Holiday shoppers generous

Alicia Robinson

Local shoppers’ holiday spirits and spending habits won’t be dampened

by national reports of declines in consumer confidence and leading

economic indicators, area retailers say.

Traffic has been steady all year, and holiday shopping has already

begun at Fashion Island, said Laura Davis, the center’s marketing

director

“I’d say we’re optimistic about the holiday season, just because

year-to-date sales are up and strong,� she said. “We expect these

trends to continue through the holiday season.�

Four stores opened in recent months, and four more are slated to

open before Christmas at Fashion Island.

Luxury goods -- fine jewelry, handbags and the like -- are

expected to be big sellers this year at Fashion Island and South

Coast Plaza.

Stores like Burberry, Louis Vuitton and a new Ralph Lauren shop

are seeing crowds at South Coast Plaza, marketing director Debra Gunn

Downing said.

“Our sales performance has been very strong all year. We

anticipate an exceptional holiday season,� she said. “Our luxury

stores are definitely driving the sales increases.�

South Coast Plaza, which recently trademarked the name “Ultimate

Shopping Resort,� added 16 stores this year.

People think of the holiday shopping season as beginning the day

after Thanksgiving, but even stores not in malls have been seeing

holiday consumers all month.

The owner of gift store Paris to the Moon in Costa Mesa opened a

Christmas annex this year to avoid jamming the main store with the

ornaments, stockings and festive candies it carries for the holidays.

The Christmas store has had a steady flow of customers since it

opened Oct. 15, store manager Kerri Judd said.

“I think we’re going to have a really good Christmas season,� she

said. “Since we’re doing so well already, I’m thinking it’s only

going to get better.�

While Orange County has been somewhat insulated from the rest of

the nation’s economic misfortunes, the conference board in October

reported a third consecutive month of waning U.S. consumer

confidence. According to the board’s survey, a growing number of

consumers expected the economic climate to worsen in the next six

months.

But those fears are far from South Coast Plaza, where Downing said

visitors seem to enjoy the oversized Christmas ornaments and reindeer

decorations.

“Every time I drive in and out, I see people standing there taking

photographs of themselves,� she said.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at

[email protected].