Yellowknife (Jan 03/07) - Fancy new electronic items flew off the shelves this holiday season, but sales of traditional gift items helped keep retailers happy around the city.

Flat-screen televisions were expected to be the top seller at Roy's Audiotronic in the YK Centre and they didn't disappoint, said store manager Robin Williams.

"It wasn't a surprise that they carried us through the holiday season," he said.

Other hot items included I-pods and MP3 players as well as laptop computers, he said.

Electronics were also among the most popular items at Wal-Mart, said general manager Richard Farquhar.

"Electronics are the new toys of this era," he said.

The store also had its fair share of last-minute male shoppers purchasing presents from the cosmetics section, he said.

"The last few days before Christmas, it was typical to see a lot more guys get last-minute gifts," he said.

At Quality Furniture, there weren't a lot of last-minute holiday shoppers before Christmas, said assistant manager Yves Charbonneau.

"It was a little quieter than usual, but it was still steady," he said.

Gifts like plates and pictures sold well, he said.

For Men Only didn't have a rush on Dec. 24, but the Saturday before Christmas was a big day for the store, said employee Thomas De Bastiani.

"We sold twice the amount as in years past," he said. "Shoppers bought a lot of expensive gifts."

The top-selling item at the store wasn't a flashy suit, but the traditional housecoat, he said.

"They just make a good gift in the cold weather," he said.

Perfect gifts may not have come to everyone in Yellowknife and For Women Only expected to see some returns after Christmas as well as some deal-seeking shoppers, said owner Vicki Tompkins.

The store on Franklin Avenue closed its doors from Dec. 25 to Dec. 27 so its workers could take a break.

"It's nice to get rested up. You need it for your peace of mind," she said.

One store open on Boxing Day was Reitman's in Centre Square Mall. Boxing Day was quieter than last year, but the store was still consistently busy, said Bonita Letemplier, store manager.

"The last week before Christmas really made a difference for us," she said.

With school not finishing until Dec. 22, there was a flurry of buying just before Christmas, she said.

Traffic at the new Bows and Arrows boutique exceeded expectations, said co-owner Lila Erasmus.

Local crafts and jewelry were a popular buy for young and old, she said.

"We had a few kids come in and pick up affordable jewelry for their moms," she said.

Moms and dads, meanwhile, were busy cooking up a storm over the holidays, according to Chris Blais, deli manager at Northern Fancy Meats.

"There was a really big turkey run before Christmas and we're still busy," he said.

He said that while Christmas is over and done with, the store continues to be hectic. People were stocking up on meat and cheese trays for New Year's, he said.