SHOPPERS SEEK POST-HOLIDAY SALES

Christmas is over, but the holiday shopping season isn't.

Shoppers, some of them out by 7 a.m., flooded shopping centers and retail stores here Tuesday in search of post-holiday markdowns.

The overall 2000 holiday season shopping -- not helped any by two weeks of severe wintry weather, including snow and cold -- was a tough one for many retailers.

Having a weekend directly before Christmas encouraged last-minute buying.

Stock market volatility and a slowing economy made consumers skittish, said John Konarski, vice president of research at the International Council of Shopping Centers. Blizzards in the Midwest and the drama surrounding the presidential election didn't help, either.

But shopping continued Tuesday.

"We've had a lot of buyers," said Marsha Medlin, a manager at the Target Store in Cape West Business Park. "We're seeing a lot of Christmas clearance buyers."

There have been some returns, added Medlin, "but not that many."

Many retailers report the same good clearance sales and few returns.

Sarah VanHorn of ShopKo said many people were buying clearance items, but that returns were not as heavy.

"A lot of buyers are picking up accessories for various games," said Karen Backfish, store director at Toys R Us, 210 S. Silver Springs Road. "We had few returns Tuesday."

Westfield Shoppingtown was crowded Tuesday.

"There's a lot of cars on the parking lot," said Shoppingtown manager Jim Govro, "and a lot of shoppers are in a new buying mode. That's understandable."

Clearance sales

Many retailers advertised clearance sales of 30 to 50 percent, and a lot of people have been waiting for the post-Christmas sales.

As much as 11 percent of holiday buying took place last year during the week after Christmas, said a report from the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The merchandise may be picked over and selection limited, but the bargains more than compensate.

Retailers hope the next seven days will help any slump that may have plagued business most of the month.

Many retailers started pushing after-Christmas sales last week, mailing coupons to customers. Kmart and Wal-Mart opened early Tuesday, and Sears will feature 50 percent discounts on some items.

There are some buyers who didn't really concentrate on holiday buying until Tuesday.

"I don't want my name out there," said one shopper, "but I buy a lot of gifts after Christmas. I don't like to fight the big crowds before Christmas."