I’m a daily grocery shopper. Every day, seven days a week, I go to the grocery store to purchase whatever I need for the evening meal, the next day’s breakfast and lunch, and any staples we happen to need.
There are lots of advantages to this approach. It’s easy in and easy out. I come out with only one or two sacks of groceries. I’m always buying what’s fresh and what’s on sale. And, of course, the folks who work at the grocery store recognize me sometimes knowing me by name. But I try not to shop on Christmas day.
So, although my Christmas shopping had been completed earlier, I was out and about today doing my grocery shopping for Christmas Eve dinner and the Christmas Day meals and watching the crazed last-minute shoppers perform their feats of daring on the expressways, surface streets, and parking lots.
As I performed my regular grocery shopping rounds I passed several shopping malls. And as I did I noticed that all of them had lots of parking available. Now this might mean that everybody has done all of their shopping early. Or it might mean that this won’t be a great year for retailers many of whom have historically done half of their total annual business at Christmas time.
Has anyone else noticed something similar?
Well, I’m a Christmas Eve shopper of many years. Ha. There was parking available, usually the case if I use certain entrances to the local mall. I’d rate the traffic inside as above to slightly above, at least it seemed above last years. And I didn’t see so many big last minute sales. Which isn’t why I wait, actually. Guess I’m just typical male. I do it all on Christmas eve because it’s finite. I leave early and start and I know come hell or high water I will be done by six pm. Actually finished early at about 5:15 tonight. Man, was I proud of myself. ; )
oops sorry meant “average to slightly above”