East Las Vegas families and a longtime holiday store face rising costs, shipping delays and hiring trouble before the season

What happened

KTNV reported that holiday preparations are already underway across East Las Vegas, even though the season is still weeks away. For some families and local businesses, the station reported, this year's celebrations are also bringing financial pressure and other challenges. The story focused on one mother of four and a longtime neighborhood business that sells Christmas trees and decorations.

Families feel the strain of higher prices

A mother of four planning on a tight budget

Jessica Savage, whose four children are all under the age of 12, told KTNV that higher everyday expenses are making it hard to plan for Christmas. She said she wants to give her kids everything but feels very limited because of how expensive things have become. "I'm not even looking forward to Christmas this year," Savage told the station.

Savage said the holidays have grown more stressful as costs keep piling up. The financial pressure, she said, has changed how she feels about the season as a whole.

A school program filled the gap last year

Last year, Savage said, she was not able to buy Christmas presents for her children. Instead, the family got help through a program at the children's school, which she said provided her kids about 10 presents each. She told KTNV her children were happy with what they received.

A longtime local business faces its own hurdles

Shipping delays

Ralph Jones Display and Store Fixtures, a longtime East Las Vegas business that sells Christmas trees and decorations, has also been getting ready for its busy season, KTNV reported. Co-owner Kate Jones said the store ran into some shipping problems this year that caused a delay.

Trouble finding seasonal workers

Jones told KTNV that one of the store's biggest challenges has been hiring seasonal employees. According to the station, she estimated the business has gone through close to 200 applications, and in her own words it has been "probably over 200." She described applicants who did not follow through: "People said they were going to show up for the interview, and most of them never showed up."

Aiming for a range of price points

Despite those problems, Jones said the store is trying to offer holiday merchandise at prices that work for different shoppers. "We don't want to be just that high-end business," she told KTNV. She added that the goal is for everybody to be able to shop at Ralph Jones.

A shared message about the season

Both women told KTNV that the holidays do not have to center on what is under the tree. Jones said, "The memories are the most important," explaining that belongings can disappear or be lost while memories stay with people.

Savage said she is trying to pass a similar lesson to her children as the family faces another holiday season on a limited budget. She said she wants them to be humble and to appreciate what they have instead of worrying about what they do not have.

Where families can find help

KTNV directed families looking for holiday assistance to a list of holiday programs at helpsonv.org/holiday-programs. More stories about local residents and resources are available in our community section and our neighborhoods coverage.

What to watch next

• The holiday season itself, which KTNV noted is still weeks away as East Las Vegas families and businesses prepare.
• Whether Ralph Jones Display and Store Fixtures fills the seasonal positions it has been trying to hire for.
• Holiday assistance programs listed at helpsonv.org/holiday-programs for families who need help this year.