business

The holidays are a time for retailers to dazzle. They polish their stores, design eye-catching displays and pull out all the stops to reel in consumers with hot deals and cool gadgets. On average, retail businesses hope to collect 40 percent or more of their profits for the year in November, December and January. For some, such as Wilsons the Leather Experts, it's the only time all year they're profitable. This year, Minnesota's largest retail chains head into this crucial season trying to open the wallets of consumers who are worried about a shaky economy, are paying more for gas and milk and other daily items, and have record levels of personal debt and fewer places to borrow money. Forecasters predict that retailers across the country will see the slowest sales growth in five years. Here's a preview of our retail landscape.

BEST BUY

Headquarters: Richfield

Number of stores: 1,150 in the U. S. and Canada -- and one in China

Last year's quarter: $12.9 billion

Share of annual sales: 36%

Friday's stock close: $46.84

52-week range: $55.84-$42.69

Momentum going into the holidays: Best Buy enticed its frequent "Reward Zone" customers to the store a week ago for an exclusive shot at special deals, a sign that this year's sales are all about generating buzz. Its U.S. sales are slowing: While revenue increased 15 percent last quarter, most of that growth came from Canada.

What the Street is watching: Sales of big-margin items such as high-definition TVs and video game software. More than half of profit -- 54 percent last year -- traditionally comes in the final quarter. And a growing percentage of its sales have been logged in the fourth quarter, which doesn't include November's numbers.

What consumers can expect: Deals on computers, televisions and video games, plus gadgets such as global positioning systems. Black Friday shoppers will see no-interest offers on some plasma TVs. The "blue shirts" will push customer support and in-home set-up for complex home theater systems to avoid returns.

CHRISTOPHER & BANKS

Headquarters: Plymouth

Number of stores: 825 in 45 states under the names of Christopher & Banks, C.J. Banks and Acorn

Last year's quarter: $134 million

Share of annual sales: 24.5%

Friday's stock close: $16.21

52-week range: $22.67-$11.43