Nov 17, 2010

Retailers optimistic as holiday shopping season approachesBy Nicole L. CvetnicUticaOD.com

As the holiday shopping season kicks into gear, local retail store owners are hoping people are more in the spirit of giving this year than in recent Christmases past.

As the economy declined in 2008, so did shoppers’ expectations about how much money they would spend on Christmas presents, according to a national Gallup poll.

Spending expectations continued to drastically sink in 2009, but they have somewhat leveled off this year with a smaller decrease, according to the 2010 Gallup poll.

Laura Misiaszek, owner of The Olde Wicker Mill in the New Hartford Shopping Center, said she thinks shoppers will focus on buying useful presents but increase their overall spending compared to the last couple years.

“I think it’s going to be a very good year,” Misiaszek said.

A recent survey conducted by the Retail Council of New York State showed that retailers in the state are expecting a strong shopping season this year.

Of the retailers who responded, 64 percent anticipate sales to be the same or better than 2009, and 77 percent plan to hire either the same number of employees for the holidays or more, according to the survey.

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