Dec. 2 -- The results of the recent presidential election may have revealed that many Americans remain apprehensive about the state of the economy. But as the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, some local retailers expressed no such concerns.
"We've got a good, good, good basis of customers who are buying regularly and make the business sustainable," said Sylvie Cremezi, the owner of Joie De Vivre.
Cremezi, whose boutique features clothing, accessories, gourmet food, home décor and other items in the DeVargas Center at 169 Paseo de Peralta, said the loyalty of her clientele gives her plenty of reason to feel bullish this season.
Since Cremezi opened the store three years ago, she said sales have been strong year round. But the holiday shopping season is especially good.
"December is my best month, and that has been a constant," she said.
Michelle Cappello, the manager of Chocolate + Cashmere, 109 E. Palace Ave., said last week her shop already had begun to see an uptick in holiday shoppers.
"We have a lot of luxury items we sell, so most of the customers who shop here are going to do so regardless of the economy or who's president," she said.
Cappello said she is extremely hopeful this holiday shopping season will turn out to be robust -- a feeling that seems to be mirrored in a forecast issued by the global consultancy firm Simon-Kucher. Its online Holiday Shopping Report 2024, which offers an analysis of the planned spending of 1,000 consumers, contains a lot of good news for retailers across the country.
For instance, it reveals American holiday shoppers expect to spend 8% more this year than they did last year, or an average of $1,020 per household.
Still, there are some red flags in the report. Half the respondents said the election would impact their holiday spending, while there was a 6% reduction in planned participation in Black Friday shopping this year.
Mariannah Amster, the manager of Maya, 108 Galisteo St., echoed some of the findings in the Simon-Kucher analysis.
"It's been a strange year," she said of sales at her business, which specializes in gifts, clothing, jewelry, shoes, greeting cards and other items obtained from socially and environmentally conscious sources. "It's been a little slower than normal. I think people are waiting to see how things progress."
Amster said she has no doubt the election has had an impact on sales.
"I'm sure it did -- we notice every election year things are a little bit funny," she said. "But this was an exceptionally funny year."
Amster's expectations for the holiday shopping season have altered significantly over the past several years, she said, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
But Maya remains in a strong position because it offers an eclectic selection that appeals to those looking for something unusual or eye-catching, Amster said, noting the store carries a line of high-end, imaginative greeting cards that stand apart from the crowd.
"We just want to bring some cheer back in," she said. "This is a place where people can come in and find gifts for friends and family."
Cappello said holiday shopping sales at her business typically peak over the Black Friday weekend, then slow down again before spiking the week before Christmas.
"That's our busiest week," she said.
The shop long has specialized in selling a line of colorful serapes, but they are a point of emphasis this year, Cappello said.
"Those are the most luxurious items we sell," she said, noting the serapes are knitted in Santa Fe. "They're just a really lovely gift item for yourself or someone else."
Cremezi said Joie De Vivre specializes in locally sourced items, as well, noting she remains on the lookout for new inventory at markets throughout the region.
"All the time, I'm trying new things," she said.
The optimism of those retailers seems to be tempered by some shoppers who are feeling a slight economic squeeze heading into this holiday season. They cited high prices, shifting priorities and uncertainty about the future as factors.
"It's kind of expensive this year," Pamela Chavez, 34, of Los Alamos told The New Mexican last week while shopping at the DeVargas Center. "Everything's really pricey."
Chavez said she likely will be spending a little less on gifts this year due to prices and her need to financially prioritize moving into a different house.
She said she mainly has turned to online shopping through Amazon because it is quick and convenient. Chavez said she wants to shop locally but doesn't really have time.
Española resident Johnny Madrid, 26, said he always shops locally to see the products in person. Madrid said he hasn't started holiday shopping this year, but he has noticed an increase in prices.
Madrid's observation aligns with national data. According to a consumer survey from the National Retail Federation, winter holiday consumer spending increased over the past few years, rising from an average of $833 expected spending per person in 2022 to $875 last year and $902 this year.
Former Santa Fe resident Melody McLaughlin said her holiday spending will be reduced this year. She said the reason is tied to the future and "fear of the upcoming economy."
McLaughlin, 64, lived here for 12 years before moving to Texas, but she returns to Santa Fe every month to visit her mother, who is in hospice.
McLaughlin will be Christmas shopping in Santa Fe this year. While the city is too expensive to move back to, McLaughlin said, she enjoys finding original, unique things for family back in Texas when she's here.
"It's fun to shop for people back home here. I'll just be getting little stuff," McLaughlin said. "I'm going to be holding back a lot, looking for sales. ... Got to be a lot leaner this year."
McLaughlin said her anticipation of increased tariffs in 2025 is a factor, adding she even considered purchasing a new car before next year but will be shifting her financial focus to home improvements instead.
In regard to buying holiday gifts, McLaughlin said she believes it's the thought and little things that can go a long way.
"Don't overdo it," McLaughlin advised others who may be stressed financially this holiday season. "Stocking stuffers are great. If you find a good price or it's someone special, go ahead, maybe splurge on one thing, but just keep it light. I think people don't necessarily expect you to get them big, amazing gifts. It's the thought. We have enough stress. Don't overdo it."
Chavez said the most important thing is prioritizing what Christmas is about, adding she thinks it's a good idea to teach kids that the holiday goes beyond gifts.
"I just think it shouldn't all be about gifts and all that because I don't think that's the meaning of Christmas," Chavez said. "Holidays, and all of that, I think is so much more than just buying gifts."