Hark, Here Comes Harold, the Procrastinator

Happy retailing news from yesterday is that plenty of consumers have put off Christmas shopping until this week.

The National Retail Federation survey that uncovered this bit of retailing Christmas cheer also reveals that 42.4 percent of these procrastinators will shop this week at a department store. Discounters will get 38.9 percent of late-shopper traffic; the Internet will attract 34.9 percent; and 29.9 percent of the not-to-worry-I-have-plenty-of-time crowd will shop at specialty stores.

While you are dusting your shelves and putting your best sellers out so shoppers will trip over them, you might also shine a spotlight on your gift cards because NRF predicts that sales of gift cards will jump this week.

So far this season, clothing and accessories have been the most popular gifts purchased followed by books, CDS and DVDs, then, finally, toys.

Turn the volume up on your Christmas Carols and open your doors wide. Here come the rest of the shoppers.