By ELVA RAMIREZ, LORE CROGHAN and HEIDI EVANS

Shoppers are loaded up and, well, ready to shop some more yesterday as the holiday pace hit fever pitch in Herald Square.

Shoppers happily returned to strike-clobbered stores yesterday, as retailers tried to make the most of the last two shopping days before Christmas.

"Now you've got to shop quick and smart, and you've got to get to the clearance rack first," said Bertram Blythe, an 18-year-old high school student from Brooklyn who rode the subway to Macy's on 34th St. with two friends.

Macy's spokeswoman Elina Kazan said store traffic significantly increased yesterday after the strike-induced lull, and "we expect to see more shoppers tomorrow who have procrastinated until the last minute to find the perfect gift."

Customers were scooping up perfumes, gold jewelry and watches, as well as cold-weather accessories and gift cards, Kazan said, trying to cram everything into the last 48 hours.

Merchandise was flying out of Century 21 in downtown Manhattan; the Target store in downtown Brooklyn had at least 19 cashiers to move the lines, and customers were standing three deep at the packed lox counter at Zabar's deli on Broadway at 80thSt.

"New Yorkers love us and they love to eat," said Zabar's co-owner, Saul Zabar, who said the store lost 40% of its walk-in business during the three-day strike, but made it up in Internet and telephone orders of holiday hams and briskets. "Business is back to where it's supposed to be," he added. "New Yorkers don't let a strike get in their way of eating."

Some merchants tried gimmicks to lure shoppers.

Modell's Sporting Goods tried to capitalize on the buzz surrounding the Yankees' new center fielder Johnny Damon.

Emblazoned on the front of a navy blue T-shirt was: "Welcome to New York Johnny" and on the back: "No hair. No beard. No problem." The $16.99 item was a big hit with shoppers on the same day the former long-haired Red Sox star donned Yankee pinstripes and a clean shave.

National retail expert Howard Davidowitz predicted a "huge week" for the week after Christmas, more so than in years past because of Monday being a day off and shoppers flush with a record number of gift cards.

"Business died for a few days, you've got a ton of inventory, so what do you do? You turn lemons into lemonade and make the week after Christmas more important with super sales and promotions," said Davidowitz.

Whatever the ultimate New York sales figures for the year, most stores were pretty pleased with yesterday's shop-till-you-drop turnout.

By midafternoon yesterday, shoppers were pouring through the pricey aisles at Tiffany, whose flagship on Fifth Ave. accounts for 10% of the entire company's business.

The hottest destination was the third floor, which sells the more-modestly priced silver jewelry that's a Tiffany's mainstay.

"Feel the energy," the elevator operator deadpanned to a crowded car. "The third floor, the people's choice."

At one counter, 22 shoppers stood waiting to buy popular chain-link silver necklaces and bracelets. Necklaces with heart charms were going for $295, and bracelets for $195. The sales clerk had to whisper the prices - she'd lost her voice because it had been such a busy day.