Jan 10, 2008

Inland retailers report mixed holiday-sales seasonBy Jack KatzanekPE.com

Visions of financial sugarplums for Inland retailers dissolved into a bad dream of shoppers without a lot of discretionary cash in December, as housing, energy and job worries cut into holiday spending.

Many store owners were disappointed during the season they hoped would produce as much as half of the year’s revenue. Some said sales were no better than the holidays in 2006, while others were happy if business was only slightly worse.

Across the country, few retailers expected strong sales, but many reported weaker-than-expected numbers. Some of the biggest national chains failed to meet their December projections, and their performance led some to reduce their earnings outlooks for the fourth quarter.

Sylvia Paulsen, who owns The Gardener’s Cottage, a gift shop in Riverside’s Canyon Crest Town Centre, goes after holiday business aggressively. She rented extra space for Christmas displays, but the season turned out to be a disappointment.

“We definitely felt the pinch, for the first time in eight seasons,” Paulsen said. “Usually when there’s a recession it glides right over us.”

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