CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — This holiday season, there were six fewer days to shop for consumers.
“The shopping season was shorter this year, so everyone is kind of panicked running around trying to get what they need. It’s always the busiest,” Amanda Sanchez from La Palmera Mall said.
Many shoppers expect to see men hitting the retail stores on Christmas Eve day, “oh, Christmas Eve for men definitely,” Sanchez said.
Daniel Martinez, a local resident says he normally does his shopping weeks before but extra family members coming in town caused him to hit the mall at the last minute.
His advice for last minute shoppers, “early in the morning, get it out of the way fast, my recommendation.”
And for some shoppers, the adrenaline of procrastination is exactly what puts them in the holiday spirit.
“You get better sales this way, and I just like the rush of it,” said Kingsville resident Liz Black.
Black says she loves doing her Christmas shopping the days leading up to Christmas because she enjoys the panic and adrenaline of getting gifts quickly.
The National Retail Federation says although 56% of consumers planned on shopping the week before Christmas, 6% will be at stores on Christmas Eve.
The NRF also says Americans will spend just over $1,000 this season, which is 4% more than last holiday season.
La Palmera will open the earliest they have all holiday season at 7 a.m. and stay open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
