FARMINGTON — Early morning, downtown shoppers have much to gain Saturday.

Most stores are opening for the traditional Early Bird Sale at 6 a.m. Nov. 5 with several offering larger percentages off items for the earliest of the early birds.

“It takes patience and a bit of a wait but the deals are worth it for the customer,” Kathy Brennick said of the sale at her store, My Crop Paper Scissors Store, on Front Street. “It’s usually packed but anyone in the store that first hour, even at 6:59 a.m., gets 50 percent off everything in the store even the new items.”

This is the eighth Early Bird Sale at Brennick’s store stocked with “more paper than anyone in the state,” she said. Items for scrapbooking, stamping, Bazzill card stock and much more line the shelves ready for just a creative idea. The first hour, from 6 to 7 a.m., Saturday everything is 50 percent off, the next hour, from 7 to 8 a.m., the percentage drops to 40 percent off and from 8 to 9 a.m., everything is 30 percent off. The store is usually packed for the once-a-year special deal, she said.

It’s a store where many like to come to browse, she said.

During a recent crop workshop, as they are called, an idea for specially decorated Christmas cards was shared. Her counter is now lined with card ideas even for those who are not especially creative. Many of her ideas are now shared on Facebook.

Brennick, of Jay, came out of retirement and took over the store about four years ago after her daughter, Joan, made an initial start of the business, she said. She had done some scrapbooking prior to becoming involved in the store. Now she offers some classes and crop sessions. She is considering another one in January.

“It’s a relaxing, fun day,” she said.

The Early Bird Sale day, an annual event started by Reny’s years ago as something special for hunters’ wives to do, has grown over the years with businesses offering an early start to Christmas shoppers with special discounts, some lasting from 6 to 9 a.m. and others throughout the day.

Clerks dress in night clothes. Music and refreshments offered by some stores lend to the experience sponsored by the Farmington Downtown Association.

Once again Narrow Gauge Cinema offers its annual sale of movie passes from 6 to 9 a.m. at the cinema, a popular sale event.

The Farmington Ski Club’s 29th annual ski and snowboard sale also takes place Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Mt. Blue Middle School. Season passes for skiing at Titcomb Mountain are also on sale with specials offered on Saturday.

Topping off the shopping experience, an “early riser breakfast promising good food and fellowship,” takes place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church, along with a pie and bake sale and table of Christmas items.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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