SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- Shoppers have five weekends left before Christmas. It is the most wonderful time of the year if you ask Terri Schuver. "The music's fun, the atmosphere's fun, the store looks great, customers are in a great mood," Schuver said. She's the owner of Sticks and Steel in downtown Sioux Falls. USPS to invest $12 million in Sioux Falls facility So far she says the holiday shopping season is going better than she expected. "It's been a softer year, I think, in retail in general, and so you never know what the fourth quarter will bring, but we've been pleasantly surprised. We're very appreciative," Schuver said. Holiday shopping is well underway at Child's Play Toys too. "We have been wrapping Christmas presents for weeks now," Savage said. Owner Nancy Savage says the season is great so far, and it follows what's been a mostly consistent year for sales. "People are out shopping, getting ideas, and people are buying right now," Savage said. Whether holiday shoppers buying stuffed animals or Swiftie-inspired items, the support all adds up during a critical time of year for retailers. "We do a huge portion of our business on November and December, and so it's really important to get that going and have a big holiday season," Savage said. "The Christmas season is very important," Schuver said. Small Business Saturday is next weekend. The annual event encourages people to support local businesses.