By Benjamin Wilson
With their bellies still digesting turkey and pumpkin pie, and wallets and purses locked and loaded with credit cards, shoppers venture out into the crisp November morning to take on America’s biggest shopping day: Black Friday.
Serving as the most profitable day of the year for retailers, Black Friday is a reference to a company’s shift into the black of their profits. But, as the economy is still on the mend from a recession, retail stores are slashing prices even more than usual, to move their products out the doors as fast as possible.
Best Buy serves as one example of retailers passing savings on to customers. The Outer Loop location, in Louisville, Ky, had a line that stretched across eight storefronts, as people waited for $200 laptops, $50 digital cameras and $100 GPS systems. Savings like these, on highly sought-after products, allow customers to stretch their holiday budgets.
“It’s always nice to get a good deal on Christmas gifts,” said Darryl Perkins, a Black Friday shopper.
Louisville’s Oxmoor Mall was not as full as some shoppers expected. With parking spaces available, stores like Macy’s, Sears and the Apple Store saw fewer people cramming themselves into retail’s most popular spaces for the latest sale items. The less-than-stellar foot traffic through the mall’s stores made shopping quick and easy, allowing customers to have valuable one-on-one time with the stores’ associates, which is rarely seen on Black Friday.
“Honestly, it wasn’t too bad this morning,” said Tyler Hundley, a freshman undecided major. “I expected it to be a lot more crowded.”
Even stores such as Dick’s Sporting Goods seemed like a walk in the park to many customers — as people waited in line for less than five minutes — making gift purchases that much easier as customers took on the biggest shopping day of the year.
Malls have seen fewer people due to the popularity of online shopping. Shoppers can experience the same door-busting sales and products, from the comfort of their own homes.
“I would prefer to do all my shopping online,” said Zach Wolfe, a sophomore business major. “Waking up at 2:30 a.m. to stand in line outside of a store in the cold doesn’t sound fun to me.”
Black Friday can be a too much of a nuisance for some, but with a few tips they can avoid pushy crowds, long lines and those early morning shopping excursions.
1. Shop throughout the year. If there is a great deal on something a loved one or friend might like, even if it’s in the middle of summer, pick it up.
2. Online shopping. Sit in a chair, grab a cup of coffee or cocoa, and surf the Web for the latest and greatest deals. Most online stores offer free shipping during the holidays.
3. Gift Certificates. These are always a great idea for those who are hard to shop for.
4. Vacations. Many people around the world go on vacation during the holiday season. This is a great way for families to spend quality time together.
5. Secret Santa. Buying gifts for every member of the family can be costly. But if everyone draws a single name out of a hat, and sets a $50 limit, it will cost much less.
