Jamestown (ND) stores report strong holiday sales

Jamestown, ND, retailers report holiday sales for 2009 remained strong and that it was a successful shopping season, even though national holiday spending was only slightly better than predicted.

Sales at Walmart are up from last year and customer traffic slightly increased. The average price of a purchase also increased, said John Shafer, Walmart store manager.

Weather also played a role in sales.

November and December had less “snow days” than last year and Shafer believes it also helped draw customers in. The season’s hottest items were televisions and Zhu Zhu Pets (robotic toy hamsters), he said.

Kmart didn’t carry Zhu Zhu Pets, but toy and electronics sales were this year’s hot items, said Joni Dalke, store manager at Kmart.

Electronic gaming consoles like the Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 and games for the two systems were hot sellers along with traditional toys like Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels, action figures and board games, Dalke said.

“Sales were good right up until the snow storm,” she said.

Black Friday and the week before Christmas were the busiest times at Kmart for shoppers of all demographics, Dalke said.

Overall sales were good but weather always plays a role when people can’t get to the store, said Dalke, who is also a member of the board of directors for the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce.

“The community went through such a stressful time this year with the flood and I think people needed to get out and do something positive and make Christmas a positive time,” she said.

One area store that sells decorations to enhance Christmas is Garden Gate in downtown Jamestown.

Unlike Walmart and Kmart, Garden Gate didn’t really have a rush like Black Friday, said Bonnie Carlson, store manager. Traffic was steady from the third week in November to the third week in December,

Sales weren’t as high as last year but the store is still pleased with the outcome, Carlson said.

Decorations and picture frames were hot items for female shoppers, which make up the majority at Garden Gate, she said.

Another downtown store that also saw a majority of female shoppers was Gifts From The Heart, said Cindy Gilge, store co-owner.

Civic Center events also increased traffic at the store, with event spectators spending their dollars in Jamestown, Gilge said.

She called this year’s holiday season one of the best in the store’s three-year history.

A dice game called Farkle and oil-burning lamps were the big sellers this year. Also in demand were pairs of hand-crocheted mittens from an employee’s 99-year-old grandmother, Gilge said.

There were some male shoppers but they tended to venture to another nearby business, she said.

“The guys go to Gun & Reel and the gals come here,” Gilge said.

Sales were steady and there was a last minute push at the downtown sporting goods store, said Woody Woodward, vice president of Gun & Reel Sports.

“It was pretty much go-go-go the last few days,” Woodward said.

The weather also helped to drive in sales on cold-weather gear like Under Armour, jackets and boots, he said.

“The weather never hurts our sales,” Woodward said.

Stutsman Harley-Davidson also had a push of last minute male shoppers until about 3 p.m. Christmas Eve, said Al Pergande, general manager.

Weekends were stronger than weekdays for the store with sales ended up comparable to last year, Pergande said.

“Overall I think we did OK,” he said.

Watches and ladies fashion clothes were the big sellers at his store, Pergande said.

All retailers mentioned in this story reported some after-Christmas specials on decorations and some on holiday related apparel.

Gift card or gift certificate sales were also strong at all locations meaning people are expected to return and purchase more goods.

“People will continue to buy, there’s confidence out there,” Dalke said.

Tags: jamestown nd, christmas shopping, retail, shopping, daily updates