But an even larger last-minute rush than usual seems to be taking shape this year, she said. She is hoping to capitalize on that by being open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. If you aren't doing well year-round, Christmas won't save you. The manager of Towne East Square in Wichita, Patty McDonough, also said that Christmas sales started slowly. But that's similar to 1995, she said.
Sales appear to be coming later.
But she thinks national retail forecasts of a slightly better sales year than 1999 will hold true in Wichita. Towne East foot traffic is about the same as last year, she said, and stores are telling her sales are similar to slightly better than last year's.