While national holiday sales are expected to slow this year as economic concerns continue to grow, several area boutiques have had a good start to the season.
Holiday merchandise came out early, and so did shoppers, said Lori Salzer, assistant manager of Camas-based home décor boutique Lizzabeth A.
“We put our Christmas stuff out in early November and people were ready to go,” she said.
The store has run out and had to reorder several popular Christmas items – which, Salzer said, have been flying off the shelves. The most popular? Mini-stockings that serve as cheery silverware holders.
The National Retail Federation predicts this year’s holiday sales will rise 4 percent to $474.5 billion – representing the slowest holiday sales growth since 2002, when sales increased 1.3 percent.
Holiday retail sales are those that take place in November and December and include the most traditional retail categories, such as discount, department, grocery and specialty stores.
Consumer surveys for the NRF indicate sales may be slightly lower than the federation’s prediction.
But Washington’s Employment Security Department maintains the state’s economy is still bucking national trends.
The average annual growth rate for retail trade statewide in all of 2007 is expected to be 2.7 percent, compared with 1.4 percent in 2006 and 2.4 percent in 2005.
The strongest growth has been in clothing stores, up 7 percent this year.
Sandra Koceja, owner of Camas-based Accentuate, an upscale clothing and accessories shop, has seen steady sales of her luxury items – denim and handbags have been particularly big.
Koceja said she regularly hears shoppers express a desire to shop in local boutiques.
“I have lots of regular customers who come here first before going to department stores,” she said.
Koceja took over the boutique in May and said the previous owner told her the only time the shop would likely need two workers is in the summer. But Koceja said she’s needed double shifts on Saturdays since the summer.
Luxury retailers appear, once again, to be a bright spot in national sales projections because their customers have demonstrated the ability to maintain high spending levels, according to the NRF.
This could be troublesome to discount stores and some department stores that cater to lower income shoppers.
Vancouver-based specialty pet store Beastie Boutique saw its holiday sales soar in 2006 – its first Christmas – and owners expect to do better this year. Since March, sales have grown 10 percent each month, and in November, they were up 13 percent over October.
“I don’t think we’re going to experience a downturn in sales for the holidays,” said Roger McLeskey, who owns the boutique with his wife Kristina.
McLeskey said the store has grown in large part because of word of mouth.
“A lot of people can’t believe there are this many things for pets and pet lovers,” he said. “The uniqueness is an attraction.”
Plus, many big box stores carry some specialty pet items, but McLeskey said shoppers are tired of trudging through huge parking lots just to buy a little dog dress.
On Black Friday, more than 147 million shoppers hit the stores – up almost 5 percent from 2006 – but they spent an average of $347.44, down 3.5 percent from last year, according to the NRF.
Amy Rose, who owns Camas-based The Uncommon Gift with Carrie Schulstad, said she hasn’t seen any change in shoppers’ holiday spending habits.
“They started early,” Rose said, “And a lot of people are trying to shop locally. Camas has such variety down here now, and people are really responding.”
Gift cards
Once again, gift cards will be a major player in the gift market. More than half of consumers are hoping to find one under the tree, followed by clothes and books, CDs, DVDs and video games, according to a survey commissioned by the National Retail Federation Gift card sales are expected to total $26.3 billion this season, compared to $24.8 billion in 2006. And the average consumer is expected to spend more on gift cards – $122.59 this year versus $116.51 in 2006.
Seasonal hires
Washington’s seasonal hiring outlook is in good shape, according to the state Employment Security Department.
Washington retailers are expected to add about 14,600 workers during November and December to help out during the holiday season. The number is slightly down from the 15,500 workers hired during the same period in 2006, but is comparable to the hiring levels of the past three years.
The bulk of seasonal retail hiring will be in general merchandise stores, followed by clothing stores, according to the ESD.
Megan Patrick can be reached at mpatrick@vbjusa.com.
