Happy Holidays

A new survey of micro-retailers has found nearly half more optimistic about holiday sales this year than last. And with consumer spending up 0.6% last month, they may be right.

The poll of 1,000 retailers by Manta.com, a online small business community, also showed that 75% of respondents will use social media to promote their holiday specials. Some said they feel that the message about the benefits of shopping locally are getting through to their customers.


Unfortunately, says the survey, "... retailers’ optimism for the holidays isn’t translating into jobs. An overwhelming majority (86 percent) doesn’t plan to hire additional holiday staff; half say it’s because they don’t need the help and one-third because they can’t afford it."