The day after Christmas, Naperville resident Lauren Young was busy returning presents at Chicago Premium Outlets mall in Aurora, a ritual that she has experienced before.
“I’m bringing back some clothes but I’m a regular post-Christmas shopper since every year something doesn’t fit,” Young explained. “I like the post-Christmas thing – it’s not a hassle. Even if the weather was bad today, I’d probably still be out.”
Whether it was Sunday’s sunny weather, a late Bears game or just plain curiosity, shoppers were out in plentiful numbers at Aurora malls the day after Christmas, with agendas that ranged from making exchanges and cashing in gift cards to looking for bargains and maybe spending a little Christmas cash.
At Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, Naperville resident Matthew Stewart was on a mission and he was seen carrying “a bag with some shoes for my wife.”
“In terms of post-Christmas shopping, my situation is a little different,” Stewart said as he spoke about his purchase. “My wife’s birthday is on the 27th of December, so this is my tradition. I do Christmas shopping and then right after, her birthday is coming up and there’s the after-Christmas sales I can take advantage of each year.”
Stewart admitted he was a veteran when it comes to post-Christmas shopping and said he “doesn’t mind it if I get out early enough.”
“If I’m moving around without all the crowd it’s not bad,” he said. “That’s why I got her before 10 a.m. And I find bargains. And if I get some gift cards, I can make use of those and save some money.”
Retailers on Sunday including Arlington Heights resident Luke Zieske, who manages Buckle – a denim retailer at Fox Valley Mall – declared the Christmas sales season a huge success and predicted the number of those shopping after Christmas would go up as the week wears on.
“It was difficult to keep up with the business when your growth was as much as 100% some days compared to last year,” Zieske said.
Zieske said “the biggest expectation the week after Christmas is either people coming in for size exchanges or to spend their Christmas money or gift cards.”
Like Stewart, Jessica Flentge of Oswego was shopping at Buckle Sunday because it was her mother Tracy’s birthday.
“We do this every year because it’s the day she shops for herself,” Flentge said.
“I give my husband a break by telling him ‘take me after Christmas shopping for the sales,'” Tracy Flentge said about her husband.
She reflected on post-Christmas shopping and labeled it “like my best day of the year – it’s my birthday shopping day.”
Another shopper Sunday was Oswego resident Brandy Gilio, who said her visit to Fox Valley Mall Sunday was going to be a quick one.
“I’m here with my girls and my husband who bought me a ring that I’m going to exchange,” she said. “It wasn’t quite the style I was looking for. I want this to be as quick and minimal as possible – get in and get out.”
Lauri Smith of New Lenox was shopping at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora with an entourage she said included “the Georgia relatives.”
“I’m looking for a deal,” she said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
