Procrastination, bad weather before the holidays and the feeling there are no other options left are just a few of the reasons given by last-minute shoppers in Aurora still seeking to buy holiday gifts as the clock ticks down to Christmas.
J. R. Zamora of Chicago said that when it comes to Christmas shopping “it’s been tough because of work and being busy.”
“I have to admit, though, that I’m a last-minute guy,” Zamora said Monday while shopping at the Chicago Premium Outlets mall in Aurora. “Even when I was in college doing homework or a paper, I would always wait until the last week but I’d always get it done. Shopping for me is kind of like doing homework. I’m only about halfway now.”
Steven Yee, general manager of Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, said “last-minute holiday shopping is still very strong now.”
“I think the mall guests are looking for convenience, flexibility and experiences they can all complete in one trip,” Yee said. “I think a lot of them are prioritizing gifts cards, beauty, apparel and experiential gifts. In addition to that, we have some extended hours and in-store promotions as well as same-day shopping options. I think people bank on that.”
Kristina Arias, senior director of marketing at Fox Valley Mall, said as the holiday shopping season nears its end, people would rather purchase things in-person rather than buy them online and hope they get delivered in time for Christmas.
“The last-minute shopper wants those certainties and buying in person really gives them back that control,” she said. “They can see the product, they can take it home, they can wrap it and eliminate the stress of delays or any risk.”
Arias said “the last-minute shopper is just looking to maximize efficiency.”
“They are being able to complete that holiday shopping list and also add dining and experiences into one trip. Again, it reduces the stress and makes it feel easier and just more enjoyable,” she said.
Kelsey Hughes of Rockford was shopping at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora on Monday with her mother and said since they “both have the day off we thought we’d do some shopping.”
Both mentioned another reason for last-minute shopping: buying for yourself now that others’ gifts have all been bought.
“I don’t have anyone left to really buy for, we’re kind of just looking now for ourselves,” Hughes said. “We took care of everyone else and now it’s our turn. For me, I wanted some clothes and some basketball shoes that I haven’t found yet.”
Kelsey’s mother Carol Hughes of Loves Park said she is sometimes a last-minute shopper.
“It’s called procrastination,” she said. “I admit sometimes you need the pressure to find that perfect gift. Sometimes, it’s hard to find but when you have to you always do.”
J. R. Zamora of Chicago shops Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Chicago Premium Outlets mall in Aurora. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)
Nabeel Ali, owner of Nali Jewelers at Fox Valley Mall, said jewelry remains a go-to item for some last-minute shoppers “because one, it’s beautiful, and two, you can never go wrong with it.”
“Jewelry is something that expresses peoples’ true emotion and sentiments because it takes a lot of work and skill to put it together, whether it’s a $99 charm or a $20,000 ring,” he said. “The affection that goes in there is priceless.
“We always expect to see more people the last few days and it’s never failed,” Ali said. “For the past 20-plus years in the business, we schedule everybody to work long hours because we expect we’ll be busy and we’ve never been wrong.”
Ali said that shoppers “wait until the last moment because they don’t know what to get.”
“It’s the idea of what can I get to impress the individual, whether it’s a 5-year-old kid or an 85-year-old grandmother,” he said.
John Dorgan of Shorewood was at Fox Valley Mall on Monday trying to finish shopping for his wife.
“I procrastinated on her but we’ve got most of the other shopping done,” he said while waiting for his wife who was inside a nearby store. “I’m still trying to find something good for her.”
He said that over the years he has tended to be a last-minute Christmas shopper.
“It puts things in perspective” he said. “You can figure out what’s important and what you should be looking for and kind of narrow your choices.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
