Doom and gloom may be the name of the game for many of the Island's retailers but some are experiencing a boom in business.

Bears Repeating is a consignment shop specialising in babies' and children's clothes which husband and wife team Lorene and Richard Gibson opened almost five years ago at the Collector's Hill area in Smith's Parish.

"Business is booming," Ms Gibson told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Ms Gibson said she believed the upturn in business was the result of two factors - increased advertising and a hardening economy which meant less people were travelling.

"We had our best month ever last month and this month is expected to pass that," said Ms Gibson who said she was "amazed" at how much the business had picked up in the last few months.

Ms Gibson explained that she had never had a problem stocking the shop as there were many people with merchandise to sell, but customers had not been flocking to the store. This has all changed now.

She also noted that when they first started the business, there seemed to be a stigma for Bermudians to buy second-hand clothes.

"They are starting to get over that," said Ms Gibson. "Now it is accepted more all the way around."

Ms Gibson summed up the secret to their success: "At our store we have great stuff at great prices and that makes sense in any economy."

Another second-hand retailer experiencing a welcome boom is the Barn on Devon Springs Road in Devonshire, which sells men's, women's and children's clothing as well as household appliances.

Money made from the store benefits the Hospital Auxiliary of Bermuda and manager Mary Morris said yesterday: "I hate to draw references to September 11, but it seems to be playing into our hands."

Ms Morris said that many more locals had visited the shop since the terrorist attacks on the US as well as several visitors.

She explained that the store had been upgraded and was now extremely clean and well organised and was concentrating on selling quality merchandise such as designer clothes.

For example, Ms Morris had just put on display a brand new dress with the price tag still on it, costing $120 new, which was for sale for $20.

"It's good value for money," she said. Ms Morris also said the boom, though sadly initiated by tragedy, was welcome as the Barn is currently raising money for an expansion on the property next door.

Money raised from the Barn - which is almost entirely run by volunteers - has helped pay for ambulances and essential medical equipment.

Other shops that largely cater to visitors, however, are not doing so well.

"Pretty awful" were the sentiments of John McGill who manages the gift shop at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ).

Mr. McGill said: "Since September 11, we were down about 20 percent for September and 30 percent for October compared to the same periods last year."

He said business usually drops during the slower winter season, but this year had been exceptionally bad.

But he said support from the local Zoological society members - which include about 20 percent of the Island's residents - had kept the attraction going.

"If it wasn't for those good people, we would have had to pack up and go home," he said.

Mr. McGill said he had already trimmed an hour off opening times for the store, which is open seven days a week, which amounts to an entire day.

And he said this was a direct result of the loss of income.