We're still three weeks away from one of the traditionally biggest shopping days of the year, but many stores in our area are getting a head start on those sales. Now it's having an impact on the job market here in the QCA.

With more stores offering steep discounts earlier in the season. many have had to hire their seasonal employees earlier. That's because with money running tight these days, stores are focusing their efforts on the customer more now than ever before.

We are starting out our holiday season today with the biggest sale of them all and this will be a great barometer of how sales are going to be going forward," says Dawn Butler, Asst. Manager at JC Penney's in South Park Mall.

Butler says she's already hired a lot of extra help to prepare for this weekend but hasn't filled all the available positions just yet."Since we're starting Christmas so early, it gives people the ability to shop early and be able to enjoy Christmas and enjoy the holidays," says Shawn Pfister, a volunteer with the Christmas Cottage.

"We are anticipating the need to be a little higher and we have really bulked up our staffing," she says. "We are seeing young people out of college, we are seeing people getting a second job, so these are all wonderful, positive signs."

It hasn't hurt that sales for the month of October were up at Penney's South Park Mall location.

Butler says with money running tight for most families. Her store is banking on having more people to help the customer find what they need and possibly get them to come back later on.

"It's to serve the customer," Butler says. "The customer hasn't got much money to spend and we want to help her get the best for her dollar."

Other places are banking on people's desire to get their shopping over with early on.

The Christmas Cottage in Davenport is only going to be open for a week, and they only have volunteers, but in this economy they say shoppers need a break from the annual holiday stress. Customers are telling them they want to get their Christmas decoration shopping over with now so Santa doesn't bring them a ball of stress on the big day.

While there are still jobs available, stores say they're receiving a record number of applications for the openings so you need to get your resume in soon if you're interested.