WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Shoppers came out in a steady stream to Valley Junction on Black Friday. Stores were busy, even as the temperature was in the 20’s outside.

Cathryn Hickey has run her Memory Lane store here for nine years.

 “It’s kind of the kick off to the season,” said Hickey. “I feel that you know with Black Friday you’re starting your Christmas shopping, you know really you’re getting out there and shopping.”

Hickey said the shopping is now picking up.

“I’m not getting into politics but with the election, you know it was slower so hopefully now the election is done so people are out finally shopping and getting into the holidays,” said Hickey.

Now it’s becoming more accepted that people shop both online and in person.

“Amazon, whatever I find, wherever I see, it if my kids like it, I will buy it,” said Stacey Molgaard, of Council Bluffs.”

 “I’m pretty much done. This is just a last minute That I literally saw in the window and said I gotta go check it out,”

Molgaard said all of her presents are already wrapped.