Macon Shoppers Look for Gifts Before Christmas Closings

12:57 AM, Dec 24, 2011   |    comments
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If you're not traveling, you may still be out shopping this weekend.

The National Retail Federation put out a survey this week that said about 9-percent of Americans had not started their holiday shopping.

13WMAZ found some of those folks in Macon stores.

It probably wouldn't surprise you, that of retailers say a lot of the late season gift buyers are men.

Owner of Karats and Keepsakes on Forsyth Road Julie Evans said her sales were consistent with the survey, showing a big boost in sales after-Thanksgiving sales, a lull in the middle and a big bump in the week before Christmas.

Evans said, "We actually had a great weekend after Thanksgiving, which is not always our busiest time. We have had record days for the last last week and a half."

Still other retailers say this season has been a struggle.

At Father Goose Toys on Forsyth Road, Helen Nolan said she could not stock her shelves as full as years past, expecting slow sales.

She said, "I presume all these toy places are having problems."

Many shoppers said they were still trying to keep a budget, despite dashing into the stores in the waning hours before Christmas.

Brend Burnett said she budgeted more money for Christmas shopping last year. She said, "It was less this year than it was last year."

The National Retail Federation revised its holiday spending forecast this week, saying they originally underestimated.

Based on good November sales, they boosted the prediction to about a 4-percent growth over last year.