Items related to the heart and home - from kitchen appliances to lockets - are ringing up solid gains for retailers, emerging as a pocket of strength amid what is expected to be the weakest holiday sales season in a decade.
Despite massive amounts of marked-down products still languishing on retailers' shelves this holiday, certain items appear to have hit a note with consumers as they re-evaluate their priorites, spending more time at home, in the aftermath of Sept. 11. Harry Potter (news - web sites) merchandise, arts and crafts, George Foreman grills, retro toys like Shrinky Dinks and GI Joes, DVD players and games consoles have been this holiday's hot sellers.
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