksgiving marked Garner’s first Gold Friday. A play off of the noted “Black Friday,” Garner Chamber of Commerce members flew gold balloons outside their shops in hopes to draw more customers to shop closer to home this year.

Gold Friday also kicked off the “Garner: A Great Place to Shop” campaign that was initiated by the Chamber and the Garner Citizen News & Times.

Honeybeez & Co., Inc. Co-owner Sherry Mitchell said it may take a few years for the initiative to catch on, but she thinks Garner residents will think first about where they are spending their money this year.

Mitchell said the gift shop in the Garner TV & Appliance building wasn’t set to open until 1 p.m.; however, when she arrived to set up for the Gold Friday event, she had a line of customers waiting for her.

Owner of Salon on Main Charlene Koehl said she agreed that the effort will grow in years to come, but it makes a difference now as well.

“I think it just helps to set Garner apart,” she said.

Koehl offered 15 percent off the entire inventory of gift merchandise with an extra five percent given to those on her email list for the salon.

Right Time Kids was the holiday shopping drop-off location for many families. Manager Denise Dillander said parents that brought back a receipt from their shopping extravaganza received two free hours for their next visit.

Dillander said she hopes parents will remember while they are shopping this season, they can drop off their children at Right Time Kids. The drop-in childcare costs $8.50 per hour without a package and parents can register their children online.

According to Chamber of Commerce Vice President Amy White, nearly 30 business owners participated in the initial advertising campaign.

However, many more were expected to jump on board after publicity for the campaign began.

General Manager at Garner TV & Appliance Randy Pleasant said typically Black Friday isn’t a big day for the store’s sales and the company has seen the effects of the economic crisis. However, the business recently had a tax-free weekend for Energy Star appliances.

Pleasant also said this Wednesday, Dec. 2 would be the store’s real Black Friday.

Garner TV & Appliance has held an annual private sale for existing customers for 32 years, where customers that have bought from the store previously are invited to come in and take advantage of slashed prices similar to Black Friday deals by bigger box stores.

Pleasant said the new Garner TV & Appliance facility in Raleigh, which opened in August, would add revenue to the business this year.

The “Garner: A Great Place to Shop” campaign will run through the Christmas holiday.