Stores around Napier are beginning to deck the halls, as they prepare for the mad rush of shoppers ahead of Christmas.
Paymark figures suggest Hawke's Bay is set for a busy time - with 2016 data showing shopping in the last week before Christmas in Hawke's Bay was 171 per cent above average. In contrast Wellington was only 49 per cent above average.
However, Napier CBD is already getting into the spirit, with many organised people beginning their Christmas shopping from Labour Weekend, Napier City Business Inc manager Zoe Barnes said.
"But for those less prepared people the heat comes in to the retail sector during the month of December, particularly in the week or two prior to the big day."
To prepare for the Christmas rush, by this time of year many retailers were receiving their Christmas stock deliveries - ordered months ago - hiring extra staff, decorating windows and shop displays, and "generally bracing for the madness".