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Article snippet: Gina Mezzacappa avoided the mall for her holiday shopping, but an ill-fitting pair of Michael Kors boots brought her back this week. The shoes, a gift for her daughter, had come from Macy’s website, but Ms. Mezzacappa visited the Galleria at White Plains to return them in person. By the time she got her $50 back, she had spent $300 on other items. Christmas is over, but holiday shopping is still in full swing. The final stretch of December, traditionally a slow period used by retailers to purge outdated inventory, is generating so much traffic and sales that some chains are calling it the 13th Month or the Second Season. It is a recognition of the swarms of consumers who are flooding back into shops and websites on a rising tide of returns, exchanges and gift cards. The day after Christmas was most likely the fourth-busiest shopping day of the season this year, behind Black Friday and the two Saturdays before the holiday, according to Shoppertrak. The Saturday after Christmas is expected to be the ninth-busiest day. Five years ago, only 5 percent of consumers planned to shop after Christmas, according to a Deloitte survey. This year, nearly 40 percent will. Retailers, as they do every year, are discounting leftover stacks of reindeer-emblazoned sweaters. But some are also displaying new merchandise at full price to attract impulse buyers emboldened by store credit and confidence in the economy. Seasonal workers are being assigned longer shifts. Stores are extendi... Link to the full article to read more