It was down to the wire for holiday shoppers this weekend at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls.

"I love the rush for last-minute shopping. That's what I love to do. I do it every year; my wife hates it because she's an early shopper. I had to buy one last gift for family and we're ready for Christmas," said holiday shopper David Bastian.

"Well our game plan was to just get a couple of last-minute gifts for loved ones,'' said holiday shopper Jadyn Siuta.

"My strategy is: if I see it and if like it I'm going to try to get it," said Brett Backes.    

According to the National Retail Federation, 24 percent of consumers planned to finish Christmas shopping this weekend and seven percent will wrap up their holiday shopping on Christmas Eve — and retailers will be targeting those shoppers with deep discounts.

"You have to go to American Eagle here instead of the one at the other mall because everything is cheaper and you get all the great deals," said Siuta.

In Buffalo's Allentown neighborhood, small businesses like The Allen Street Dress Shop and Trend Up are also doing everything they can to attract last-minute shoppers.

"We also encourage them, once they buy something right now we give them a $5 cash card they can use from now until March 1, and they can use as cash," said Giovanni Centurione, owner of Trend Up.

"We do some sales, like we do a Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Sale which did really well. I think people come in because we have more quality clothing, we have some companies that are made in the U.S. and people like that," said Allen Street Dress Shop sales associate Rose Reimers.

So whether you decide to go to the mall or a locally-owned business, remember one thing.

"If you've got some last-minute shopping to do, get it over with tonight because it's almost over, because Santa's on his way," said Bastian.