During Christmases past, CJ’s Jewellery would have sold out of many of its gold earings and pendants by now.But this year, owner Chesley Hardford Jr, said he’s yet to see a Christmas rush on Court Street, despite stocking his cases with better-value sterling silver Tiffany and other pieces.He expected business to pick up today and this weekend as people get paid, and he planned to stay open until 7pm, but it did not look like 2011 would be any better than last year, he said.Mr Harford said many small businesses have been suffering since 2007.“Before ‘07 we would be doing serious numbers at this time,” he said. “We are doing OK. But I have been here 17 years and it’s not the way it used to be.”Bermuda Economic Development Corporation business development manager Roxanne Christopher said she was concerned small retailers were just not seeing the kind of sales the larger, bigger name stores may be having.“I think for many in the Northeast Hamilton EEZ business has been steady, but it’s still not what everybody has been expecting,” said Ms Christopher, who owns a Court Street business herself. “This is not the Christmas our businesses are accustomed to. I would just encourage the community to also support the small businesses. They are not able to give as large a discount, so it is very difficult for them to compete with the larger retailers.”Ms Christopher said her nail and hair salon Bliss salon was doing well, but it was making an effort to offer thank-you discounts to loyal customers and was open seven days a week and evenings.Clara-Bows boutique owner Terry Lee Smith said while business has picked up in the last few weeks it was slow compared to last year.“In general, there’s been a major downslide since Cup Match,” Mr Smith said.He said he normally stays open late and planned to be open until 10pm on Friday and Saturday.Dub City Records & Boutique owner Kent Outerbridge said business was slow too, but given the economy and other issues, he was not surprised.He said his last good year was 2009.“The street outside is not that busy this year,” he said. “It’s because of a variety of things, the violence in the area triggered it off and then there’s the economy on top of that.”