Black Friday Pre-Game

Augusta, GA—Black Friday is upon us, and plenty of retailers are on edge about the day and what it’ll mean for the holiday shopping season. A lot of day-after-Thanksgiving deals are in full swing, even though it’s only Monday.

“It’s been very hectic and frantic already. For about a month we’ve been crazy busy everyday,“ says Sloane Wiggins, owner of Cudos. Four days ‘til Black Friday, but shoppers are getting a jump start, snapping up bargains that are starting early.

Cudos says it had a good season in 2008, despite the odds. And so far, so good in 2009. “Every single day has exceeded anything that we would have predicted. Wow. It’s been that and then some.“

Cudos is counting its blessing, especially when the big picture isn’t so pretty. The National Retail Federation is predicting total sales for November and December will drop by one percent from last year, which was the worst holiday season in more than forty years. Shoppers are expected to spend less this year, and experts say they won’t be disappointed; the deals should be plentiful as retailers compete for business.

With school out, Pamela and daughter Nicole Garcia are getting a start on what they expect to be a big week for them shopping-wise. They hope others will as well. “We’re seeing what’s out there, preparing for things we probably can’t find the day after Thanksgiving,“ says Pamela Garcia, of Evans.

On that day, as always, they’ll join the masses. “There are some good bargains. We’ve looked online and some of the ads are out. There are some things to be had,“ says Garcia.

Her daughter adds, “Just the fun of it, so many people so crazy. But just so much fun!“

Some national retailers are already advertising their Friday sales. Wal-Mart is doing “100 Toys for under $10” promotion. And Toys R Us is offering rebates and specials to get shoppers in the door early.