Let’s go to the mall: Shoppers make last dash for Yuletide gifts
By Adrianne Redding/Staff Writer
Friday, December 23, 2011 1:44 PM CST
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| Christopher, 4, of Sherwood sits on Santa's lap Monday at McCain Mall to tell him what's on the 2011 Christmas list. (Adrianne Redding) |
While chidren were busy Monday telling Santa Claus what they wanted for Christmas, adults at North Little Rock’s McCain Mall were shopping.
The mall was full of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, with red and yellow sale tags screaming “40 percent off!” and shoppers laden with bags going store to store seeking the right gifts for friends and loved ones.
Many shoppers said they were near the end of their lists, but a few, including Sherry Kendrick of Cabot, said it was their first day of the season to shop. Kendrick said she was looking for frog earrings for her daughter and already had been to several stores.
“She loves frogs, so I really hope some store here sells frog jewelry,” Kendrick said.
Robert Arbogast of Conway was about midway through his shopping and hoped to complete it before leaving the mall.
“I’ve just got my dad and fiance/ left to buy for,” he said. “I just bought my dad a hat and clothing and am now looking [for a present] for my fiancee, so hopefully this is my last day.”
Jeff Kelley of Rosebud had a different way to shop for gifts.
“I’m letting [my four daughters] pick out what they want,” he said with a smile, explaining that the girls were most interested in clothing and snow boots, and planned to eat out for lunch after picking out their gifts.
“We make a big day of it,” he said. “They get exactly what they want and I don’t have to exchange or return anything. I did this last year, and it may become a tradition.”
As grandparents took children to see Santa in the food court, a number of women shopped on their lunch break, looking for such items as clothing and electronics for husbands and others.
Christopher, 4, of Sherwood told Santa what he wanted for Christmas, and then he and his grandfather went shopping.
The mall has seen a big increase in shopping as the holidays have approached, store employees said. New kiosks line the halls and retailers said they are selling more gift cards. A stand for charitable gift wrapping, put on by Senior Citizens Activities Today, had piles of bows and stacks of wrapping paper available, and those manning the booth were staying busy taking care of customers.
As hectic as the week before Christmas can be, the week after often is busier for stores.
“We are becoming increasingly busy,” said Steve Fort, manager of Buckle, an on-trend fashion clothing store. He said Buckle sells more fragances and colognes at Christmas than any other time of year. “Our business peaks around the 21st to the 23rd [of December] every year, and then it builds back up the week after Christmas.”
That week is full of gift cards, returns and exchanges, he said.
Mall officials said Black Friday, as the day after Thanksgiving has become known, is their kickoff holiday event, and shopping typically increases until the last minute before Christmas.
