By Courtney Patterson

As the clock ticks toward Christmas, last-minute shoppers are kicking into gear.

“I’m always a last-minute shopper,” said Martha Norman. Norman was shopping Tuesday for her eight granddaughters, saying that they did not tell her what they wanted until the last minute.

Zach Bryant takes the “procrastination” route each year.

“It’s never been a problem for me,” Bryant said. “It’s just always hard to decide what to get everybody.”

Bryant lucked out with a one-stop shopping trip and found the gift he needed with minutes to spare.

Bettye Richards, also shopping for her granddaughters, said that she typically shops last minute. Everyone has been “friendly and not pushy,” Richards said. “It was a good day for shopping.”

“I usually have everything done,” said Margie Treadwell. “I thought I’d look around for some extra shopping stuffers.”

Just because someone is out shopping this close to Christmas, does not necessarily mean that they are shopping for Christmas gifts. Shelia Deveridge decided to shop for herself.

“Today is my anniversary for 36 years,” Deveridge said. “I’m treating myself.” She said she usually begins her Christmas shopping in September and finishes in November, so now she wanted to shop for herself.

Retail employees have noticed an abundance of shoppers as Christmas approaches, especially this week. “Yesterday and today were very busy,” said Courtney New, a Cotton Creek employee. “It’s really picked up.”

She said that customers are just trying to get last-minute gift items right before the holiday.

The weather was not ideal on Tuesday, but most agreed that it did not hinder them. “When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go,” Norman said.