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Highlands Today

A Late Start

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Teresa Hinote of Lorida finishes up her Christmas shopping on Friday at Steve and Co. in downtown Sebring.

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By Bill Rogers | Highlands Today

Published: December 23, 2007

SEBRING – There is not a lot of time left to find that perfect gift for that special somebody and apparently a bunch of Christmas shoppers are in that predicament.

As of Dec. 18, just one week before Christmas, about 19 percent of men — and about 14 percent of women — had yet to begin their shopping, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.

The survey showed that 16.5 percent of all consumers hadn't started shopping.

In Highlands County, some merchants agree with the survey about seeing more shoppers getting a late start, while other store managers don't see it that way.

"We're swamped," said Tom Short, manager of Michaels Arts and Crafts at the Shops At Shelby Crossing in Sebring. "They are buying Christmas stuff like it is going out of style."

Short said things began picking up last Monday and added that he wasn't surprised it didn't start sooner.

Michaels will be open today from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday.

Nancy Davis, who owns Lake Placid Feed and Western Wear Inc. with her husband, Karl, believes the survey is right on target.

"It is crazy," Davis said "A lot of customers are just getting started."

She said people might have just received a bonus check or are now getting time off. Another factor might be the warm temperatures.

"Hot weather doesn't get you in the spirit," Davis said.

Jenny Cheek, general manager of Lakeshore Mall in Sebring, agrees that the weather as well as the economy could be factors. She said people have told her they have been too busy.

"It's picking up," Cheek said Friday.

Cheek said the mall counts shoppers as they come in. There was an increase in traffic on Dec. 15 compared to the previous Saturday.

The Sebring mall will be open today from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.

Kmart has extended its hours this weekend. The store opened Saturday at 6 a.m. and was planning to stay open until 10 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Rhonda Barnes, owner of Steve and Co. on the Circle, said this year is typical for her store that sells jewelry, clothes and accessories.

"It's non-stop," Barnes said. "It is always that way."

Barnes, who said Thursday that she hadn't completed her shopping, said the store will have flexible hours on Christmas Eve and will stay until "they quit coming."

"Nobody is frenzied," said Jeanne Fortier of Home and Office Essentials in Lake Placid. "It is going really well."

Two stores that will be open Christmas Day are Walgreens and CVS.

About 11.7 percent of those surveyed said they have completed their shopping.

Department stores are expected to be the destination of choice in the week leading up to Christmas, with 42.2 percent of the respondents saying they plan to visit those stores. Shoppers also plan to visit discount stores (38.9 percent) and specialty stores (29.9 percent), the survey found.

The survey also showed that 34.9 percent said they would buy holiday gifts on the Internet Information from the Richmond Times-Dispatch was used in this story.

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