Stores hope to ring up sales with post-holiday shopping

Sleigh bells may have stopped ringing, but stores and malls throughout southwestern Connecticut are hoping post-holiday shoppers kept the music going at cash registers.
The Westfield Connecticut Post Mall opened its doors early for shoppers looking for post-holiday deals. Regional Mall Director Lee Sterling said bargain hunters had plenty of deals to choose from.
Others are expected to make returns or exchanges and use those gift cards, which are growing in popularity each year.
?Believe it or not, gift card sales are up 40 percent from where they were three years ago,? Sterling said.
Sterling said shoppers returning gifts should bring a receipt or gift receipt. If you?re not in a rush, remember that some stores will accept returns through the end of January.