Here are some of our observations and conversations that give us confidence that local retailers have a chance of posting decent sales this year despite the overall economy.

1. Westgate’s parking lot: It’s been full on recent weekends, with some stores experiencing lines at the register several-people deep.
   
   
2. Buying at full-price. Bivouac is one example of a store that’s been about to sell out of items not on sale (A $500 Patagonia coat is one example).
   
   
3. Event-driven sales work: Kerrytown was crawling with customers during its recent holiday event, helping Mudpuddles record its second-highest sale day of the year. (Coming up next: Midnight Madness on Dec. 4)
   
   
4. November sales have been stable to higher in two independent book stores: Nicola’s and Kaleidoscope.
   
   
5. Walmart’s impact isn’t as high as predicted on Country Market in Saline. That’s not a seasonal story, but it may be an indicator that other stores can “fight back” when the world’s biggest retailer battles over price.