Busy theme parks?  Blame the tourists.

Traffic  jams? Blame the tourists.

Crowded beaches? Ditto.

Best shopping after the holidays? Absolutely ditto.

Orlando’s unique surge in tourism during January means larger inventory and better deals at local malls for area consumers, according to retail experts.

“Normally, after the holiday season, the inventory levels would be low (because) you’re making room for the spring merchandise and new collections,” said Brenda Lounsberry, marketing director for the Mall at Millenia.  “Here we maintain those levels through the month of January.”

Lounsberry attributes the healthy level of inventory directly to the huge influx of mostly foreign tourists who arrive in January.  Their demand means additional supply for local consumers, as well.

“We’re getting another shot of inventory in right after Christmas so we’re ready for the tourists that come through in January,” said Gabriele Gannaway, the vice-president and general manager of the Mall at Millenia Neiman Marcus.

Gannaway said there will be plenty of merchandise for locals, as well, looking to spend their gift cards.

“We’re really stocked up in lots of categories,” she said.  “Fragrance (for example), and we have resort wear  that’s very colorful in women’s clothing.”

Gannaway promised there will be no empty shelves or picking over scraps that is common after the holiday season in other parts of the country.

April Meeks, store manager at jewelry seller Pandora, told Local 6 that while her shop will be hit by the tourism rush after the holidays it will also be a great time for local consumers to stop by.

“I think a lot of locals come in in January,” she said.  “December is Christmas.  So they want to come in when it’s not so busy and we can actually take more time with the customers.”

That same trend is familiar to the people at Mont Blanc, a specialty gift boutique in the Mall at Millenia.

“January is a key month.  Also February,” said Darrin Plesh, Mont Blanc’s store manager.

The store, which is one of the top producers in a 33-store network introduces many new products after the holidays while maintaining current inventory.

“Living in Orlando and coming to our boutique, you’re going to see more in our boutique versus a store in Pennsylvania or another place in the U-S.”

There’s even better news.  The after-season effect is not limited to January.  The Orlando retail market gets another jump in inventory during another traditionally slower period of the year.  Experts say the summer tourist season brings more prime shopping for local consumers.  Once again, the tourists will be mobbing our theme parks, jamming our traffic, crowding our beaches, and demanding a large, fresh supply of all our favorite merchandise.