It's a gift.

Some people leap into holiday shopping, others would rather put it off until the last minute and brave Christmas Eve crowds. It seems the stores put up their seasonal displays earlier each year, but malls get more crowded as the big day approaches. So the Business Journal asks:

How are you approaching holiday shopping this year?

Joy Lissandrello

Executive Producer

Electronic Press Kit Department

Trailer Park

I'm a search-and-destroy mission shopper. I'll go and do a quick sweep of the mall, make a short list and then go back and shop. I've become last-minute, I might do the actual shopping a day or two before. The best are the stocking stuffers, those are the most fun. I get those at Costco. They actually have these little packs of Nutella that are great.

Harvey Knell 

President

KCB Management

I'm lucky, I have a lovely wife who does most of the shopping for the family. But I do already have a gift for my wife, I happened to be in the right place at the right time. Every once in awhile I'll figure out something way ahead of time that my wife or one of my children would really like and I'll buy it and put it away.

Jasvina Gill

Executive Vice President, Client Services

Weston Mason

I think people will be more conservative this year, based on what's going on in the world. I don't think there will be many big-ticket items, I think people will be giving the gift of time.

Kaylee Kiecker

Director of Entertainment Sales

Shutters and Casa

I usually try to do as much online as I can, but there's been a lot of refurbishment of the malls here lately, at Century City and Topanga. I think it's going to be fun to get out and do my shopping there. I'm also going to the Hollywood & Highland area during the Christmas parade.

Susan Grossinger

Director of Interiors

HOK

I'm one of those obnoxious people that started in August. I'd say I'm about 80 percent done. I hate crowded malls and I don't like shopping online. Once Thanksgiving hits, it's all over. I like shopping early to find unique items that you just can't find later on.

Helen Malani

Chief Shopping Expert

Shopzilla.com

I haven't started yet, but I'm looking forward to buying for my nieces and nephews. There are some really exciting new product releases for children this year, a great new digital camera from Fisher Price and the new Elmo is a scream.

James Sunderland 

Executive Producer

Fremantle Media NA

I am usually very organized in planning my Christmas shopping. However, having recently moved to Los Angeles from London, I am still settling in, and Christmas has completely escaped me. I think I will hit Melrose for stores like Paul Smith, Energize and Fred Segal, but the bulk of my purchases will come from online stores such as Amazon. The great thing about doing all my shopping here in the U.S. is that everything is so much cheaper. So all my friends and family will be getting bigger and better presents, but I will be making a savings. Don't tell them that though.