Channel 10 Rewind: Arizona holiday shopping (1986–1989) | Video Vault

Hardware stores like Walt’s Ace Hardware are becoming an unexpected destination for creative 1986 Christmas shopping, offering unique gifts like drill press stands, grindstones, and cutoff wheels for sawing bricks. Many shoppers intentionally seek out practical hardware items for gifts, proving that tools and supplies can be a welcome and handy present.

The crowds at Park Central Mall in 1986 are impressive, we meet a family from Chandler who had been shopping since 8:00 AM across multiple stores. The mother, Sandy, enjoyed the long "shop ’til you drop" experience despite her aching feet, while her husband, Rick, managed to buy a few items, including an "Ernest P. Worrell’s Book of Knowledge."

Despite economic concerns slowing some shoppers, 1987 Arizona holiday sales are up 1 to 5% over last year, with stock market problems not impacting retail sales. This year’s trend is focused on purchasing clothing and electronic items like Casio and Yamaha keyboards, alongside a major comeback for expensive Nintendo video games.

During the busy 1987 holiday season, shoppers are advised to use common sense to protect their valuables from thieves by securing handbags under their arm and carrying wallets in their front pockets. Key safety tips include keeping packages held tightly against the chest, locking valuables in the car trunk, avoiding flashing large amounts of cash, and having car keys ready before entering parking lots.

Despite local competition and customer loss to larger cities, Prescott merchants saw a 1988 record day due to snow deterring shoppers from driving to Phoenix. While some customers, especially those on fixed incomes, planned to spend less due to the economy, overall sales are predicted to be up 5%, with big increases in children’s items and men’s basic clothing.Fiesta Mall is extremely crowded with last-minute shoppers for Christmas 1988, making it difficult to find parking, though the day after Thanksgiving is changing from the traditionally busiest shopping day. Mall officials attribute a dramatic increase in traffic this week to Christmas falling on a Sunday and expect to exceed last holiday season’s traffic.

Retailers are crossing their fingers, hoping a year of strategy will pay off during this 1989 highest-volume weekend of the year, which is driven by a mix of bargain hunters, procrastinators, and people looking ahead to spring fashions. To capture last-minute buyers, retailers are focusing on convenience and creativity by offering already wrapped gifts, attractive gift baskets, and novel, good-value plush toys like "Santa bouncing started."

The day after Thanksgiving 1989 is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, with crowds flocking to malls to shop and witness the arrival of Santa Claus. Helicopter footage over Fiesta Mall showed the parking lot was completely packed, indicating heavy traffic and long delays for anyone planning to shop today.

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