1. Millions expected to shop on Thanksgiving
2. Thanksgiving: Turkey, parades, shopping deals
3. Maine’s Black Friday special: prison crafts
4. Black Friday gets a little less frenzied
5. Black Friday weekend slows down as allure fades

BY CASEY MURPHY, cmurphy@tylerpaper.com

 

Local retailers are gearing up for the hoards of shoppers coming their way during the Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday sales.

While a few stores remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, many businesses are opening their doors even earlier this year. Some retailers started pre-Black Friday sales days ago.

Although a lot of stores are opening earlier in the afternoon or evening today, Gander Mountain is opening from 8 a.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving Day, and again at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.

“Gander Mountain is again offering special all-day shopping on Thanksgiving Day, extended early morning hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and hundreds of discounts in store and online,” Mike Owens, president and chief operating officer for Gander Mountain, said in a prepared statement. “We know more and more of our customers just can’t wait for Black Friday to get in on the holiday shopping deals. Our extended hours and specials are designed with their wishes in mind. Gander Mountain is making shopping for the top brands and best deals in outdoors easier than ever before.”

Gander Mountain deals began days ago online, offering free shipping throughout the holiday season.

Melissa Goff, spokeswoman for Macy’s, said most of their department stores are opening at 6 p.m. today.

“We are doing so in response to customer interest …,” she said. “According to the National Retail Federation, 44.8 million consumers shopped on Thanksgiving Day in 2013, up 27 percent from 2012. A full 43 percent of millennial generation customers shopped on Thanksgiving Day last year.”

Macy’s is opening two hours earlier than it did last year on Thanksgiving Day.

A new retailer to Tyler and to Texas, Gordmans plans to open at 6 p.m. today “for those who love the excitement of one of the biggest shopping events of the year — and who want Black Friday to start as soon as possible,” representatives said.

Beginning this evening, Gordmans will offer doorbusters and other promotions throughout the weekend. The store in The Village at Cumberland Park shopping center will remain open until 10 p.m. Friday It plans to offer extended hours throughout the holiday shopping season.

Broadway Square Mall will open at 6 p.m. today, giving shoppers a two-hour earlier start to the weekend shopping than last year. The mall will close at 1 a.m. Friday, only to re-open at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, and will stay open until 10 p.m.

Terry Blevins, general manager at Broadway Square Mall, said whether stores in the mall had pre-Black Friday sales depended on the individual retailer. He said he was pleased to see so many people out shopping with lots of bags, which is always a good sign. He said many of the mall’s retailers will offer extended holiday hours and some are offering special deals throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, as well as the rest of the holiday season.

Kohl’s will also open its doors at 6 p.m. today, kicking off its Black Friday event earlier than ever.

Stores opened at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day last year. Kohl’s will remain open through midnight on Friday.

More than 500 Black Friday deals have been available on Kohls.com since Monday, representatives said.

 

CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

As always, locally owned Don’s TV & Appliance will remain closed today.

“We’re not going to be open on Thanksgiving,” co-owner Donnie Thedford said. “It’s just not what that day is for.”

He said electronics are always a big seller for the Christmas season and all the major brands — such as Samsung, Sony and LG — are the same prices at Don’s during normal business hours as they are for customers who camp out in long lines in the wee hours of the morning. Manufacturers of TVs and appliances drive the prices, he added.

Brian Thedford, co-owner of Don’s, said appliances are also big for the holidays and their special prices started a week before Thanksgiving. Their sales on Black Friday were the same on Monday, he said.

Don’s will open at the normal time — 9 a.m. — on Friday.

Academy Sports + Outdoors is one of the national stores that still closes on Thanksgiving Day.

“As a reminder, our stores are closed Thanksgiving day to allow our associates time to spend with their families and friends, spokesman Allan Rojas said.

Academy stores will open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday and remain open until 10 p.m.

Fred’s Super Dollar announced it will observe this year’s Thanksgiving holiday and not open today.

The move comes in response to comments from customers who asked that Fred’s Super Dollar stores not be open on the national holiday, which it has done since 2011. Company leaders listened and complied, and Fred’s team members were happy with the change, representatives said.

“We at Fred’s agree, one day to spend with the family and to give thanks for the blessings and freedom we enjoy in America is truly well deserved,” Dave Mueller, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said. “We want to let the communities that we serve know that we listened, and we’re honoring their requests. We wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and we look forward to seeing our customers on Friday.”

Fred’s stores will reopen at 7 a.m. on Friday.

 

TRENDS

Rojas said a popular trend they are seeing at Academy this year is movie-themed gifts.

“Many retailers, including Academy Sports + Outdoors, know Frozen-themed gifts are widely popular this year,” he said.

Academy offers Frozen-themed bikes, scooters, motorized ride-ons and tents. The store is also prepared to meet the increased demand in youth archery sets and equipment made popular again by the release of the third Hunger Games film, he said.

Top gifts at Kohl’s this holiday season include popular categories such as toys, electronics, kitchen electrics, jewelry, watches, beauty, fragrance, sweaters, sleepwear, slippers, cold weather accessories, boots, men’s gifts, photo frames and throws, spokeswoman Lyra O’Brien said.

As far as trends go, Blevins said shoppers are looking for more of an experience this holiday season.

Broadway Square Mall has incorporated shopper appreciation programs that will take place throughout the holiday season. The programming includes Spread Love Random Acts of Gifting, visits with Santa, holiday gift cards and packaging offers, weekly children’s events and entertainment, and community engagement through charitable programs.

“Broadway Square Mall is the perfect place to catch the holiday spirit,” he said.