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Shoppers hit the malls early

Customers seem to have regained some confidence lost in recent years during the economic downturn. At least that's one explanation for why they were out shopping earlier this holiday season.

Customers seem to have regained some confidence lost in recent years during the economic downturn. At least that's one explanation for why they were out shopping earlier this holiday season.

Traditionally, people wait closer to Christmas to hit the malls, but not this year, said Richmond Centre marketing director Leslie Matheson.

"There was more traffic and sales in November," she said.

Retailers didn't offer the deep discounts in mid to late December they once did, and customers have picked up on that trend.

Overall sales were up compared to last year, and the numbers for December has been about the same.

Matheson said the most popular item has been portable electronics like cell phones and tablet computers, which were "up hugely."

Ifti Sahib, manager at the luxury cut-crystal shop Swarovski in Richmond Centre, agreed that business was steady, even without any price cuts.

"We're a brand that never goes on sale," said Sahib. "(Business has) been very good."

Over at the sporting goods giant Sport Chek, general manager Aidan Lightfoot said there have been sales as usual, but things haven't changed all that much from the year previous.

"There's been some growth, just not rapid."

In fact, since the financial crisis everything has pretty much "flatlined."

He said their business has mirrored the housing market when there was a boom as industry flourished and people flocked to B.C.

The store also has to contend with another crucial variable not common to all other establishments - the weather.

With a summer that started late, followed by a winter that has so far been mild, people haven't been in as much of a hurry to buy snorkels or skis as they normally would.

The most consistent sellers are outerwear and shoes that are plucked off the shelves pretty much year round.

On Boxing Day, however, Lightfoot said there was a spike in purchases with 2,500 people making their way through the store starting at 8 a.m. when the mall opened.

On regular days, the store sees about a quarter of that traffic.

The increased consumer confidence may translate into more jobs, according to the latest employment outlook survey by the international staffing agency Manpower.

The survey results indicated employers in the area expect a healthy hiring climate for the first quarter of 2012.

"Richmond-Delta's first quarter net employment outlook of 20 per cent is an improvement from the outlook of 16 per cent, which was reported from the previous quarter," said Gord Bretsen, regional director for Manpower's Pacific region, in a press release.

"It is also a seven percentage point increase from the outlook reported during the same time last year."

The news isn't quite as good for the department store chain Sears.

It's been reported that Sears Canada shares were down 40 per cent this year so far closing at $11.56 last week.

Sears Holdings Corp, which owns 94 per cent of the Canadian division, plans to close 120 stores south of the border. The company did not return calls for comment.