Last-Minute Shoppers Hit Oklahoma Stores On Christmas Eve

A last minute rush for the perfect gift...crowds of shoppers swarmed metro stores in the final countdown to Christmas.

Time is running out. Local shops like Blue 7 are locking their doors when customers check out. And big retails shops will be closing early. But we found most shoppers are taking it in stride.

Toys R Us and other major retailers are banking on the Christmas Eve rush to pull them out of a sales slump.

Shopper Trak, a national retail analyzer, indicates overall sales are down 3.1 percent compared to the same time last year, a shortfall blamed on winter storms across the country.

It was a different story for local shops like Blue 7 on North May. Caleb Arter extended store hours to help boost sales and he says it worked.

"This is probably one of my favorite days to be open, because there are very few angry customers, they know they waited until the last minute, so it just seems like they are in a good mood," he said.

The smiles could be attributed to more flexibility in store hours this shopping season. Several retailers stayed open around the clock last week. That comes to an end tonight. Penn Square Mall, Quail Springs Mall and the Outlet Shoppes close at 6 p.m., as well as Toys R Us, Kohls, and Best Buy.

Walmart is closing at 8 p.m., and Target will stay open until 10 p.m. for last minute shoppers.

Diane Packard says every extra minute helps, and she will let nothing spoil the joy of giving that perfect gift this Christmas.

Now grocery stores and liquor stores are keeping their normal hours, because most will be closed Tuesday.