Merchants foresee brisk business for holidays
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

Despite slumping early retail sales nationally, the Grinch won't be stealing the Christmas shopping season this year, local retailers predict.

Belk manager Jim Tyler said he expects throngs of happy shoppers and plenty of green in his cash registers this holiday shopping season.

"This is going to be a good one," Tyler said. "It's just some of the prices we have will bring the customers in."

Belk will open its doors to eager shoppers at 5 a.m. Friday - the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. The first couple of hundred shoppers will receive gift cards of various values.

"We'll have super discounts and early bird specials throughout the store," he said.

Electronics, especially global positioning systems, will be hot-ticket items this year, according to Tyler.

Toys, video camcorders and sweaters are expected to be gobbled up by shoppers, too, he said.

Shoppers who want to burn off that holiday turkey can shop at Wal- Mart and Big Lots on Thursday. Big Lots will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, while Wal-Mart will be open all day Thursday.

Wal-Mart manager Andrew Williams expects to be smiling a lot this holiday shopping season.

"I think this will be good for us," he said.

Williams said shoppers can visit the Wal-Mart Web site to learn about specially-discounted items.

Big Lots manager Anna Hardin is trusting her feelings, not any national economic indicators, when she insists the store's cash registers will get a workout this holiday season.

"It's just a gut feeling that I have," Hardin said. "I've been doing this for 20-plus years. Everybody seems to be starting to shop early."

Big Lots will attempt to lure in customers with special promotions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.