Retailers ready for final Christmas shopping
BOISE -- At the legendary Lee's Candies at Vista Village, business was good the Monday before Christmas with customers lining up to buy delicious goodies.
But overall this Christmas, the store's owner says he has tasted sweeter seasons.
"Business is somewhat down," said owner Curtis Nokleby. "But I've noticed people want their Christmas candy, Lee's has been a tradition for their family for years in the holidays."
But other local stores we checked with say things are going well as the last shopping days tick by before Christmas.
According to data from MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse, the holiday shopping season slowly improved in December, but shoppers are still hesitating to spend more even as retailers have better planned for sales.
The East Coast snowstorm may have given a boost to online retailers, with Web shopping Friday and Saturday jumping 24 percent from the same days a year ago.
The heavy snow kept people away from stores along the Eastern seaboard.
Online retailers are pushing back deadlines and offering free express shipping as the days until Christmas wane.
Analysts are expecting a frenzied final few days of buying. Some malls may extend their hours to make up for lost shopping time.
Analysts also say more people have put off their shopping this year in search of deals. Retailers are hoping turnout this week can help make up for the weekend trouble.
Outside the East Coast, stores saw strong turnout on the last weekend before Christmas.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
But overall this Christmas, the store's owner says he has tasted sweeter seasons.
"Business is somewhat down," said owner Curtis Nokleby. "But I've noticed people want their Christmas candy, Lee's has been a tradition for their family for years in the holidays."
But other local stores we checked with say things are going well as the last shopping days tick by before Christmas.
According to data from MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse, the holiday shopping season slowly improved in December, but shoppers are still hesitating to spend more even as retailers have better planned for sales.
The East Coast snowstorm may have given a boost to online retailers, with Web shopping Friday and Saturday jumping 24 percent from the same days a year ago.
The heavy snow kept people away from stores along the Eastern seaboard.
Online retailers are pushing back deadlines and offering free express shipping as the days until Christmas wane.
Analysts are expecting a frenzied final few days of buying. Some malls may extend their hours to make up for lost shopping time.
Analysts also say more people have put off their shopping this year in search of deals. Retailers are hoping turnout this week can help make up for the weekend trouble.
Outside the East Coast, stores saw strong turnout on the last weekend before Christmas.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
