THUNDER BAY -- Christmas Eve shopping is a tradition for Anna Gibbon, and it’s one she enjoys.
“I get up first thing in the morning and I head out. I just like the energy that Christmas Eve brings,” she said early Monday morning at Wal-mart.
“I know a lot of people are frantic. I have everything done, so this is just sort of a casual, relaxing time for me.”
Last minute shopping is normal for Mike Scott as well. He was getting some pictures developed to surprise a friend and still had some more gifts to purchase.
“I’ve got to find something for my wife, but she doesn’t know about it yet,” he said.
Joyce Attonen and her son Josh were getting last minute groceries Monday morning. They usually get most of their shopping done early and then take a break until right before Christmas.
“Then we run around last minute,” said Joyce.
Josh said he was there more for his mother’s support.
“She woke me up this morning and asked if I wanted to go and I agreed,” he said.
Sara Ducharme rushed out to find Christmas cards for her boyfriend and parents in case stores closed early for the holiday.
“I’m pretty much done until I find a card,” she said. “(Here to) brace the crowds to find the perfect card for the perfect parents and the perfect boyfriend.”
Future Shop store manager Don Nadon said the week leading up to Christmas has brought thousands of last minute shoppers to the Thunder Bay store.
“Christmas Eve there are a lot of customers that come in looking for that last minute present, but it’s kind of been like that for the last week or so,” he said.
They’ve see anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 people per day come through the doors during the last week.
The most popular gifts seem to be smart technology items like iPads, iPods, smartphones, smart TVs and tablets, Nadon said.
And while store staff was ready for the onslaught of last minute shoppers, it’s really Boxing Day that takes the most work.
“Boxing Day in any retail business is the biggest day of the year and there’s a lot of preparation that goes into it,” Nadon said
