Holiday-season sales are dropping along with the temperature, according to many retailers in the Bellmore-Merrick area. For some stores, however, the crucial last few weeks of the year are a pleasant change from last year's dismal business climate. At the start of a shaky holiday spending season, bargain hunters who shop locally stand to benefit, local business owners say.

"We can bargain," said Grace Malone, owner of Worth Repeating Too, a consignment shop on Merrick Avenue that opened in April.

"Sales have been terrible since August," Malone added. To offset slow sales, Worth Repeating Too is offering discounts on designer items. "We have fur coats for $200 and entire outfits for $5," she said.

Gary Hudes, a Town of Hempstead councilman and president of Gennaro Jewelers on Bedford Avenue in Bellmore, offered some reminders about the advantages shopping locally. "The store knows your name, knows your needs, and that has additional value for you," Hudes said, noting that neighborhood merchants not only offer shoppers more personal service than employees at big box stores, but also often invest in community organizations like Little Leagues, PTAs and nonprofit charitable groups.

"It's just about taking care of your customers, finding out what they need and taking care of your community," said Jeffrey Abbate, managing partner of Outback Steakhouse in the Merrick Mall. Abbate added that gift cards -- a popular holiday item -- are selling well so far, but the restaurant has decided to bring back a holiday promotion it started last year, offering $20 bonuses for every $100 a customer spends. The promotion will end Jan. 1.

Across the board, retailers are looking for ways to offer extra value to entice holiday shoppers. Dr. Jacquelyn Guida, an optometrist and co-owner of Advantage Optical on Jerusalem Avenue in North Bellmore, said the holidays are often a difficult time for her business. “People have to choose between buying gifts and getting an eye exam,” she said. “A lot of the time, they choose gifts.”