Retailers in downtown Cartersville are predicting a good holiday shopping season this year.

Jessi Bailey, who works at Periwinkle, said she thinks this year’s holiday shopping will be around the same as last year’s. In 2010, Periwinkle employees thought traffic would be low and were pleasantly surprised when the number of sales exceeded their expectations.

“I guess that’s why we weren’t surprised for this year to be the same or better,” Bailey said.

This year, residents are shopping at Periwinkle for the same items that were popular at the store last year—scarves; fingerless gloves, which are called texting gloves; big jewelry; and items with owls on them.

“They’re very popular right now,” Bailey said of owls.

Sales teetered back and forth this year, starting strong in January, slowing down in the summer and now moving back up, Bailey said.

“[At] our open house, we did better than last year,” Bailey said. “I don’t know if that’s indicative of how Christmas will be.”

The open house also was good for business at the Meg Pie Too, owner Patsy Jones said.

“People are shopping locally,” Jones said. “I think they’re trying to.”

At Meg Pie Too, which is known for its eclectic and unique items, popular goods are candles, notepads with funny sayings, jewelry, picture frames, small stocking stuffers and monogrammed items. Jones said she’s expecting a good retail season.

“We have more affordable [items],” she said. “People know that they can come here and get a gift for under $20.”

And, shoppers like to relax in the coffee shop, which is located in the back of the building, to drink frappuchinos, cappuchinos and mochas, and eat desserts.

“We have great drinks,” Jones said. “[They] come in and relax in the back.”

Among the store’s big sellers are large ornaments from Glory House in Kennesaw. Some say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” while others are decorated with pictures of snowmen and golf club bags. And, for an additional $1 fee, the ornaments can be personalized.

“That’s what I bought more of this year,” Jones said.

Because of the Meg Pie Too’s proximity to the Booth Western Art Museum, more than 90 percent of the store’s customers are predicted to be from out of town. In years past, visitors to the Booth who stopped by the shop under the bridge have continued to return.

“They come back every year,” Jones said. “It’s amazing how many come from out of town.”

At c.a.n.o.p.y, the holiday shopping period, which doesn't usually begin until the first weekend in December, started off strong Black Friday. That's something that surprised owner Carol Sandlin, who said business has been steady ever since the day after Thanksgiving.

"I don’t know if people started early and they’re not going to shop late, or if they’re going to do a little bit along the way," Sandlin said.

This year, shoppers at the store on North Wall Street are buying personal items and comfort items, such as candles and home scents. Some items are similar to what shoppers purchased last year while others are different.

"We have a lot of new items in the store," Sandlin said. "We have some of the same things, but we also have some new ones."

Sandlin said business is better this year than it was at the same time last year, and that's something she hopes will continue throughout the month.

"I’m a total optimist," she said. "I always think that it’s going to be better and better."