Store owners say most shoppers are male
MARQUETTE -- Friday, the clock was ticking for last minute Christmas shoppers.
The scene in downtown Marquette Friday afternoon was hectic, and businesses were expecting a certain type of customer.
TV6 Meteorologist Phil DeCastro still hadn't finished his Christmas shopping.
"This is typical, this is very, very typical," says DeCastro. "Actually this is early for me, it's about 11:15 a.m. right now and this is early in the game for me."
"The last minute shopper is usually a male that comes in with the 'deer in headlights' look going on," says Mary Conner of the Sports Rack sales staff.
Book World says today about 75 percent of their shoppers are male, a very unusual demographic any other day of the year.
"I picked up my paycheck and am doing some last minute shopping," says last minute shopper Mark Siegwart. "I need to have these wrapped probably by at least 6 p.m."
With deadlines like that, businesses are prepared.
"They don't usually talk about actually even wrapping the packages, but we make sure that everybody gets a bag because they can always tape up the bag," Conner said.
To be fair, not every man follows the same plan.
"I get out early, plan," said one male shopper.
DeCastro shopped "strategically" to find a few good choices.
"These are called 'Artic Mittens,' my mom likes to ride her bike a lot," he said. "It's like you're a Ninja Turtle, except you're a really warm Ninja Turtle."