Local Retailer Says Christmas Looks Good

Mason Hiba said his stores were showing a double-digit sales increase as of Dec. 16 when compared to the same period of the Christmas season in 2002.

“It’s fantastic,” Hiba said. “It’s rock and roll, my friend, absolutely. We’re working harder than ever, but it’s finally paying off.”

Hiba has four women’s clothing stores. He owns Mason’s Leather Boutiques in Fayetteville’s Northewest Arkansas Mall and Rogers’ Village on the Creeks shopping center. He also owns Mason’s on the Square and The Cellar, both of which are on the downtown Fayetteville square.

Although some analysts speculated that the capture of Saddam Hussein on Dec. 13 would cause a spike in retail sales this Christmas, Hiba said he’s not attributing his increase to that event.

“What goes on in other countries is totally not related to us,” he said. “What goes on on our ground affects us. What goes on on other ground does not affect us.”

Steve Melody, owner of two gift shops in Fayetteville’s Northwest Arkansas Mall, said it’s too early for him to tell how this Christmas will stack up against last year’s.

“I’m hearing such mixed reviews across the country,” Melody said. “Some people are ahead. Some people are behind.”

Melody, who owns’ Melody’s Choices: The Fun Store and Melody’s Choices: The Gift Store, also didn’t think the Hussein capture would be a factor in Christmas sales.

“I just think that’s silly to suggest Saddam’s capture is going to turn retail around or make an impact,” he said.

Melody said “the weatherman” will have more of an impact on Christmas sales this year than Hussein.

As of Dec. 16, Melody said, sales at his stores were about the same this year as last Christmas season.

“But things can change one way or the other in the last 10 days before Christmas,” he said.