Christmas is less than a week away, but the December shopping wave at Treat Boutique on Hillview Street is just beginning.

Usually, the women’s clothing, accessories and gifts store already has greeted its share of Christmas shoppers by the middle of December. But this month, holiday business was comparatively quiet until the past week or so, when owner Nicole Pepe-Dorn said things started to pick up.

That could all change within the next few days, though. The last few days leading up to Christmas are big for wholesale suppliers and retailers, who are ready to face consumers who’ve waited until the last minute to finish their shopping. The National Retail Federation said Wednesday that 40 percent of the 6,978 consumers surveyed expected to finish their shopping by the end of that day, but 31 percent will either finish this weekend (24 percent) or Christmas Eve (7 percent). There’s also the 4 percent of people who won’t finish shopping until after Christmas Day.

“Retailers will use every opportunity to see that shoppers have a great experience in these final few days. Whether looking for competitive prices, festive in-store events or last-minute online shipping deals, retailers are ready to deliver,” federation president and CEO Matthew Shay said in a news release.

Retail Federation breakdown

The federation’s survey found that 56 percent of holiday shoppers — or about 134 million people — plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas, known in some circles as “Super Saturday.” That’s up from the 126 million people last year.

Consumers still shopping as of Dec. 12 planned to make the rest of their purchases online (51 percent), at department stores (41 percent), discount stores (25 percent), apparel stores (21 percent), electronics stores (17 percent), local and small businesses (14 percent) and grocery stores (13 percent). Gifts purchased so far included clothing, gift cards, toys, video games, books and movies, food or candy and electronics.

Just under 40 percent of respondents said they wanted gifts of experience like spa treatments, cooking classes, wine club memberships or sports tickets.

Retailers prepare

Some big-box companies, like Walmart and Target, have this last-minute shopping thing covered. They know you’re shopping last-minute and they’re not judging — they know you’ve been busy, after all.

At Walmart, eligible items on the wholesale fashion distributors and retailer’s website will be available for online ordering and in-store pickup as long as they’re placed by at 4 p.m. Dec. 23 local time. You then have until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 to pick up your items. The company said it’s offering in-store pickup on more items than ever but individual assortments vary from store to store.

Walmart also is offering extended shipping cutoffs allowing customers to order certain things until Dec. 22 online and still receive them before Christmas. The company also has a new Dotcom Store that allows customers to place an online order for delivery or pickup right in the store if they can’t find exactly what they want.

At Target, some items are eligible for express one-day shipping on Target.com as long as they’re placed by Dec. 21. If it’s Christmas Eve and you still have gifts to buy, you can place an order on Target.com or via the Target app by 6 p.m. Dec. 24 for free, same-day in-store pickup or on the Target app by 6 p.m. for Drive Up service, which is exactly what it sounds like. If you planned ahead and placed your orders on Target.com by 11:55 Central Time on Thursday, you’re guaranteed free holiday shipping and delivery by Christmas Eve.

If you’re really, really desperate and can’t get out of the house, you can also use the Shipt app to place Target orders more than two hours before store closing and have everything delivered to you in as little as an hour.

Kohl’s, which really went for it on Thanksgiving and Black Friday by staying open through the night, also is going big for Christmas. Stores are staying open from 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Yes, you read that right. Customers on Kohls.com or the Kohl’s mobile app can choose free in-store pickup or delivery. For in-store pickup, orders have to be placed by 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and picked up by 6 p.m. local time — most of those orders are ready within an hour or two. It’s a little too late for delivery by Christmas Eve, however — those orders had to be in by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

And last but not least, online retail giant Amazon is allowing Prime members to get Prime free same-day delivery in select areas up until Christmas Eve. Dec. 22 is the last day for Prime free two-day shipping, and Dec. 23 is the last day for Prime free one-day shipping in select areas, but on Christmas Eve, Prime Now members can still get free two-hour delivery.

Up to the last minute

At Michael’s Wine Cellar on U.S. 41 near Bahia Vista Street, co-proprietor Michael Klauber said he expects business will build every day as Christmas gets closer. The wine, beer and spirits store sees a lot of Christmas shoppers and a smaller but still significant rush leading up to New Year’s Eve — including a lot of champagne sales. There’s also a lot of interest in some products, like all three Inverroche Gins from South Africa and the new Michael’s Wine Club, which just launched in October.

Leading up to Christmas, there’s a lot of last-minute shopping going on, he said. People come by on their way to a Christmas party and knock on the door after closing time.

“The gift baskets are sitting here ready to go,” Klauber said.

The week after Christmas also is a big one for retailers, according to the National Retail Federation. The trade group’s survey found 51 percent of consumers surveyed will shop from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, planning to return or exchange gifts, use gift cards and take advantage of post-holiday sales.

The week from Christmas to New Year’s has historically been a busy one for Treat, Pepe-Dorn said, but that could be different this year because of the new location.

Pepe-Dorn said she thinks Christmas tends to sneak up on people, especially in Florida where the weather is warm.

“It catches up with us in Florida because of the weather. It kind of catches up with you a little and all of a sudden you realize, it’s only eight or seven days away,” she said. “It’s been a slower start to the holiday season, but it’s still been good. People are definitely out shopping and spending and looking for the perfect gift.”