MACON, Ga. — Christmas shopping in a toy shop; it's the best time of the year for a kid.
“We've been bringing joy to Macon since 2004,” Florence Allen said.
She’s the owner of William’s Fun Smart Toys in Ingleside and says kids aren’t the only ones enjoying the season.
“This is what we live for all year is Christmas,” Allen laughed.
That's because this is a toy store's busiest season.
“October to December in the toy business– we’ll do as much in those three months as we do the rest of the year,” she explained.
She says last year, folks weren’t really shopping before Thanksgiving, but this year the holiday shoppers are rolling in.
“I usually start about this week,” said Janne Childs who’s lived in Macon for 40 years. “I start feeling panic. I like to be finished the week before Christmas if possible."
Sarah Sowell starts shopping even earlier.
“Probably around October, actually,” Sowell said.
According to the National Retail Federation, consumers are predicted to spend upward of $966 billion this season.
That's $200 billion more than last year.
So, Allen says they prepare for the rush all year.
“We've been stocking up – especially on our core items, getting things in. We do 20- 30% more,” she said.
Dress-up clothes, outdoor toys, baby toys, and the Tonie Box are the big-ticket items this season.
“Pretty much 90% of all our merchandise is in,” Allen said.
She says folks weren’t really shopping during the summertime and retail stores were going through a rough patch. She says winter sales might make up for that.
“We’re predicting that we're going to be up. It's just hard to tell right now how much we're going to be up,” Allen explained.
People like Childs are happy to contribute.
“Well, our grandkids are visiting for the holidays, so we're out doing some holiday shopping,” she said. “This is one of their favorite places to come.”
Childs says everyone seems to have started too.
“I think you have more options, maybe. You can go online and were fortunate in Macon to have some retailers that are local that have been around a good while and can help us out too,” Childs said.
While Sowell says prices have risen, which makes this holiday season a little more tricky.
“Yeah, I have to save. Everything has shot up; to groceries to gas to toys to Legos,” she said.
But still, a kid's joy is priceless.
“I get more excited the older he gets because I just want to see his face on Christmas,” Sowell said.
The National Retail Federation says 43% of holiday shoppers get it done before November.
They say they've also found that consumers plan to spend an average of $870 on holiday gifts, decorations, food and more. 182 million Americans plan to shop in-store and online over the next five days.