Kitsap Mall was a busy place on Christmas Eve. In spite of sagging national and local economies, inflation fears and economic uncertainty, Kitsap retailers report that sales held their own over the Christmas shopping season.

   In spite of a slowing national economy and a slower local one, Christmas was good to most local retailers. The national doom and gloom trend being reported on the national scene didn’t seem to have much of an impact on the buying habits of Kitsap residents.
   A unscientific poll of local retailers, which consisted mainly of calling them at random on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas, found that business was even or ahead of last year for most. There were some exceptions, but with Christmas falling on Monday this year, those called on Friday were bracing for a big weekend. Those called on Saturday were seemingly buried in customers.
   Over at Kitsap Mall, Stacey Ames, Marketing Director for the mall commented, “We’re doing pretty well, at least all the merchants seem to be happy. Customer counts are down slightly, but nothing horrible. We’re expecting a huge weekend though.”
   Spotting a trend, Ames noted, “Gift certificate sales are really up. Overall, I’d have to say we’re doing okay.”
   At J.C. Penney, manager Diana Reinhardt confirmed what Ames said, “Actually our women’s apparel business this holiday has been very strong. We’re doing well in fine jewelry and home accessories.”
   When asked about business in general however, she added, “Overall December business is down a couple percent in total., but this weekend may change that.”
   Ken Johnson, the manager at Gottschalks, said he was at a bit of disadvantage because he had no previous figures to benchmark sales against. The California chain took over the spot Lamonts had occupied earlier this year, so it’s the first Christmas here for them.
   Questioned about sales volume in general, he replied, “It’s fair to middlin’, not bad actually. For us, a company that’s new to the Northwest, we’re very pleased overall.”
   When asked the usual what’s selling question, he answered, “It’s a good year for fountains, candles, and a lot of the home lines are popular this year, We’re noticing a lot of personal care items are doing real well. We’re real pleased, and we’re looking forward to next year. We’re taking a lot of notes and listening to the customers.”
   Layna Phaff, manager of Ben Bridge Jewelers laughed when asked how business is, saying “My business is great. I’ve had a great year. A lot of people are really hurting, but I’m not. But jewelry is really a keepsake item, it’s not like clothes that wear out.” Questioned about comparing it to last year, Phaff said, “Business has been pretty equal for me.”
   And what is she selling? “Emeralds, black South Sea Tahitian pearls, rubies, and anything under $100. We carry a lot of items under $100.”
   At Victoria’s Secret, manager Tamara McCauley, commented, “It was slow starting off this year, but this weekend it has really picked up. Business was really down from last year, but this weekend it has really kicked butt. The extra weekend before Christmas has really helped.”
   Asked what was selling in her store, she answered, “Pretty much everything, People seem to be going with the non-traditional gifts, buying bras and panty sets, sleepwear and fragrances, but bras are number one.”
   Away from the mall, when asked what was selling and how business was in general, Mary Pyles, manager at the Big K-Mart in Bremerton chuckled and replied, “Everything is selling and kind of mediocre.”
   When asked how it compared with last year, Pyles said, “Business is not necessarily slower, but it’s not any better than last year.” When asked to elaborate on what was moving in particular, she said, “A lot of appliances and electronic items, anything electrical.”
   Port Orchard Big K-Mart manager Rod Hammond said, “We’re doing fine. We’re selling the same things as last year, Barbies and other things that always do well.”
When asked what was hot, he answered without hesitation, “PlayStation 2.” Asked if he had any in stock, he laughed and answered, “I wish I did. We could sell every last one.”
   When asked to compare business to last year, he said, “It’s a little on the light side.”
   “We’re doing a lot better than what I planned,” was what Sharon Meints, manager of the Bremerton Wal-Mart had to say. Asked what was selling, she said without hesitation, “DVD players, CDs, scooters — but I think they’re probably the hot item everywhere. I think people are looking at electronics, as they’re a lot hotter than in the past. People are really into the DVD players — they’ve really been hot sellers.”
   When asked about the PlayStation 2 she laughed and said, “I don’t know, I’ve not had enough of them to even worry about.” She added, “We’re doing a lot of food gift sets.”
   Asked to compare this year to last, Meints said, “I can’t give you the ‘a lot better than last year’ story, but we’re seeing a lot of community support. There’s a huge increase in customer count from last year. I’m real pleased, it’s way above my expectations.”
   Doug Ayerst, the manager of the Wal-Mart in Port Orchard, echoed Meints. “We’re doing real well on sales right now. Pretty much everything is selling. Scooters, and DVD players for sure. He said, “It’s better than last year, but we won’t know how much better until we’re finished, but it’s going to be good.”
   Meanwhile, talking with other merchants around the county seemed to mirror what was happening to the major retailers.
   Eric Klevia, who along with his wife Carol own The Radio Guy in Poulsbo, a firm that specializes in high-tech automotive electronics, said, “Business is real good. I think the standard problem of every business right now is finding people. Business is awesome but we’re overwhelmed because we’re short staffed. We don’t have enough people to take care of the all the customers — that’s the problem.”
   Klevia also said that business is up substantially from over last year, and when asked the same question of what’s selling, he answered, “Cellular phones, keyless entry, remote car starters, mobile video, car stereos, it’s all selling.”
   Scott Alexander, who owns the pro shop at Gold Mountain golf course, opened a retail store in Kitsap Mall this year just for the holidays, to sell golf equipment. This was his first foray into the world of retail away from the gold course.
   “It was a good move for me,” he said. “We’ve done well at this. We’ll definitely be back next year.”
   Mallory Jackson, owner of Bay Street Framing in Port Orchard said business has been very good. “I think it’s because I’m a specialty shop, and, being open for 6 years has given me a lot of repeat business.”
   Asked what type of business was most popular for her this year, Jackson answered, “High end custom framing. I specialize in museum-quality framing and shadow boxes, and I think part of the difference is I’m an owner-operated shop and I love doing this type of work. I think its something that employees don’t enjoy nearly as much as I do.”
   Jackson, who moved her shop to larger quarters earlier this year also said that business was up from last year. “I think moving to the corner location has helped.”
   Up on Bainbridge Island, Constance Swanlund, who owns Bad Blanche on Winslow Way, may have hit the nail squarely on the head. “It’s the same as it was last year. I think it was the election and the stock market.”
   Called on Saturday, Swanlund added, “We’re wonderfully busy today. I wish we could have done this all week.”
   Questioned about what she’s selling, Swanlund answered, “Our whimsical items are doing very well, and home furnishings have been hot. Lighting has been huge.”
   She also said that her store in Poulsbo is in the same situation — no better, or worse — than last year.
   And that seemed to be the story from most people we talked with. Considering the state of the local and national economies, the condition of the stock market, the election fiasco and worries about inflation and interest rates, perhaps not losing ground is the best Christmas present retailers could have hoped for Santa to deliver.