Dec 29, 2009

Shoppers hit local stores for after-Christmas salesBy Don NorfleetFultonSun.com

With gift cards in hand, many shoppers jammed the parking lot at the Fulton Walmart at 2000 N. Bluff St. on Saturday.

A Fulton Walmart spokeswoman said: “I can’t believe how much business we have today. It seems like everyone in Fulton is here today.”

She said gift cards were being used for a lot of items in the store. The store also was offered big reductions on toys and numerous other seasonal items.

Tomi Schlipp, assistant manager of Walmart in Fulton, said Christmas season sales at the Fulton Walmart are expected to exceed last year.

She said sales of high-definition television sales and X-boxes were especially popular gift items this year at Walmart. The store also was offering half priced items on all items with a Christmas theme.

“We’ve been slammed today with business,” said Maggie Brady, manager of Maurice’s clothing store, 1855 N. Bluff St.

“A huge number of people are here to redeem gift cards. We have a sale with 50 percent off. It seems a lot of people bought gift cards and now people are taking advantage by buying things at half off,” Brady said.

Overall, Brady said she believes total sales for Christmas may be a little below last year but still sales were better than expected.

Lindsey Pace, manager of Cellular Connections, 2102 N. Bluff St., said sales of AT&T phones were up over last year.

“The Blackberry phone has been extremely popular and we have sold a lot of Samsung touch screen phones. Many people have bought them for Christmas gifts this year, especially parents adding a phone for their children,” Pace said.

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