Black Friday profit may gray this year

By Don Shilling

Retailers extend season of super sales

Retailers struggling in a down economy are starting to make every day seem like the day after Thanksgiving.

Local stores are gearing up for a rush of customers on Black Friday, but a shopping expert said that won’t be the only day to save money.

“There are still going to be some fantastic sales, but Black Friday is going to be a day when a lot of people will say, ‘Let’s wait for another sale,’” said Dan de Grandpre, editor-in-chief of dealnews.com.

Black Friday — so named because it is said to be the day that kicks off retailers’ most profitable season — features large discounts that lure shoppers. This year, however, retailers have been rolling out discounts early, and shoppers may sense there are more good deals to come, he said.

Kmart started offering products at what it calls “Black Friday prices” earlier in the month, and CVS is holding a weeklong “Black Friday” promotion. Other retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Toys “R” Us, aren’t using the Black Friday label but have moved up certain discounts.

Observant shoppers already have found deals on electronics and apparel, de Grandpre said. He’s seen a 42-inch LCD television advertised for $500 and a $140 Blu-ray DVD player.

On the other hand, those shopping for toys would be wise to wait, he said. Toys will be at their cheapest in one to two weeks as retailers look to unload their inventory, he said.

Still, de Grandpre said shoppers will be out in full force when the stores open early on Black Friday. And store Web sites will be jammed.

De Grandpre predicts, however, that those shoppers won’t be buying as much as in previous years.

Officials at area stores said they are waiting to see if the economy will affect Black Friday shopping in the Mahoning Valley.

T.J. Carkido, operations manager at Circuit City in Boardman, said he is hoping it will be a strong day because sales have been holding steady despite the slowing economy.

The store will open at 5 a.m., but shoppers normally start lining up about midnight. The line usually grows so large that it extends down the side of the store and part way around back.

“They wait patiently in line even in the cold weather,” Carkido said.

About 4 a.m., store workers pass out vouchers for products on sale so that shoppers enter the store calmly.

Crowds will continue throughout the day, Carkido said.

“They are in the holiday spirit. They expect the busiest day. There are lines, and there are waits. They do understand that,” he said.

Nicole Potts, a supervisor at Best Buy in Boardman, said only a few people are irritated by the crowded store on Black Friday.

“Most people are energetic. They’re happy to be out. They come every year. It’s a tradition for them,” she said.

Best Buy also opens at 5 a.m. and normally has a line that starts to form before midnight. Some people even bring coolers and tents.

The store is prepared to handle just as many shoppers this Friday as it has in years past.

“We’re hoping that, with the economy the way it is, we still will have a really good day,” Potts said.

shilling@vindy.com