Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers Take Over Local Broome County Stores
Holiday House co-owner Bill Didas and his wife have been running the store for 39 years. Only open from Columbus day to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, the store sees its peak from Black Friday to today.
Didas says the last-minute crowds have been larger than usual, seeing potentially over 100 customers alone today.
"Normally, the last two days before Christmas, most people are at the grocery store getting food. You know, this kind of shopping that pretty much got done, although we get guys that come in and last minute and say I'll take that, that, and that," Didas said.
The biggest sellers of the year have been the store's 31 different types of Christmas trees and it's special swirling lanterns. As all revenue brought in this holiday season supports next, the hectic crowds are never a bad thing for Didas.
"It's very busy, very hectic. But this is a fun place to be. People come in and they're in good moods," Didas said.
Over at Tom's Coffee Cards and Gifts, Owner Tom Kelleher says the day before Christmas is the store's busiest day of the holiday season.
"This day will be the busiest day of the year for us, for the two days before Christmas is the busiest day that we have for the season or the Saturday before Christmas," Kelleher said.
Tom's Coffee Cards and Gifts is nearing the end of it's busiest holiday season ever, seeing a 25% increase in sales from just last year alone. This year's fan favorites include the jelly cat stuffed animals and the store's trademark coffee, selling 10 tons during the holiday season.
Seeing hundreds of customers walk in the doors each day during the holidays, Tom's earns about 20% of it's yearly income during December.
"The business has been here for 43 years, and we just get bigger and better every year. We grow more every year," Kelleher said.
That growth from over four decades of serving the community makes the holiday time even special for the long time owner.
"I get to see every single one of my customers that come throughout the year. They come out, everyone comes in," Kelleher said. "This time of year, I get a chance to say hello, thank them for their for our business. Over the years. Pretty wonderful feeling."