Post-holiday shopping begins

The holiday shopping season's not over yet.

Parking lots were packed and aisles overloaded with after-Christmas shoppers at retail stores Tuesday.

Consumers came equipped with gift cards, Christmas money and returnable items, ready to take advantage of sales.

A smaller group of out-of-town visitors and faithful locals perused privately-owned businesses in the downtown areas. Most of them said they came for discounted holiday items and to enjoy the atmosphere at the smaller stores.

Marysville resident Glenda Johnson was looking for bargains on Christmas items.

“I try to buy a special ornament for the following year. The prices are always better after Christmas,” Johnson said.

Emily Smith and Hannah Williams were among the multitude of teenagers who visited corporate retail stores the day after Christmas.

They came to buy themselves Christmas presents with gift cards - an increasingly popular item.

Smith and Williams said they'd rather get gift cards than an already-purchased present picked out by relatives.

“They don't really know what you want,” Williams said. “They'll try their hardest, but it's just easier for us to pick something out.”

Local retail workers said holiday shopping should last at least another week.

“The rest of the week, we'll be getting our after-Christmas sale people in,” said Demona Dibble, a clerk at Marysville's D Street Mercantile. “It should remain steady but not frantic. There's no deadlines now.”

Most businesses reported good holiday sales.

“Like any retail business, all the profits are made the fourth quarter - October, November and December,” said Tracy Schneller, D Street Mercantile's owner.

“It's make it or break it for businesses,” she said.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 749-4724. You may e-mail her at blaughlin@appeal-democrat.com.