BUYERS SEEK CONVENIENCE CATALOG, WEB SHOPPING GAINING FANS THIS SEASON.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

John Casillas and Santa Claus have one thing in common this holiday season: delivering gifts. Though the headlines tell of an overall decline in the economy, the view from Casillas' big brown sleigh with the UPS symbol on the side doesn't look so bad.

``With the crisis, more people are staying home, and buying things on the Internet and from catalogs. People say I don't want to go to the mall when I can buy something on eBay,'' Casillas said.

Aubie Goldenberg, a partner with Ernst & Young in Los Angeles, says the firm has found more people are flipping through catalogs, bolstering sales for certain retailers.

``Catalogs are a natural extension from the Internet right now that's driving sales,'' Goldenberg said. ``And companies like J. Crew have done a very good job merchandising and cross-promoting.''

Jupiter Media Metrix, an international research firm, said online retail traffic is expected to jump 43 percent this year, and online retail sales are forecast to rise 15 percent compared with a year ago.

For three consecutive holiday seasons, Casillas, 36, has watched the number of boxes on his UPS truck multiply. His route winds through Burbank, with the back lots of Disney and Warner Bros. overshadowing his truck's path.

Adorned in his chocolate brown United Parcel Service fatigues, Casillas takes inventory of his cargo. Among the goods: a small box from Amazon.com and an odd-shaped package from J. Crew.

``And if I'm suspicious of something I'm carrying I know more or less what to look for,'' he said.

Though some of the boxes appear beat up occasionally, Casillas isn't too concerned about carrying a tainted package.

``All that stuff is going on back East, we aren't concerned about that out here,'' he said.

Even so, Apryl Crawford is a little more cautious.

``I use gloves when I do the mail,'' said Crawford, a manager at Personally Yours Mail Boxes in Sherman Oaks.

Victoria's Secret, and Amazon.com are among the names stamped on the boxes that come through Personally Yours' doors. Crawford said business remains strong this year, despite the mail scare.

``Business hasn't gone down, even a little, in fact it has increased,'' Crawford said.

To compete with the likes of UPS, the U.S. Postal Service and Mail Boxes Etc. during the holidays, Personally Yours attempts to appeal to a clientele that wants personalized service.

``I would like to think people prefer coming to a small business,'' Crawford said. ``Especially right now with all the packages coming through the mail, and all the shopping online.'' Meanwhile, U.S. Postal workers are still out and about delivering the CDs, DVDs, books and clothing consumers purchase.

For more than six years, Ervin Adams, 43, has delivered mail to North Hollywood residents.

From December through February, Adams' truck appears to sag slightly as the heft from the parcels wear on the tires. He said he sees boxes and envelopes from many different retailers, but lately AOL seems to rise from the heap.

``I know many of these people I deliver too and they're all very nice to me,'' said Adams, sitting next to a load of letters and holiday gift boxes. ``Our packages are getting pretty heavy and with all the delivery confirmations, we're busy.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Apryl Crawford of Personally Yours Mail Boxes in Sherman Oaks shows packages ordered from online retailers.

(2) Apryl Crawford wears gloves when distributing letters.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer