By Chris Mayhew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - If you've decided to head out into the throng of shoppers, commit yourself.

Take a few deep breaths. Smile.

Don't let traffic slowdowns in the Mall Road area get to you.

"It's really a mind-set thing," says Florence Police Lt. Tim Chesser. "Realize: There are a lot of people out. Don't lose your temper. Take a little extra time to be aware of your surroundings."

In Florence alone, the holiday shopping season attracts countless shoppers to Mall Road and the retail area surrounding it.

Florence Mall expects some 1.2 million shoppers between today and Christmas Eve, said marketing coordinator Windy Robinson.And that's just those coming into the mall.

Some shoppers were out this week trying to buy their gifts early.

"This is the first year I've been this far ahead," said Betty Martin, 47, of Walton, who was at Florence Mall. "I started months ago."

Martin tried to get her shopping done early to avoid some of the traffic.

"Even right now and the beginning of last week, the traffic was just so bad," she said.

Robert Pratt, 45, of Union, said he tries to finish in early November to avoid bad traffic.

"When traffic shows up, I try not to go to the mall," Pratt said.

He said the day after Thanksgiving and Saturdays and Sundays during the holidays are not the days to be near the mall.

Nancy Wood, from the local office of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, suggests taking Mall Road exit 180A off I-75 to relieve traffic instead of Ky. 18 exit 181 or U.S. 42 exit 180.

"That can relieve some of the congestion that is usually caught on 18 or 42," Wood said.

Today is only the beginning of the buying frenzy.

Holiday shopping facts based on data from the Purdue Retail Institute, the National Retail Federation and the International Council of Shopping Centers show that the busiest days of the shopping year come in December - generally right before Christmas.

Police and local retailers are trying to ensure a good experience.

Florence Mall provides escorts to those worried about going to their car at night - just go to a customer-service desk and ask.

Many stores are hiring off-duty Florence police officers, and the city will have extra police on duty.

That's not all, Chesser said.

Citizens Serving Florence will be out in marked, former police cars, armed with cell phones. The citizens are residents who've been through the police department's Citizens Academy.

Shop safely, Florence police remind:

•  Take one credit card, little if any cash.

•  Leave your purse behind.

•  Hide purchases you leave in your vehicle.

•  Don't hesitate to ask police or security officers for help.

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E-mail cmayhew@enquirer.com