RETAILERS, SHOPPERS BACK AT IT AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY BREATHER

Shoppers will be back in the stores today exchanging Christmas gifts and bargain hunting during what has become a traditional after-Christmas shopping spree.

With the last-minute gift-buying blitz of Christmas Eve barely a memory, retailers gear up for another big day today.

"We recuperate one day and then hit it again," said Jack Watts, Sears manager.

John McClain, manager at Kmart, said: "There are a lot of people out looking for bargains. People who got money for Christmas are out looking, and then people are returning gifts. It seems people buy gifts all fall and then return them in one day."

The day after Christmas is traditionally a very busy day for retailers, ranking up there with pre-Christmas crowds.

Tony Stephens, West Park Mall manager said: "We think (today) is going to be huge. There have been a lot of positive factors that lead us to feel that way."

He said mall gift-certificate sales have set a "huge" record.

"We expect a lot of activity out for that, and 'tis the season to exchange."

He said merchants hope to capitalize on that.

"The sales will start the day after Christmas, trying to take advantage of the fact that people will be out," he said.

"It's one of the busiest days of the year," agreed Terry Godwin, manager of the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart. All the Christmas merchandise is marked down, and we have an after-Christmas sale. It's

usually a good day for sales.

"But we do have to come in early on the day after Christmas and prepare for all the exchanges."

At Sears, Watts said, "We're anticipating lots of people coming in to exchange presents and return presents. They always do; it's a high transaction day. We consider it a good day."

McClain said Kmart is also prepared for the onslaught of returners. "Generally it runs real smooth," he said. And, McClain said, for the most part, those returning gifts are understanding if they have to wait in line.

Searching for bargains will bring some shoppers out early, said Betty Penrod, manager of Kirlins Hallmark. She said people likely will be waiting at the door when the store opens this morning. The store's Christmas items, like boxed cards and gift wrap, have been marked down.

"It's kind of a tradition with some people to come in the day after Christmas and buy Christmas items for next year," Penrod said.

In fact, she said, shoppers were in the store early this week scouting out which items they will come back to buy today.

"It's a pretty crazy day," Penrod said. "But it seems to be almost as much a tradition as Christmas itself. Everybody is out looking for bargains."

She predicted most Christmas merchandise would sell out during the day.

While national Christmas sales slumped this year, retailers are optimistic about sales locally.

Stephens said sales at West Park Mall on Monday rivaled most of the Saturdays this month. And Tuesday brought hundreds of last-minute shoppers out.

Stephens said he noticed that more shoppers have purchased with cash this year than in the past.

Several retailers also said shoppers waited later in the season to buy.