Last Minute Shoppers Crowd West Tennessee Stores
JACKSON, Tenn. – West Tennessee roads were swarming with people trying to get their last minute Christmas Shopping done. Michael Rhodes has seen the influx of customers first hand as the J.C Penney’s store leader. “Since the door has opened [the amount of customers] has just increased throughout the day and each day it’s gotten a little stronger,” he said. It’s not just employees at the mall noticing the larger crowds of people. “It was horrible getting here I haven’t seen Jackson this bad in a long time,” last minute Christmas Shopper Jessica Bonilla admited. All across America, not just in Jackson people are waiting to wrap up their Christmas shopping. According to the National Retail Federation 77percent of people are not finished Christmas shopping and another 14 percent have not even started. The large amounts of people out and about in West Tennessee are slowing some of these last minute shoppers down. Shelley Shaffer said her shopping will not be finished as of Friday. “We’ll have more to do after today just because it took us so long to get here.” Rhodes said these large amounts of shoppers all have something in common… what they’re looking to purchase. “I see a lot of them gravitating to our outer wear.” Despite the crowds, traffic, and demand for certain items, West Tennessee residents are in the holiday spirit. “They seem happy, they seem cheerful…it seems people are definitely you know at peace and thankful for family and friends and their well being,” said Rhodes.
