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Last minute shoppers searching for bargains
Mark Hofmann can be reached via e-mail or at 724-626-3539.
Dec. 24 -- the last shopping day until Christmas.
Retailers throughout the Fay-West are expecting -- and hoping for -- a big turnout in the stores today.
Retailers know that many people today are scrambling to find that perfect gift for that special someone.
"We've been pretty busy during the past few days," said Jaydene Nelson, assistant manager at the Peebles Department Store in Mount Pleasant.
Peebles, which opened in early November, got its first taste of the holiday shopping crowds on Black Friday, which is commonly known as the busiest shopping day of the year -- the day after Thanksgiving.
But Nelson said the last several days have been just as busy as Black Friday.
At the Mount Pleasant K-Mart, manager Ted Sheffield said the flow of customer traffic has slowly built up since Black Friday. He believes the number of shoppers will reach its peak today. These customers will be rushing into the store to purchase what Sheffield calls "panic items," meaning last minute things, like stuffing stockers and perfumes. Sheffield said the majority of customers have made their big or expensive purchases the first week of December.
Sheffield said Black Friday is a huge day for retail sales. But the weekend before Christmas is what brings in the higher number of shoppers.
Jim Gorby, manager at the Bon-Ton in Uniontown, said customer traffic has been steady since Black Friday. He expects the usual increase today with people purchasing similar panic items, including cosmetics and taking advantage of the Bon-Ton's free gift wrapping.
One of the many shoppers that will be hitting the stores today is Kim Whoric of Connellsville, who admitted she just started her Christmas shopping two weeks ago. She planned on being in the stores today.
"I'm a last-minute shopper," said Whoric, adding she shops to the last minute mainly because it's fun and she can find better sales.
Whoric's grandmother, Joanne Frazier of Connellsville, is on the opposite end of that spectrum. She started her shopping before Thanksgiving. But she still decided to go out for non-Christmas shopping two days before the holiday.
"I just like to see the people and go to lunch," said Frazier. "I don't like last-minute shopping and the long lines."
Frazier likes being the early bird shopper. Whoric would only shop early if she finds a good special.
Nelson said Peebles has a variety of specials which are drawing local shoppers to the store, including coats marked at 50 percent off, holiday items at 40 percent off as well as mark-downs throughout the store.
Sheffield has doubled up on advertising, holding weekend sales events and plans an after-Christmas clearance sale. Retailers believe the crowds will return to normal only a few days after Christmas.
