The Selma Times-Journal

Santa’s gone, but retail sales have not stopped.

Local merchants report after-Christmas sales are going well.

“(There’s) been a lot of traffic in here,” said Joe Moore, a Carter Drug Co. owner. “We discount our stuff like everybody else.”

And just like the days leading up to the holidays, discount is the name of the game. Shoppers anticipate taking advantage of after-Christmas clearances.

“Traffic has been decent in the mall,” said Selma Mall Manager Carver Boynton. “It’s been pretty steady all day.”

As for those gifts that weren’t the right fit or didn’t suit one’s taste, they usually end up back at the store’s return counter.

Shawnette Jackson, Cato manager, said the women’s clothing store’s staff

has been busy with returns and exchanges.

According to Jackson, the winter and fall merchandise will be marked down on Thursday and she anticipates the sales will generate a lot of traffic.

“I’m looking forward to that,” she said.

As far as mall returns are concerned, Boynton said there have not been “an abundance of returns.”

“I think gift cards played a big part in that,” she said.

Boynton also gave credit to mall merchants for putting forth a lot of effort toward aiding customers with their purchases so that they made “better purchases beforehand.”

According to Boynton, shoppers can look for winter clearances, specials and discounts “over the next several months.”