“I love Black Friday but I’m not all about the chaos”, said shopper Kandy Pike.
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“I was looking for 70 percent off”, she said. About 135.8 million Americans are expected to shop in stores or online over the four-day weekend, according to the National Retail Federation, the largest US retail trade organization.
Discount retailer Gabriel Brothers – which has a new Lancaster store at East Towne Center – remained closed this year on Thanksgiving, opening instead at 6 a.m. today.
Mr. Jackson and other shoppers along the Broadhead Road retail strip around the Beaver Valley Mall said they have had to adjust to a holiday shopping period that is increasingly less about just Black Friday than it is about multiple sales that can begin on Wednesdays at the brick-and-mortar stores as a way to compete with the convenience of online shopping.
Despite the availability of shopping by Internet, as well as a steady rain, several hundred shoppers lined up at the Kohl’s store in Chicago’s Vernon Hills to await its 6 p.m. opening Thursday.
Of course Black Friday now starts on Thanksgiving night at some big box stores.
“There are some customers coming to the door earlier this morning”, said one retailer. That helps retailers better manage inventory, staffing and other challenges.
For Jody Lewis and Debbie Hurst, sisters-in-law from Windsor, Black Friday is a 17-year tradition. Over the entire Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 59% of consumers will turn to online shopping, up from the 52% in 2014.
Retailers use the anticipation of Black Friday sales promotions to strengthen their profits during the holiday shopping season and to lure shoppers to their establishments.
“I thought it was going to be a lot more packed”, she said.
“You can check online”, she said.
Jorgette Clark, 27, said her budget would probably be lower this year because her husband works in the energy industry.
In response, Wal-Mart and Target made all deals available later in the stores online Thanksgiving morning.
Nedra McDaniel – who writes a blog called Adventure Mom – says many things are actually cheaper after Black Friday.
One time you don’t want to wait for a better deal is for something so hot that it may sell out, such as Star Wars toys this year, or Disney Frozen dolls last year.
The post-Thanksgiving deals that kick off retail’s busiest season have been a staple of the holiday in the United States for years. The group agreed that this was more of a social activity for them, an opportunity to take a break from family at home.
Michelle Rodriguez, manager of the Best Buy, said the line was longer on Thanksgiving when it stretched all the way to John R. About 450 people were waiting to get in when it opened at 5 p.m. I thought maybe the line would be a few blocks.
“We won’t do Thanksgiving”, Jett said.
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Those stores also benefited from a record 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday and a successful Halloween season.
