Tricia Pursell
HUMMELS WHARF — “Agent” Evan Newton said The Geek Squad, whose services include setting up home theaters and fixing computers, had requests for six jobs the day after Christmas — plenty to keep them busy.
The business operates out of the Monroe Marketplace Best Buy, which is celebrating its first Christmas in the area, and was seeing a lot of foot traffic on Friday.
Nancy Cowder, of Sunbury, watched as her kids, 8-year-old Emmaline and 6-year-old Cameron, banged away at a virtual drum set game in the store. “They got a Wii for Christmas,” she said. “We’re here for Wii accessories.” She held in her hands the accessories they had already found.
The kids also received some money for Christmas, so they were making their rounds at other stores in the marketplace to find what they wanted.
The family was one among many who were spending their gift cards, returning gifts, or making exchanges the day after Christmas.
“A couple of people were waiting in line to come in,” said Jeff Matweecha, assistant manager. Many were spending their gift cards at the store early in the morning, he said.
The gift cards were a big hit, according to Justin Martina, a worker at Best Buy. “We sold a lot before Christmas,” he said. “I think people run out of (gift) ideas and then just buy gift cards.”
As people spend their gift cards, the stores often rely on the additional money they spend while they are out and about shopping. “Very rarely does a customer come in with a $25 gift card and spend $25 or $20. Usually it’s a little more. That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Gift cards were also in demand at Target this year. “Target, in general, every year sees more and more gift cards being sold,” said Brad Swanson, manager of Target in Hummels Wharf. “It certainly, obviously, helps us get return traffic when gift cards are purchased and given.”
This return traffic comes not only to spend their cards, but often, to check out the after-Christmas sales as well. “We’re in full clearance mode in the store,” Swanson said. “A lot of things that are Christmas are deeply discounted. We’re hoping to entice people to buy more than just what’s on their gift card.”
With a cart full of half-price Christmas decorations for next year, Bloomsburg residents Leon and Glenda Kowalski’s shopping purpose was clearly noticed. They were looking for deals on Friday along with their daughter, Adria Unger, and granddaughters, Giana, 4, and Siana, 2, also of Bloomsburg.
Kipp Weir, another Best Buy worker, said the store saw crowds of people buying gifts on Christmas Eve. But on Friday, he was dealing with a lot of customers at the customer service desk. “A lot of them are exchanging,” he said. “Not a whole lot of them are returning.”
Bobbi Dupes, of Lewisburg, was standing in the relatively quick moving gift return line at Target on Friday to return some clothing she had received for Christmas. “My husband thinks I’m smaller than I am,” she smiled. While she was standing in line, her husband was off shopping in the store for X-Box accessories. The game system was her gift to him for Christmas.
The Straub family, of Middleburg, was shopping in Target for accessories for a different kind of Christmas gift. “I got a new puppy this year,” said Caitlin Straub, 8. The Yorkie puppy’s name is Miley. Caitlin was shopping with her mom, Alissa, sister Madison, 4, and little brother Nathan, 11 months
