Retailers hope season’s sales will save 2009
Local retailers have been busy so far, but many are expecting a flood of shoppers during the eight days before Christmas. Store managers are hoping that shoppers enchanted by the holiday mood will help shore up sales to end an otherwise dismal 2009.
This year glittering holiday ornaments, scented candles and other presents have been moving out the door swiftly at Margo’s Gift Shop at Utica Square, said Margo Nelson, whose family has owned the store since 1935.
“It’s hard to tell what sales will be like until the end of the year, but we’ve been very busy,” Nelson said.
So far, she said, revenues appear slightly higher than last year, and the store hasn’t had to apply steep discounting to move items.
“People are buying a little bit of everything,” Nelson said.
However, she said the holiday shopping season, which can start as early as September, probably didn’t kick into full gear until the beginning of November.
Nationally, a survey by Consumer Reports showed a slight bump in November sales compared to last year. It added that the outlook for the last month of the year is strong.
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