Melody?s Sales Slip in Early December

Steve Melody, who owns two gift shops in Fayetteville’s Northwest Arkansas Mall, said on Dec. 11 that his sales for the month were down about 4 percent when compared with the same 11 days of 2001.

Melody said October sales were up 5 percent, and November was even with the same month of 2001.

But the fact that there are six fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year may have skewed the numbers.

Melody said if the week after Thanksgiving this year is compared to the week after Thanksgiving last year, then his sales are up. But the week after Thanksgiving was in November last year and December this year.

“Everybody stops to catch their breath for a few days [after the post-Thanksgiving weekend shopping spree],” Melody said, adding that shopping could be more intense through the remainder of the month to make up for lost time.

“I think the political climate has people being a little more cautious about spending,” he said.

Melody owns two stores named Melody’s Choices, but one is called The Fun Store and the other is The Gift Store.