storm did not occur the day before christmas to affect the last minute rush by the last minute shoppers. >>trace: is that a silver lining or more good news? >>reporter: the silver lining is for online retailers. if folks are stuck at home and the stores are closed and they want to use a different card or something like that, online, this is the week after christmas is a big time for exchanges, returns, and gift cards because they are very go deals there, retailers are offering discounts to clear out the christmas inventory, they also are offering the discounts online, so, if you cannot use your gift card at the store you can use it online or shop to your heart's content on the sprpt by sitting at home right next to the fire. >>trace: which is the best way. what about the overall holiday shopping season, how was it? >>reporter: the national retail federation said this would be projected to be the best holiday shopping season