Only three days remain to get any last minute shopping done and
local merchants are ready for one of the busiest weeks of the
year.
So far, the holiday shopping season has been a good one for most
merchants. They’ve gone out of their way to accommodate Christmas
shoppers with sales and promotions, they’ve extended their hours
and kept the stores heavily staffed.
The hard work has paid off for both the buyers and the sellers,
said Target store manager Larry Morgan.
Only three days remain to get any last minute shopping done and local merchants are ready for one of the busiest weeks of the year.
So far, the holiday shopping season has been a good one for most merchants. They’ve gone out of their way to accommodate Christmas shoppers with sales and promotions, they’ve extended their hours and kept the stores heavily staffed.
The hard work has paid off for both the buyers and the sellers, said Target store manager Larry Morgan.
“We’re finally starting to meet some of our forecasted goals. People are starting to come out and do some shopping.”
Target trucks are delivering merchandise every day to keep the shelves stocked, but the store isn’t receiving any more of its holiday merchandise, Morgan said.
Holiday merchandise includes items such as holiday decorations, Christmas trees and some holiday toys such as Holiday Barbie or Cool Toys, which the store only carries during the holidays.
“We’ll have all the (merchandise) on the floor so anyone who comes in last minute can have the best selection,” Morgan said. “But this time of year the selection gets limited.”
Moving freight during the night when customers aren’t around is how Kmart is accommodating its last minute shoppers, so they can have the benefit of a large selection of merchandise without having to shop around employees stocking shelves, said store manager Chris West.
“We’re adding extra help so customers can get in and get out quickly,” West said.
Items that have been very popular are DVD players, gold earrings, kids bikes, Bratz dolls, electric razors and pajamas, West said.
The store has already sold out of portable DVD players and may not be receiving any more before Christmas. Video games have also been hot items, especially John Madden Football 2004.
Kmart only has seven Madden games left and may not be getting any more shipments before Christmas, West said.
They still have a strong selection of most items, and will need it in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, he said.
“Wednesday will definitely be the busiest day,” West said. “Especially between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. because there will be no where else in town to shop.”
Kmart will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Target’s hours slightly shorter from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Neither store is open Christmas Day.
Small downtown businesses have also been trying to accommodate last minute shoppers with longer hours and specialized merchandise.
Muenzer’s Cyclery and Sports Center will be open until 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and is offering several specials on name brand items, said co-owner Jan Holthouse.
“The season has been good so far and has definitely been picking up the last couple of days,” she said.
One item that has been very popular are sheepskin boots, which run in the $100 range, Holthouse said.
“I’m running really low right now, but I’m expecting a really big shipment in right after Christmas,” she said. “But I’ve got quite a few left, and people who come in on Monday or Tuesday would still be able to find them as long as their color selection is not real picky.”
For anyone who isn’t sure what to get for a sport enthusiast in their life, the team at Muenzer’s is always willing to help, Holthouse said.
“We always have tons of things for stocking stuffers and last minute ideas,” she said. “If you’ve got a sport fan on your list, it’s definitely the place to come.”
