The kitchen store moved from downtown to the heart of the West End retailing area a little more than a year ago. The larger store, plentiful off-street parking and a convenient location near other retailers have helped generate a lot of foot traffic, Culbertson said.
"There has definitely been a slowdown, but last week we started to see people doing more buying," Culbertson said. "We've been fortunate in Montana not to be affected so much by the downturn," she said.
"We're trying to be positive despite all of the doom and gloom," Culbertson said. "The thing that helps us is that we're a locally-owned store and people like to support local business."
Cooking classes and demonstrations have helped bring people in the door, she said.
Culbertson said the Copper Colander relies on a veteran staff, although she brought in a couple of college students to help during the holiday season.
Seasonal retailers have again popped up at West Park Plaza, where the smell of roasting nuts is as much a tradition as the Christmas tree lot outside.
Dave Sanders, who owns the Nut Shack with his wife, Linda, said the business operates year round, although the Christmas season accounts for a significant portion of the revenues "We go to all the trade shows and the farmer's market. This is our sixth year here," Sanders said.
Business was slow right before Thanksgiving, but he's hoping for more sales as Christmas approaches.
Jim Downs, owner of the Spoke Shop, said the store set sales records this year, in part because gas prices soared above $4 per gallon last summer. Orders for service and repair work soared as people dusted off bikes, searching for a cheaper way to get around town, Downs said.
While Downs is hoping for decent December sales, the Christmas season isn't a make-or-break month in the bicycle industry. People are naturally more interested in bicycling when the weather is warm, he said.
And if fighting the crowds on Black Friday wasn't your cup of tea, retail experts say online sales tend to spike on Cyber Monday, which falls three days after Black Friday.
Keith Brugman, manager of the Billings Vann's store, said the Montana-based electronics and appliance retailer was a pioneer in online sales. One advantage of Cyber Monday is that it eases shopping easier, and you can take your time before you decide on a purchase, he said.
Brugman said he doesn't put much stock into predictions of a slow holiday season.
"As far as traffic goes, we're quite the other way," Brugman said.
Searching for a used cash register, or maybe some shelving to go with that set of stemware?
At the Billings Linens 'n Things store, 2821 King Ave. W., not only is the merchandise priced to sell, but so are all of the fixtures, right down to the checkout counter.
