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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It was the most wonderful time of year for shoppers and businesses.

As 2008 ended, stores around the city offered up big discounts for shoppers in hopes of ending the year on a high note. They met with some success.

"The mall was kind of quiet over the weekend, but it's picked up quite a lot since," said Melissa Reay, assistant manager of Reitmans, referring to post-Christmas sales at the end of the year.

Reitmans employee Annemarie Tee stands in front of her till after making a sale on Dec. 29. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

"We've been offering an additional 20 percent off on top of our 50 percent off sale and it's been working out okay."

Originally from Edmonton, Reay has only been in town since September, but noticed even for her store's small location, business was still brisk.

"Even with it (Centre Square) being a small mall, it's been pretty busy," she said. "I thought it would be a lot slower seeing as it's not big, but it's been really good."

Things were a little slower over at Headgear, according to manager Bonita Le Templier. The store had a boxing day weekend sale and Le Templier said things didn't go as well as in 2007.

"It was successful," she said. "We are down a little bit compared to last year, but overall over the course of the year, we've shown an increase."

Le Templier said people have been spending an average of $50 to $75 in her store over the course of their shopping. Many businesses in Canada have been down over the past few months due to the world economic crisis. Le Templier said she assumes that's why people may be spending less, but she hasn't seen it personally.

"You look at some places around the city and they're blocked," she said.

"In the mall specifically, there has been less traffic."

Reay said the financial crisis would not affect her store's bottom line because people will still spend if they want to.

"They see sale signs and if there's that extra incentive to save a few dollars, people will spend money," she said.

It appears customers held back until end-of-season sales were on.

"I took my daughter out and said let's go Christmas shopping," said Tim Griffin.

"I got paid on Dec. 26 and I said we might as well go now. Anything she didn't get on Christmas morning, she got."