J.J. Gillespie Co. boasts of being America's oldest art gallery; it has survived the Civil War and the Great Depression, said its founder.

Sandra Castro, of Upper St. Clair, who owns the gallery, now at 2871 Washington Road in Peters, is determined that it also will survive this bleak economy.

Although sales have been down in recent months, she hopes that holiday shoppers will turn to local businesses such as hers.

"My father always said if you want a small business to survive, you have to support it," Ms. Castro said.

"Small businesses provide salaries and health insurance for employees," she said.

Ms. Castro has one full-time employee who has been with the store for several years.

Her store sells traditional fine oil paintings from national and international artists. J.J. Gillespie also does framing and restoration and sells specialty gifts.

John Jones Gillespie founded the gallery in Pittsburgh in 1832; since then it has survived 13 locations and nine owners besides the original Gillespie family. Ms. Castro purchased the gallery in 1998 and moved it to its present location. She has scrapbooks full of articles and photographs of the gallery's history.

Ms. Castro is not alone in her concern for local businesses. Many store owners and shop managers in the South Hills also report that their sales have been down in recent weeks, and they fear that their businesses will suffer further as shoppers cut back on holiday spending.

As Black Friday approaches this week and national retailers are predicting lower end-of-year profits, store owners here said they are working hard to attract holiday shoppers.

Many said they are stocking lower-priced items and are reducing prices on existing inventory. Others said they are focusing on providing customer service; still others are ordering less in anticipation of lackluster sales.

Shopkeepers were hesitant to share exact numbers, but all said business was markedly slower than this time last year and they were concerned for the upcoming holiday season.

Art is one of the first things that worried consumers cut out of their budgets, said Greg Mitchell, of Mt. Lebanon, who owns Planet Art Gallery with his wife, Linda. The store is at 632 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon.

His business has seen a "definite downturn" the past three months compared with the same period last year, he said. The two weeks before Christmas are the store's busiest time.

Planet Art Gallery sells items that often are purchased as gifts, such as handmade jewelry, hand-blown glass vases and art for the home, Mr. Mitchell said. Inventory in general is moving slowly this year, he said.

"I'm trying to encourage people to shop locally," Mr. Mitchell said. "When customers buy locally, the money goes back into the local economy."

Local artists make many of the art and fine crafts that the store sells, he said.

Williams Stained Glass Studio, at 1115 Castle Shannon Blvd., also has had decreased sales, said owner Linda Williams, of Brentwood.

"I've seen a significant difference from last year," she said.

For 25 years, the Castle Shannon studio has made stained glass doors, windows, panels and lamps.

"It's a tough economy," Mrs. Williams said. Many of the small-business owners she talks to also report slow sales, she said.

Still, she hopes that specialty items help her bottom line. Among her store's inventory are snowflakes and other small window pieces that she hopes will be popular with holiday shoppers on a budget.

Local gift and floral shops also are seeing a downturn.

Anne's Flower Shop at 1015 Duquesne Blvd. in Duquesne has lost customers to lower-priced large chain stores, said shop owner Sandy Cielieska, of McKeesport.

"I try to do my best to lure those customers back," Ms. Cielieska said. "I focus on providing personal attention and working within the customers' budgets."

Ms. Cielieska also said she has lowered prices.

Lighted statues and lawn ornaments are replacing flowers and greenery as traditional holiday decor, Ms. Cielieska said.

She also noted that people send flowers less often in a down economy.

Many local business owners in her area are cutting back, she said, in anticipation of a lean holiday season.

"They are afraid that at the end of the day they won't be able to pay their bills," she said.

Tutto Bella, a high-end florist and gift shop in the Galleria in Mt. Lebanon, has been seeing fewer shoppers recently, said owner Marty Juliano, of Baldwin Township.

"There is definitely reduced foot traffic in the mall," said Ms. Juliano, who worked in the store for about 10 years before buying it five months ago.

"This economy is hurting us all," she said.

The mall has been through many cycles through the years, she said, but "this time, I think we're in for really hard times."

Tutto Bella is offering lower-priced items this holiday season, she said. Some, like small decorative garden statues, have inspirational themes, such as "Count your blessings," she said.

Like Ms. Juliano, sisters Heather Fontana, of Bethel Park, and Jenni Profio, of Brookline, are anxious to see how their new business will fare in the economy.

In July, the sisters and their mother, Barbara Ranegar, of Castle Shannon, opened Enchanted Wings at 3227 W. Liberty Ave. in Dormont.

Their store sells handmade items, including jewelry designed by Ms. Profio and capes sewn by Mrs. Ranegar. The store also focuses on items that are earth-friendly.

A busy holiday season would help their business get off to a good start, said Ms. Fontana, who quit a full-time job to work in the store.

The sisters said that they have kept the prices low on many of their products, hoping to draw holiday shoppers on a budget. Many items, such as locally made soaps and lotions, cost under $10, Ms. Profio said.

Jeannette Peairs' Web-based gift basket business has been met with silence this year, she said.

"Right now, I have no sales at all," said Ms. Peairs, who took out a loan three years ago for supplies such as baskets, coffees and teas for her business, JMP Custom Creations, in McKeesport.

If she gets no holiday orders, she said, she will "be in the hole."

For the past 24 years, Jan Jones, of Upper St. Clair, has operated A Basket of Pittsburgh, an Upper St. Clair business that sells baskets full of Pittsburgh-related items.

Sales earlier this year were strong, but November has been slow, she said. December is the busiest time of the year for her business, and she is taking a "wait and see" approach to this year's holiday season.

Her company has placed the usual orders for supplies, she said, and although she has concerns about the impact of the national economic downturn, her business is "going to do what we did last year," she said.

"I don't know what will happen," Ms. Jones said. "but, I'm cautiously optimistic."

Here are the Web sites and phone numbers for the businesses mentioned in this article:

• Ann's Flower Shop, 412-466-5277

• A Basket of Pittsburgh, www.basketofpittsburgh.com, 412-221-4406

• Enchanted Wings, 412-341-WING

• J.J. Gillespie Co., www.jjgillespiegallery.com, 724-941-7515

• JMP Custom Creations, www.jmpcustomcreations.com

• Planet Art Gallery, www.planetartgallery.com, 412-343-3808

• Tutto Bella, www.tuttobella.com, 412-563-3830

• Williams Stained Glass Studio, www.williamsstainedglass.com, 1-866-833-5277.