CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Despite the dreary weather outside, thousands of last-minute shoppers in the Charlotte area are racing to complete their Christmas shopping.
[Holiday shopping hours at Charlotte-area malls, drug stores, groceries]
Channel 9 is monitoring all the area malls and outlets.
With only hours remaining until Christmas Day, shoppers are taking advantage of extra mall hours.
Reporter Stephanie Tinoco was at a jam-packed SouthPark Mall checking out the long lines and the frantic buying.
One family said they shopped all day Friday and returned Saturday for photos with Santa Claus.
"Lots and lots of people, but it was the same way yesterday, but the traffic is insane,” shopper Bethany Winson said.
The National Retail Federation calls Saturday “Super Saturday” because it's estimated to be the biggest day of the year for retailers, with a 53 percent increase in shoppers, which is more than 125 million people across the country finishing their shopping.
People said they are willing to wait in long lines and have even come across good deals, too. They're doing whatever it takes to make sure there are gifts under the tree.
“It's been very hectic,” shopper Ron White said. “No parking, nowhere to move. It's been crazy in here."
As for parking, SouthPark Mall was more than 90 percent full.
Parking lots at Concord Mills and the Charlotte Premium Outlets have been completely full for most of the day, and only overflow parking is available.
Experts say the majority of those shopping procrastinators are men.
“Every year we see men waiting last minute to buy these gifts. A good chunk, probably 50 percent of the 126 million adults, are going to be men,” said Ana Serafin Smith with the National Retail Federation.
The National Retail Federation says many of the sales you will see this weekend are better than what you would find on Black Friday.
Cox Media Group
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