BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- The countdown to Christmas is on and last-minute shoppers are making the most of the remaining time to purchase those holiday gift items.
The stores at The Summit in Birmingham will close at 6 p.m. Tuesday on Christmas Eve, as will the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover.
Candice Hardy, who was shopping for her young nephews at the Shops of Grand River in Leeds on Monday, was far from the only one who waited two days before Christmas to hit the brick-and-mortar stores.
“I’ve been extremely busy with work and so I just appreciate being able to shop online, that’s where I did a lot of my shopping, and then I’m doing some last minute in store,” Hardy said
With five children in tow, Megan Winningham has her own strategy for last-minute shopping.
“Well I have big kids and little kids so the big kids are going to help out with the little ones and we all stay together, and it works,” Winningham said.
Winningham's holiday shopping list includes stocking stuffers for her husband, as well as presents for her mother that she was looking forward to giving to her.
While this year’s holiday shopping season is condensed to just 27 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the National Retail Federation is predicting that holiday spending will grow between 2.5% and 3.5% over 2023.
Christine Strange, vice president of retail operations at The Shops of Grand River, said they are anticipating an increase in sales this year.
Many shoppers who waited to do shopping said work and home life had left them too busy to go out beforehand, but one couple from Grove Town, Georgia said Hurricane Helene had put a damper on their holiday plans.