Business Editor

Shorts and sandals may have replaced sweaters and scarves

as the fashion de riguer this holiday season, but Fayette's retailers

are still saying this has proven to be a good shopping season.

Experts around the country are lamenting this season's

unusually warm weather and saying it could cut down on the

Christmas shopping frenzy. But a sample of Fayette's retailers indicate

the weather has not hurt them.

At the Fayette Pavilion shopping center, the parking lot

is crowded with shoppers from Fayette and surrounding

counties. Home Depot manager Chuck Thomas said this year's

holiday shopping season that started the day after Thanksgiving

is ahead of projections.

"We don't release numbers, but we're ahead of where we

thought we'd be," he said.

The warm weather has actually helped some of the store's

sales, especially outdoor items.

"The extended season has allowed people to stay outdoors

and work on their homes and yards," he said.

But when the weather turns cold, Thomas said he is

confidant shoppers will flood the store to buy such cold-weather items

as heaters.

A little further down the shopping center, a parking place

is hard to find at Wal-Mart. The country's largest retailer is

doing a booming business and manager David Thompson said the

early part of the shopping season has been kind to the giant retailer.

"We're meeting or exceeding our projections in all areas,

except cold-weather items, such as clothes," he said.

Thompson said the warm weather has not kept people

from shopping, and items such as Christmas trees and

ornaments are flying off the shelves.

Traditional Christmas gifts such as toys and electronics are

moving rapidly and Thompson said the first cold spell this year

should send more shoppers to the store looking for jackets and sweaters.

The National Weather Service is calling for a return to

more December-like temperatures later this week which should help

such seasonal retailers such as firewood sellers and put even

more people in the Christmas shopping spirit.

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