But unless they were selling snowmobiles or the latest digital electronics, after tallying up their December receipts most retailers weren't quite line-dancing on Franklin Avenue either.

YK Centre mall general manager Jennifer Marchant said that while the numbers aren't yet firm, initial reports from retailers were promising if not exciting.

"Indications at this point are that retailers had a good season, but not necessarily a phenomenal one," said Marchant.

The mall tried some new marketing strategies over the season, including extending evening shopping hours in the days immediately before Christmas. The results varied from store to store, with some happy with the longer days and others reporting little overall impact on month-end sales volumes.

"Some stores did see last-minute shopping but most saw fairly steady activity throughout the entire month of December," said Marchant.

Stores selling products targeted at a younger market were the most likely to see late-season rushes. Otherwise, retail sales activity typically drops off just before Christmas due to the number of city residents who traditionally head south for the holidays, said Marchant. "Many stores anticipate that and this year was no different."

Bootlegger manager Vanessa Gregg said the store was "pretty happy" with its first Christmas in the city. The chain opened in Centre Square mall last summer.

"I am hearing that sales were generally a little bit slower in the mall from previous years, but we did pretty well," said Gregg. "I think initially people didn't realize the mall was open later than usual, but by the end of the season it really helped. We got very busy after the last payday before Christmas and the last three days were especially busy."

For Bootlegger, hot products included pretty well "anything in denim," with dress tops, jackets and sweat suits moving steadily off the racks all month, she said.

"Our only disappointment was with our pre-teen lines, probably due to a lack of customer awareness that we carry them."

At music dealer TFI, sales volumes for the season were "comparable" with last year, with little impact noticeable due to the extended hours, said manager Aaron Fernandez.

The hot music stocking stuffers this year were Shania Twain (`Up'), Liquid Eyes (`Ice Riders'), and the Eight Miles soundtrack.

The hot DVD -- no surprise -- was The Lord of The Rings (The Fellowship of the Rings). As at stores all across the country, late shoppers were out of luck. "We sold out our inventory of the Rings DVD the first day, which was in the middle of December."

At the YK Centre, Arctic Data Systems sales manager Cheryl Van Dyke said computer sales remained steady through the month. Attachments most in demand included CD writers, high-end speakers and cordless mice.

One of the busier spots in town was next door at Radio Shack. Owner Roy Williams termed the store's year-end results "exceptional," in part due to an active flyer program beginning early in December.

"We couldn't have had a better year-end," says Williams, adding that this was without altering the store's long-standing policy of closing on Boxing Day.

Williams said DVD players, digital cameras and digital cellular phones were moving so quickly just before Christmas that staff at times had difficulty keeping shelves stocked.

"Each of these departments was absolutely out of this world. How we kept up at times, I don't know. But we did."

High-definition large screen projection televisions -- in sizes up to 69 inches -- were selling quickly as well, with 50-inch models the most popular.

"People like the 16x9 aspect ratio with these new generation sets because they are more like a movie screen," said Williams. "We sold a significant number over the holidays."

Other big-ticket items selling quickly around town included snowmobiles, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. At Yellowknife Chrysler, sales of all three -- snowmobiles especially -- added up to a record year-end, said sales manager Brad Baker. "All told, including cars, trucks, SUVs and Ski-doos, our sales were up 20 per cent," said Baker. "We have never had a better December."