HILO — The Christmas shopping season was a mixed bag for Hilo merchants, some of whom did strong sales, while others are hoping for better business in 2010.

"Sales were very good, very brisk (with) a lot of last-minute shopping," said Susan Miyaji, manager of Sugar Coast Candy, a downtown store specializing in old-fashioned sweets.

The store's products were popular stocking stuffers, she said, noting many customers also bought them to give to co-workers.

"I think everybody loves to eat candy and everybody loves to give candy away," Miyaji said as customers examined the variety. "They know they can get it here. They love to come back for their favorites."

But the mood was a bit sour at the nearby Hilo Farmers Market, with craft vendors complaining about a steep drop in sales compounded by last weekend's flooding and lightning storms that kept many out of work.

"Lousy," Kenneth De Rego, owner of Ken's Custom Woodwork, said while waiting for customers. "It's really rough right now. I hope this (coming year) will be a better year."

Offering hand-made wooden jewelry, jewelry boxes, flower lei and other unique items, De Rego said he achieved only 40 percent of his holiday sales goal.

"Nobody's really spending money this year. I guess everybody's going to Walmart," he said. "I'm pretty sure it's because of the economy."

The parking lot was packed over at the world's largest retail chain. One manager said sales were good. But she, like several others who spoke to the Tribune-Herald, could not be quoted, citing company policy.

Managers at several other Mainland-based stores also declined to talk about sales and referred questions to spokesmen, who were unavailable.

Borders was not one of them, however.

"I can tell you we're busy, and we're doing a lot of sales," Tanya Kaleo, Borders general manger, said between ringing up purchases at her register. The book and music store's after-Christmas sale was especially popular, she added.

Daniel Kea, manager of the Sears store in Prince Kuhio Plaza, smiled as he discussed holiday sales.

"Pretty smooth (and) that's always a good thing for us," he said. "We had a good season."

Unable to reveal any numbers, Kea said the store did about as expected.

"Sales were very strong today," he said of shoppers seeking post-holiday discounts. "Everybody's looking for bargains. I think we had a lot of great values this year."

Sears' customers scooped up Snuggies, a fleece blanket with built-in sleeves that works well on chilly nights like those East Hawai'i residents have been experiencing lately.

"We sold out of those early," Kea said, noting televisions and digital cameras also were popular gifts.

He praised Big Island shoppers for understanding the supply shortage, while remaining cheerful and patient.

It was "probably one of the better seasons I've seen in retail as far as customers were concerned," Kea said while offering a big mahalo to the store's customers.