In order to deck the halls, stores are first manning the floors with enough employees to handle the bustle.
"This holiday season we're really preparing for an upswing, we really feel like people are getting their confidence back," Kendra Hendon with Malouf's said. Malouf's is one of many local retailers looking for extra support.
"We hand gift wrap, so we hire extra staff for that. This place gets a little crazy around the holidays and people who shop here know that, so we need people to help us out," Hendon said.
Malouf's typically sees about a 10 percent jump overall in sales during this time period, and certain items always go fast. "Things that we already see doing well are jewelry and men's sportswear, along with our women shoe department," Hendon said.
Target is doing the same, increasing its workforce 25 percent. "We actually start hiring in the middle of October and those team-members will stay with us through the middle of January and some long-term," Jamie Chumbley, manager of Target at University and Loop 289 said.
Available positions range from cashiers to salesfloor personnel. "We look for people that are fast, fun, and friendly," Chumbley said.
Businesses say it's never too early to begin holiday shopping, especially if you want to make sure the hot item is in stock. "We typically see a spike in our sales around the second week in November. Many people come in before Black Friday to try and get a head start," Chumbley said.
However, America's Research Group finds about a quarter of shoppers plan to spend less this year and another half, about the same.
