Shoppers head to South Sound stores for post-holiday bargains

Forget about packing up decorations and feasting on leftovers.

For many folks, Wednesday was a time to hunt for holiday bargains, return unwanted presents and put those Christmas gift cards to good use.

About 57 percent of shoppers nationwide surveyed by American Express said they expected to snap up some day-after-Christmas deals, and spend an average of $187.

Thirty-five percent planned to buy items for themselves, while 21 percent hoped to get a head start on next year’s Christmas shopping.

Lynda Leach and her husband stopped by Fred Meyer in Lacey to stock up on tissue paper, gift tags and boxed cards. They planned to hit Costco later in the week, in search of clearance-priced ribbon.

“I try to get generic colors, like reds and blues, that I can use all year,” said Leach, of Olympia.

Lorraine Eckstein and her three children spent part of the day returning some clothes and shoes that didn’t fit. But the Olympia family’s main mission was to pick up a guinea pig, a belated Christmas present for 9-year-old daughter Dana.

Eckstein said she was surprised that it only took a few minutes to get through the line for returns.   

“I expected to see a lot more people,” she said.

Lisa Sorensen headed out at 7:30 a.m. with her mother and daughter for their annual post-Christmas shopping extravaganza.

“We’ve had a blast,” said Sorensen, of Grand Mound. “I do this every year.”

By 11 a.m., they were at store No. 3, pushing three shopping carts filled with scented pine cones, holiday dishes and giftwrap.

Sorensen said many of the items, which were marked up to 75 percent off, might be used next year as merchandise or decorations for her gift shop, Pole Barn Primitives in Grand Mound.

The “girls’ day” included lunch and some treats along the way.

“I got candy,” 11-year-old Mady Sorensen said with a smile.

Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433
lpemberton@theolympian.com
@Lisa_Pemberton