The economy may be suffering elsewhere in the nation, but local retailers say business has been great at their shops.

Tara Bremond, owner of Decorah on Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell, attributes her success this holiday shopping season to a big push for shopping locally.

“You can tell it’s been a hard year for people in Slidell,” she said, “but it has brought about an awareness for shopping local.”

Zelda Winkler helps check out Merlene Duhon's purchase on Christmas Eve at the Who Dat Shoppe in Slidell. (Staff Photo by Suzanne Le Breton)

Bremond is grateful for those people who chose to keep their shopping dollars here.

“People have been awesome,” she said.

Louise Mace, owner of the Purple Armadillo, also in Slidell, echoed Bremond’s comments.

“Business has been phenomenal,” she said. “I’ve broken every record for the four years I have been in business.”

Mace said a lot of her business is thanks to chef John Besh conducting a book signing at her business.

She said about one-third of her profits for December came from the sale of his book following that signing.

While she said it was a busy shopping season, the season was much shorter than in past years as many people chose to wait later in the season to start shopping.

“But when they came in to shop,” she said, “they really shopped.”

The push to shop local was not the only thing pushing sales up for Ronnie Dunaway, owner of the Who Dat Shoppe in Slidell.

“The Saints have been really good for us,” he said.

With nearly everyone looking for Saints gear for at least one person on their list this year, Dunaway said he had trouble keeping items on the shelves at his store.

“It’s been hard to get the merchandise in,” he said, “ but when we get it in, it sells fast.”

With the Saints already guaranteed a second road play-off spot, Dunaway anticipates his sales will remain steady right on through January.

“The economy may be bad around the country,” he said, “but it is busy in Slidell. Without a doubt it’s been a black and gold Christmas.”

This is his third holiday season in business and he said, “by far it’s been the best.”

The west side of the parish has also seen brisk sales this Christmas season.

Israel Strain of Fleur de Lis Value Plus on Louisiana Highway 59 said, “while the year has not been good, December has been very good.”

“Overwhelmed. We’ve just been overwhelmed. God has truly blessed us,” said Anne Dale of Anne Dale Jewelers in Mandeville. “I really believe people have been buying because of my Jewelry for a Cause. It’s like they are giving twice, since the charity also receives some of the money.”

Pieces that Dale has created benefit local charities such as KidSense, Support our War Heroes and others. In addition, her New Orleans has touched many with rebuilding New Orleans and the new Believe and Rhythm of Louisiana pieces.

In fact, a couple walked in and bought a rhythm of Louisiana piece for the lady’s boss. She was the pilot for Tim McGraw and had the piece put on a masculine chain for him.

Dale said she is looking forward to seeing if McGraw wears the piece on television.

She said the affordable pieces have sold well this year along with engagement rings. “When times get tougher, people tend to celebrate life a little more, look toward sharing life and being together. So engagement rings have been a big seller this year.”

Dale said that she is still buying gold. The rising gold prices have been good for her business because customers bring in jewelry they no longer wear, or that is broken and either have them made into something else, or sell the gold.

Other smaller retailers in the area report a mixture of economic news, but optimism is reigning high as people wait to see what the new year brings.