Deals, delays drive 11th-hour shoppers

Carrying a handful of bags, Laurie Byrne victoriously strode through the streets of downtown Naperville Saturday morning.

With five more bags already in the car, she had conquered Anderson's Bookshop, Dean's Clothing, Naperville Nuts and Sweets, The Right Start and Williams-Sonoma all before noon and considered her mission a success.

Byrne was among the hundreds of shoppers who hit the stores Saturday, taking advantage of having one last weekend before Christmas arrives.

Unlike some of her procrastinating comrades, Byrne has a strategy -- she purposely does her early shopping elsewhere, then returns to the familiarity of downtown Naperville for the rest of the gifts on her list.

"I like it down here and it's convenient," Byrne said. "I know where everything is and I know what I can get here so I just do it."

From indecisiveness to good deals, last-minute shoppers all have their own excuses, er, reasons, for braving the stores with the clock ticking.

"I just can't get motivated to come out and do this because I hate to shop. I just hate it," said Mary Kay Rybicki of Naperville as she browsed the racks of Ann Taylor during hour three of her merchandise mission. "Now when the pressure's on there's no deciding. It's like OK, they're going to like this. This is fine."

Shopping late in the season gives Glyn Skerrett of Lisle time to do some reconnaissance work on his wife.

"We spend time shopping together for other people and sometimes I get ideas from what she mentions," he said as he walked around the Danada Square shops in Wheaton.

For Wheaton resident John Rogers, taking his sons shopping for their gifts at the last minute -- this year clothes and video games -- is tradition.

"You get so busy with work and all the things going on and then you're done with work and can start to relax and do more family-oriented things," he said. "It's part of the experience."

Some shoppers have already crossed off everyone on their Christmas lists but braved the stores anyway.

Kathy Giles of Naperville was browsing at Pottery Barn for items she wanted for herself because shopping so close to the holiday means finding a number of good deals.

At least that's what she found in downtown Naperville.

"I haven't even touched the mall," she said. "I won't bother. That's a combat sport."

But the last-minute pros have conflicting advice for fellow procrastinators.

"Impulse buy," Rybicki said. "That's what I'm doing."

However Skerrett said having ideas in advance is key.

"Just looking will never get you there," he said. "That will just lead to frustration."

Game plan or not, shoppers say if you're going to wait until the last day, at least go early in the morning.

"Get here early, park your car and don't move it," Byrne said. Eat here and just stay."