The ultimate question: Will a Thursday start to Black Friday, a Small Business Saturday, and a Cyber Monday result in consumer overload?
Click the play icon above to watch a video report.
TRANSCRIPT
JOSH SMITH, anchor:
Most of America has tomorrow off. But not retailers who – earlier than ever – are hoping to attract deal-hunting shoppers. That prompted our question online, “What do you think?”
Eighty-eight percent of those responding said it’s too much too soon. Only seven percent said you love the earlier-than-ever Christmas push.
Not voted yet? Got to Tri-Cities.com after you hear what 11 Connects’ George Jackson found out about this new retail trend.
{REPORT}
<Alaina Stout, GAP Assistant Manager: "We think we're going to be really busy."
GAP Assistant Manager Alaina Stout says business picked up Tuesday at the store in Johnson City. Last year, her employer opened at 3 a.m. on Black Friday. This year -- midnight.
Stout: "People don't have to wait up all night waiting for 3 a.m. You can get started before then."
Stout's plan: start at one o'clock Thanksgiving morning. But even she was open to a midnight shopping run. She says the deals, the excitement, and the Christmas spirit are worth giving up turkey early.
Stout: "I think everybody just wants to come to the mall because something special is going on."
Marketing Specialist Mary Ellen Miller considers the Black Friday trend a good sign for the economy.
Mary Ellen Miller, MarketingMel: "In '09 it was 29-percent of shoppers, then it was 31-percent last year, and this year you're looking at 34-percent."
The question: will a Thursday start to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday result in a consumer overload? Miller expects some resistance.
Miller: "Consumers will react to it like they did to the Sunday experience. At first, you never wanted to shop on Sundays. It was kind of a taboo thing. Now, people expect stores to be open on Sunday.">
GEORGE JACKSON, reporter:
Either way, Black Friday will continue to be the retail world’s heavy hitter. ShopperTrak – which monitors 25,000 stores nationwide – says Black Friday was the top sales day every year since 2002. The only exception was 2004. Christmas Eve was the busiest day that year.
JOSH SMITH, anchor:
George, give us some times. When do retailers open their doors tomorrow night.
GEORGE JACKSON, reporter:
Toys-R-Us opens at 9 p.m., Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, and Macy’s open at midnight. Walmart Supercenters operate 24 hours, but most of their other stores will open at ten Thanksgiving night.
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