Black Friday Deals

MURFREESBORO — The push to get holiday shoppers into area stores that began in earnest weeks ago will reach a fever pitch this week with the imminent arrival of Black Friday.
What's more, the traditional day after Thanksgiving Day shopping sales will begin earlier than ever this year — at midnight Friday, to be exact. Stores such as Target, Best Buy and Kohl's are opening at 12 a.m. Friday, some four or five hours before other businesses will begin admitting Black Friday shoppers camped out in the cold.
"It's exciting. People are friendly and talk to you while you are in line. It's just fun," said local shopper Trinace Cambell.
She definitely won't be alone in enjoying the early holiday shopping rush.
According to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 34 percent of consumers said they plan to shop on Black Friday. That number is up slightly over last year when 31 percent of consumers indicated that they planned to shop, and it is significantly up over 2009's 26 percent.
The self-proclaimed "queen of shopping early," Cambell began searching for great gifts after last Christmas. She picked up a couple shopping stuffers at Target earlier this week, but said she usually looks forward to the after-Thanksgiving sales as a way to complete her holiday shopping.
"I haven't really noticed a lot of things being on sale yet," she said.
Many retailers have been trying to get a leg up on Black Friday by offering one-day and pre-Thanksgiving weekend sales to encourage consumers to stop in before Black Friday as a way to boost sluggish sales. But, according to Sears store manager Shari Ollig, many were just looking.
"We are seeing a lot of people coming in to look and check out what we have to prepare for the after-Thanksgiving sales," Ollig said.
Employees at the department store located inside the Stones River Mall were unloading a truck of merchandise for the day's sales on Wednesday.
Sears will be opening its doors at 4 a.m. Friday.
Ollig said she was surprised to see some retailers opening at midnight and wondered how many people would actually begin shopping that late at night — or early, as the case may be.
"It might be better for us in the long run if shoppers start at other stores opening at midnight and then come here. We'll be keeping the tradition of the early day after-Thanksgiving sales," she said.
While there have been a good number of shoppers already scooping up deals for holiday gifts at JC Penneys, assistant store manager Jay Bolden said revenue numbers look "comparable" to last year.
"We have seen shoppers getting started, but not like we'll see after Thanksgiving," Bolden said. "The majority will wait to do most of their shopping then to get the best deals."
Bolden said JC Penneys has successfully marketed itself as an affordable, yet fashionable place to shop.
"We have right-priced merchandise, and many people are recognizing us as a national brand that provides the big name lines with affordable pricing," Bolden said.
Earl James, assistant manager of Kmart on Broad Street, said shoppers have not been biting at the pre-sales offered by many department stores.
"People are holding off. Money is tight, they are going to wait for the best deals," he said.
Kmart plans to offer several "early bird" specials to shoppers arriving at 5 a.m. Friday.
Another method many stores are using to entice shoppers this season is layaway.
"I think is such a good idea," said Shirley Cross, who wandered through TJ Maxx Wednesday. "When you have small children and money is tight, it can be really handy."
Kmart has been running a big advertising campaign to alert consumers to its layaway plans.
"We have two options: an 8-week and a 12-week payment plan. For the 12-week, you have to spend $300 or more," James said. "People have been very receptive, especially to the 12-week plan when buying electronics like TVs."