Some tips on fighting the crowds during Black Friday
By Dave Dreeszen ddreeszen@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Sunday, November 23, 2008
The day after Thanksgiving, legions of shoppers rise before dawn.
They wait in line outside stores, sometimes for hours and often in bitter cold temperatures. After the doors fling open, they rush inside to grab deals on big-ticket items like flat-screen televisions and laptop computers.
By the time most people are just sitting down for breakfast, they're already hit a dozen or more retailers, loading down the back end of their vehicles with scads of gifts.
Does this, in any way, describe you? If not, does it sound like something you'd like to try? If so, check out the following Siouxland survival guide for this year's Black Friday, the traditional kickoff of the holiday shopping season.
How to prepare
For early risers, most major retailers advertise "door busters,'' or huge discounts on big-ticket items. Much like a Thanksgiving turkey, Thursday's edition of the Journal will be stuffed with circulars, advertisements and coupons.
Before heading out into the crowds, flip through all the ads to compare prices and products. Many super-duper sales are good for only the first few hours of the morning, and then only as long as the limited supply of items last.
Remember to bring the ads along with you to the store to help find products and avoid any dispute over how much an item costs.
When to arrive
Most retailers extend their hours on Black Friday, opening early and closing late. At last report, the earliest start times were 4 a.m. for Kohl's, JCPenny and Younkers. Best Buy and Shopko opens at 5 a.m., while Bomgaars Kmart, Menards, Michaels, Target, Sears all start at 6 a.m.
Wal-Mart, which has a dozen Supercenters in Siouxland, is normally open 24-hours per day. The retail giant's promotional sales are set to begin at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.
For the first time in its 26-year history, all stores at Southern Hills Mall will open no later than 6 a.m. on Black Friday, said the mall's senior marketing manager Kris Walter.
How to behave
Once inside, don't hurry or lose your cool. Is saving $20 on a DVD player worth tripping and falling while rushing to the electronics department, or worse yet, getting into a fight with another customer over an item?
The Greatland Target at Sunnybrook Plaza is among the retailers that will have extra staff in place on Black Friday to keep lines outside the store organized and keep "people from running,'' said store manager Gary Frafjord.
Who should you bring
For many people, shopping on Black Friday with family and friends is something of a ritual, not to mention a memorable bonding experience. But it's probably just as well to keep young children at home. Strollers don't mix with big crowds, and most kids would just as soon sleep in that early in the morning. Your spouse might want to stay home as well, especially if he or she is a fan of college football.
What to avoid
If at all possible, steer clear of congested intersections, like the junction of Sergeant Road and South Lakeport Street, the main thoroughfare between Southern Hills Mall and Lakeport Commons.
Take less-traveled alternative routes to such busy shopping centers. For instance, motorists traveling to Lakeport Commons could use the Sunnybrook Drive exit off U.S. Highway 20/75, instead of exiting at the South Lakeport exit. The Sunnybrook exit leads to Sunnybrook Plaza, anchored by Lowe's and Greatlands Target.
From Sergeant Road, motorists should drive past Lowe's and Target and continue on that newly built section of Sergeant Road, which runs under the highway to Lakeport Commons.
What to eat
In addition to the stores, many Siouxland restaurants will be packed on Black Friday. Think about the food court at Southern Hills Mall.
If you must plan a meal out, look for places in less-traveled parts of town. Better yet, eat before leave home or bring food and drink along. A bottle of caffeinated soda and an energy snack might be just the pick-me-up you need while camping outside a store in the early morning hours.
Don't want to fight the crowds during Black Friday?
They wait in line outside stores, sometimes for hours and often in bitter cold temperatures. After the doors fling open, they rush inside to grab deals on big-ticket items like flat-screen televisions and laptop computers.
By the time most people are just sitting down for breakfast, they're already hit a dozen or more retailers, loading down the back end of their vehicles with scads of gifts.
Does this, in any way, describe you? If not, does it sound like something you'd like to try? If so, check out the following Siouxland survival guide for this year's Black Friday, the traditional kickoff of the holiday shopping season.
How to prepare
For early risers, most major retailers advertise "door busters,'' or huge discounts on big-ticket items. Much like a Thanksgiving turkey, Thursday's edition of the Journal will be stuffed with circulars, advertisements and coupons.
Before heading out into the crowds, flip through all the ads to compare prices and products. Many super-duper sales are good for only the first few hours of the morning, and then only as long as the limited supply of items last.
Remember to bring the ads along with you to the store to help find products and avoid any dispute over how much an item costs.
When to arrive
Most retailers extend their hours on Black Friday, opening early and closing late. At last report, the earliest start times were 4 a.m. for Kohl's, JCPenny and Younkers. Best Buy and Shopko opens at 5 a.m., while Bomgaars Kmart, Menards, Michaels, Target, Sears all start at 6 a.m.
Wal-Mart, which has a dozen Supercenters in Siouxland, is normally open 24-hours per day. The retail giant's promotional sales are set to begin at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.
For the first time in its 26-year history, all stores at Southern Hills Mall will open no later than 6 a.m. on Black Friday, said the mall's senior marketing manager Kris Walter.
How to behave
Once inside, don't hurry or lose your cool. Is saving $20 on a DVD player worth tripping and falling while rushing to the electronics department, or worse yet, getting into a fight with another customer over an item?
The Greatland Target at Sunnybrook Plaza is among the retailers that will have extra staff in place on Black Friday to keep lines outside the store organized and keep "people from running,'' said store manager Gary Frafjord.
Who should you bring
For many people, shopping on Black Friday with family and friends is something of a ritual, not to mention a memorable bonding experience. But it's probably just as well to keep young children at home. Strollers don't mix with big crowds, and most kids would just as soon sleep in that early in the morning. Your spouse might want to stay home as well, especially if he or she is a fan of college football.
What to avoid
If at all possible, steer clear of congested intersections, like the junction of Sergeant Road and South Lakeport Street, the main thoroughfare between Southern Hills Mall and Lakeport Commons.
Take less-traveled alternative routes to such busy shopping centers. For instance, motorists traveling to Lakeport Commons could use the Sunnybrook Drive exit off U.S. Highway 20/75, instead of exiting at the South Lakeport exit. The Sunnybrook exit leads to Sunnybrook Plaza, anchored by Lowe's and Greatlands Target.
From Sergeant Road, motorists should drive past Lowe's and Target and continue on that newly built section of Sergeant Road, which runs under the highway to Lakeport Commons.
What to eat
In addition to the stores, many Siouxland restaurants will be packed on Black Friday. Think about the food court at Southern Hills Mall.
If you must plan a meal out, look for places in less-traveled parts of town. Better yet, eat before leave home or bring food and drink along. A bottle of caffeinated soda and an energy snack might be just the pick-me-up you need while camping outside a store in the early morning hours.
Don't want to fight the crowds during Black Friday?
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