Local US merchants report holiday sales up over previous year despite lower than expected sales reported by big box retailers

Kendall Sinclair

ELIZABETHTOWN, North Carolina , December 28, 2012 (Bladen Journal) – While large big box retailers across the United States were having a blue Christmas with lower than expected sales figures, local merchants were reporting quite a different Christmas story.

Denise Smith, manager of Goody's in Elizabethtown, said that sales were strong in her store.

"Everything went really well," said Smith of the last shopping weekend before Christmas.

She also said her sales figures were good.

"Sales were up over last year," said Smith. She added she was really pleased with the Christmas shopping season results.

By 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Smith reported that she had only had one return at that point, but she also pointed out the bad weather predicted for the day may have kept some folks home.

Leinwand's Department Store owner Ricky Leinwand said that his Christmas sales were also strong.

"It was fantastic," said Leinwand of the Christmas shopping season. "We were very, very fortunate and grateful for all of the support."

Leinwand said his store surpassed his sales figures for last year and there is still five more days left to the holiday shopping season.

"We are doing easy exchanges now," said Leinwand.

He added that everything in the store is still on sale and customers are welcome to come out and check out the great savings throughout the store.

He did say the holiday was marred when his store was broken into about 4 a.m. Tuesday. Leinwand said the culprits made away with several pairs of Ugg boots and Jordan sneakers.

Sluggish sales elsewhere across the United States were blamed on poor weather that occurred just prior to Christmas. According to reports, bad weather kept many shoppers home the final weekend before Christmas in the northeast and midwest.

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(c)2012 the Bladen Journal (Elizabethtown, N.C.)

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