BARGAIN HUNTERS FLOCK TO THE MALL.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

VALENCIA - For Lester Arnold, the holiday shopping season had just begun Friday as he made off with a half-dozen bags of spoils culled from the post-Christmas sales at shops throughout the Valencia Town Center.

``Before Christmas, I buy little knickknacks for stocking stuffers,'' said Arnold, 39, on his way to the car to unload a second batch of dresses and slacks before returning for another round of bargain hunting. ``Right now, that's when I take care of business.''

With the holidays nearly over, retailers moved in for a final charge to attract bargain hunters and teenagers enriched by Christmas to make a last stop at their cash register. Stores reached for deep discounts - some advertised at up to 80 percent - to move remaining inventory.

While final receipts won't be tallied until January, economists estimated Antelope and Santa Clarita valley residents will spend more than $10 million at retailers during between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

``It's usually crowded the day after Christmas with bargain hunters and people spending gift certificates,'' said Charles Gill, general manager of the Town Center.

Kyle Addison, 15, rested on a bench after a shopping run, bags of shirts in hand.

``It was burning a hole in my pocket,'' he said, referring to the $250 he received for Christmas.

Instead of a baby, several shopping bags filled Victoria Carfrey's stroller, carrying household goods such as kitchen knives and bedsheets.

``I'm looking around for the 50 percent off - things that are unbelievably cheap.'' said Carfrey, 32, visiting from Oregon.

Business has been swift at The Bombay Company, said general manager Jerson Canlas. After the home-decor specialty store reopened in November at a prominent spot between the Town Center's entrance and the food court, sales have been 25 percent above company expectations.

``It's been phenomenal,'' Canlas said. ``It's been more purchases than returns. ... Right now, we're just trying to move holiday inventory. We're still at holiday levels.''

Gift certificates were especially popular this year at the Town Center, with sales up 18 percent, Gill said.

``It's more convenient,'' he said. ``Gift givers are more interested in giving something you can use or you can select on your own. ... A company might come in and buy several thousands to give to their employees, and grandparents especially because they don't really know what their grandkids want nowadays.''

Besides a substitute for cash, these gift certificates and cards act as bait to draw consumers to shops.

``A gift card actually stirs the interest of what you are going to buy,'' Gill said. ``People might apply it toward the purchase of an appliance - to have the gift certificate offset the expense.''

Town Center officials also were exploring a move from paper to plastic to capitalize growing consuming interest in prepaid cards. But Gill said it will take time to create a functional system.

``It has to work with 205 retailers,'' he said.

James Morales, 22, of Valencia enjoyed the convenience of the gift cards he received for clothier The Gap and Borders Books. But he doesn't mind actual gifts despite the chore of having to return an item the next day.

``Nothing could replace what a gift is for,'' he said, while waiting in line to exchange a sweater. ``It's something from family.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) Victoria Carfrey uses a stroller to carry her bags while on a post-Christmas bargain hunt at the Valencia Town Center on Friday.

(2) Lester Arnold, at the Valencia Town Center on Friday, says he likes to wait until after the holiday to buy bigger items because they're usually on sale. ``Before Christmas, I buy little knickknacks for stocking stuffers,'' said Arnold. ``Right now, that's when I take care of business.''

(3) Cullen West, Kyle Addison and Wendy West, from left, take a break Friday while shopping at the Town Center.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer