Large queues were reported at Smyths Toys stores across Ireland last week as people looked to get some early Christmas shopping in.
The renowned retail giant released its list of toys for the festive season in recent weeks, which combined with fear of more restrictions, led to people flocking to shops nationwide.
The popular franchise had to assure customers that it has large levels of stocks in a bid to prevent massive crowds gathering at once.
In a statement, the company said: "To all our customers: We have good levels of stock with more arriving each week.
"We expect our stores to remain open. Please continue to observe social distancing and wear masks when shopping."
But to try help you out with your shopping, we've taken a look at the best times to shop at the chain.
Analysing Google Data from some of the country's largest Smyths locations, we established that the busiest times for shopping tend to be between 12pm and 4pm.
So if you're looking to do some Christmas shopping this week, your best bet at avoiding large queues will be to shop between 9am and 12pm, or between 4pm and 9pm, at which time most stores close.
However, it is worth nothing that depending on where you live, opening hours will vary, so make sure you double-check closing times at your closest store.
