Stores Swamped With Post-Christmas Shoppers

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Friday is the second-busiest shopping day of the year.

Jenna Roering's birthday isn't until Dec. 30, but she's picking out her birthday gift with her mom early at Rosedale Center in Roseville.

"My mom said there's a lot of sales the day after Christmas, so we came here today," Roering said.

Josiah Borchers, assistant manager of Gold Elements, says the store increased the number of staff just for this day.

"We've just been crazy all morning," Borchers said.

And shoppers like Meghan Green were cashing in.

"I was looking at jeans, but I was like, 'No, I don't need any more jeans, I gotta stop myself,' so I spent under $50 on clothes for myself, which I didn't plan for," Green said.

University of St Thomas Finance Professor David Vang says stores do well the day after Christmas, but they're mainly busy with returns and exchanges.

"Big day in terms of being busy, not necessarily big day in terms of revenue," Vang said.

The National Retail Federation says about 40 percent of us will return at least one gift this season.

"The retailers in turn hope that since they're in the store any place, they might pick up something else instead," Vang said.

He also says the deals might not be as good this year because of the increase in overall holiday sales.

Consumer spending was up nearly four percent in November and December.

"There might not be as much excess inventory in the stores themselves as they were in previous years," Vang said. "There will be some, but maybe not quite as much."

Still, stores are offering discounts for a little post-Christmas shopping spree.

"Even better than Christmas," Green said. "I feel like after the holidays, they have even more sales because they're trying to get rid of stuff for the new season."

Experts say it may not be as busy this year because so many people are doing shopping online.

The National Retail Federation says those sales are up eight percent this holiday season.

If you do want to get some of these deals Friday night, stores at Rosedale Center are open until 10 p.m.