Greensboro, NC -- We've heard of Christmas in July, but not Christmas shopping in September.
At 'Me & E Gifts and Things,' A Greensboro gift boutique, the owner says more than half her customers this week have been buying Christmas gifts.
"Yesterday we had about 30 people come in which was probably about 10 percent. Maybe 20-percent above our usual and I would say maybe half of those were Christmas shoppers," said Mary Ellen Lowry, Owner, Me & E Gifts and Things. "They come in and say they're looking for stocking stuffers and that they're going to save them for Christmas, which does seem like a long time."
But Lowry isn't complaining.
"We're just really happy to have the business, we're just very excited."
Her once packed shelves are looking a little lean and she can barely keep the items in before they're out the door.
"That's why that empty spot is on the shelf because she wanted the last two to save them for Christmas," explained Lowry.
While her shoppers are a few months early, Mary Ellen says she doesn't mind getting a head start on this kind of Christmas cheer.
"This September is already looking to be better than last September," said Lowry.
Big box stores may soon see an increase in holiday shoppers too.
Just this week, several stores announced changes to their layaway policy.
Kmart is getting rid of layaway fees until November 17th.
Toys R Us is also doing free layaway but only through Halloween.
Wal-Mart lowered its layaway fee from $15 to $5 from September 16th through December 14th.
WFMY News 2