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The holidays are still a couple of months away, but folks are already picking up Christmas items at Crafter's Paradise on Front Street.

"We've sold a lot of framed snowman pictures and have been selling ornaments and wreaths," said Mary Ann Roddy, sister of Debbie Elder, who co-owns the store with their mother, Helena Anthony.

"We see a lot of tourists who aren't coming back through this area and want to make their holiday purchases now," Roddy said. "Just recently we've had people here from Texas and the Carolinas as well as from the Columbus and Lancaster areas."

This will be the store's first holiday season in Marietta after moving from its former location in Grand Central Mall, Vienna,W.Va., in April.

"We just don't know what the season will be like here, but we hope to do well," Roddy said.

Other retailers would agree. In a year pockmarked with cutbacks and unemployment, there's been little if any economic growth to speak of. So, many businesses are counting on holiday sales in the final quarter to see them through.

"It has been a really slow year, and we're expecting a better fourth quarter, but probably not as good as last year," said Karen Van Camp, owner of Fine Art and Framing at 220 Front St.

"Our sports lines are selling better now that football season has started, but the key will be if our holiday sales this quarter will be enough to get us through the first few months of next year," she said.

Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce President Charlotte Keim said all area businesses are looking for decent sales in the final quarter of 2009.

"This is when they make their money," she said. "And they're all looking forward to that traditional bump-up in sales.

"And given the current economy, their expectations and hopes are that this season will be at least as good as last year," Keim added.

The "big box" stores are also hoping for a decent fourth quarter, and have instituted some new tactics hoping to draw more customers.

Randy Hupp, manager at the Marietta K-Mart on Pike Street, said Sears and K-Mart are offering a "Christmas Club Card" into which customers can invest any amount they choose until Nov. 14, at which time the company will add 3 percent of the accrued value to the card.

"This is the first time we've offered this as an incentive for people to do their Christmas shopping with us, and the company is hoping it will beef up our sales," Hupp said, adding that plans are already being made to offer the card again next year.

Reno resident Rhea Russell said she and her mother, Carmen Smith, usually start Christmas shopping on the weekend following Thanksgiving. But this year may be different.

"With the economy we'll probably give something smaller and maybe send some money which everyone could probably use at this time," she said.

Russell said a friend who works for a large retail outfit told her that many companies are having their big holiday sales early this year, in October and November, to attract customers and prevent overstock of inventory at the end of the year.

"Mom and I will do some shopping, but there won't be any high-priced gifts this year," she said.

Marietta resident Aaron Emery said he's been getting ready for this year's shopping season.

"We've prepared ourselves for Christmas by saving up for the holiday," he said. "And we've put money in savings accounts for our kids. It's something we've just started this year.

"We also try to do as much local shopping as we can," Emery added. "And I really believe many people will go ahead and spend money for the holidays this year."

Keim noted the chamber tries to help boost local business sales with efforts like the Marietta Bucks program that provides gift certificates in denominations of $5, $10, $20, or $25 that are redeemable at more than 80 area business locations.

"People who are out shopping during the holidays and can't figure out a gift to buy often walk in off the street and purchase Marietta Bucks to give," Keim said.

The certificates, good for two years, are currently available by contacting the chamber at 373-7808.