After a positive December, Whakatāne businesses are feeling good going into the final shopping weekend before Christmas.

Many stores planned to be involved in last night’s late-night Christmas shopping event and will open their doors on Sunday.

Jewelz owner Angelia Le Sueur said they were feeling optimistic and planned to open the store every day until Christmas.

“We have gift wrapping and Christmas decorations available; we pride ourselves on Christmas – we love it, and we have the prettiest tree in town,” she said.

Tomorrow Store and Stirling Sports owner Åsa Scholtens said business was “not too bad”.

She said both stores were “ticking along”, but things seemed slower than last year.

“Sometimes Christmas people are very organised, and sometimes people wait until the week before, you never know if you’re going to get a rush on Christmas Eve,” she said.

It is Tomorrow Store’s first Christmas, and she has discovered it is more of a “me” store, where customers primarily buy for themselves.

“We have had a few mothers buying for daughters, partners buying gift cards or taking pictures of clothes,” she said.

Both Stirling Sports and Tomorrow will be open until 3pm on Christmas Eve.

Appliance Plus owner Kristy Jury said the community had always supported her business by shopping local.

“This month has been an upturn,” she said.

Co-owner of Full Cycle Bikes Michaela Wellauer said the start of December was busy for the store, but things had slowed down this week.

“The feeling around town is more positive than last year,” she said.

Full Cycle Bikes and several other stores on The Strand will be open on Sunday in the lead up to Christmas.

“We’ve got lots of stock; fingers crossed people go shopping,” she said.

Paper Plus owner Graham Dennis quickly shouted out business was “great” and encouraged people to support local between serving customers but otherwise was too busy to talk.

The Good Life manager Jenny Nathan said the lead up to Christmas for the gift store had gone “really, really well for quite a few weeks”.

“With visitors coming in for Christmas, hopefully more people will be shopping,” she said.

Presentables owner Joss Foster said they were starting to see consistently good days and were also opening on Sundays.

“It’s about creating an opportunity for those who work a six-day week and maybe don’t have a chance to go shopping,” she said.

“Thanks to everyone for supporting local; it makes all the difference in the world to a small business like us,” she said.

Renshaws contributed to the Christmas spirit by giving out $1000 vouchers to three lucky customers today.

Owner Hayley Cobb said the town seemed to be busy, and Renshaws had sold a lot of Christmas presents.

“It’s been good. We get to make people happy,” she said.

Pattersons director Iryna Riazantseva is wishing everyone a Christmas filled with peace and love.

“May this season bring joy to your hearts and warmth to your homes,” she said.

Shoppers this season are also focusing on supporting local businesses.

Jade Adams said she had two sons with Christmas adjacent birthdays on the 23^rd and 27^th.

“This year I’ve decided to go with one awesome present for their birthdays, and for Christmas just go all out on food hampers,” she said.

“Shopping local is my main thing.”

Vicky Denize has saved all her shopping tasks for this coming weekend.

“I’ve been so busy, and with three kids it’s hard to find time to go shopping without them. I think it’ll be a couple of late nights this weekend,” she said.

She said the year feels different financially for a lot of people.

“I’ve told the kids they are not getting the same amount of presents they normally get,” she said.

Carla Mitchell has also been shopping for less expensive gifts.

“I’m mostly done, I have a few bits and pieces left to go. We’re shopping locally, mostly at the Hub because everything’s a bit closer together,” she said.

Erin Hedges completed her Christmas shopping in October and November.

“My kids are into electronics; I’ve been shopping online and locally during the Black Friday sales."

She said this year she also managed to buy herself a Christmas present for the first time – a purple Instax polaroid camera.

“I wanted it to take photos with my parents and keep those memories. I have a polaroid picture with my Nana, and they fit so perfectly in my wallet,” she said.