Paula White
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 18/98) - The sound of bells around town lately may not just be the jingle kind.

Cash registers in local retail businesses have been ringing as well, as shoppers make their final purchases before Christmas. And most retailers are more than pleased with sales so far.

"It's been good," said Eileen Dent, owner of Sasha's Jewellery. "It started off a little bit later than it usually does, but the last two weeks it's picked up a bit."

And Dent doesn't expect sales to decrease either. She expects to do as well as last year.

"We had a good Christmas last year."

Business has been good at Langlois as well. Owner Norma Heslep said it started to get busy around the beginning of December.

"We're pleased," she commented. "Sales are good."

Heslep added more people appear to be doing their shopping later in the day and on Sundays this year. Langlois extended its hours for the season, staying open until 8 p.m. during the week.

The president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce also confirmed retail sales are up. Gordon Van Tighem said Chamber members are all reporting a busy Christmas season. He said it appears the Chamber's annual ad campaign, Shop North, is paying off. Each year for the past four years members of the chamber have all pitched in financially to pay for the ads. The reason for the campaign, Van Tighem explained, is "to try to promote shopping in Yellowknife rather than travel south."

Linda Wood, owner of Polar Parkas & Fabrics, said sales are "okay" but it's not as busy as it was five years ago, before businesses such as Wal-Mart and Centre Square Mall opened. She explained that more retailers are competing for the same amount of consumer dollars.

"But if you compare it (sales) to last year, it's probably pretty much the same," she said. "As a retail store you always want it to be busier."

Wood also encouraged consumers to come in to Polar Parkas and have a look.

"Whatever it is out there consumers want, just let us know and we'll fill that niche," she said. "If we can satisfy our customers we'll be busier."

It's also not as busy at Damoli as owner Dianne Nikiforuk would like.

"It's okay. It's down a bit from last year," Nikiforuk said. "I'd be pleased if it were busier. You can never be too busy."