‘Flat-out’ Black Friday expected in Blenheim

As Black Friday hits Kiwi stores, Blenheim shoppers and retailers are on the fence over the overseas day of cut-price goods.

The post-thanksgiving Day of sales, usually the biggest day for early Christmas shopping in the United States, last year beat Boxing Day sale figures in New Zealand.

But in Blenheim’s central business district, some retailers are lacking the rabid enthusiasm that has made Black Friday notorious overseas.

Mitchell Sports Power owner Robin Mitchell said small businesses like his would struggle to meet demand.

‘‘Black Friday is fine for businesses who want to work in business that way but we prefer to concentrate on quality service and good stock levels.

‘‘It is very hard for us to give across the board discounts and that style of business does not suit us at all.’’

#Fresh owner Greg Hall said that he had owned the shop for seven years and had never put anything on sale but if his customers wanted the product from his store, he was always ready to negotiate.

‘‘It is not about the price, it is about giving good services to the customers and trying to give them the product they really want,’’ he said.

Shopper Liann Scott said she thought Black Friday was a very good time to shop before prechristmas chaos set in.

‘‘I think it is amazing.

‘‘I am really impressed ... I like Black Friday because it is not as busy; Christmas is a bit nutty,’’ Scott said.

A Stuff poll on Neighbourly showed 50 per cent of respondents refused to take advantage of Black Friday sales because it was a United States tradition, while 35.7 per cent still were not sure what it actually meant, at the time of publication.

Bed, Bath & Beyond manager Christine Macdonald said she was looking forward to a ‘‘flatout’’ weekend ahead, possibly busier than the Boxing Day sale.

‘‘We love it, it gets people out and about and it is a nice happy shopping experience for us as well as our customers.’’

Macpac Blenheim store manager Brendon Gee said it was a good sale and ‘‘brings a lot of people into the town’’ and he was expecting a busy store.

‘‘I would not say it is going to be like Boxing Day but it is meant to be very busy.’’

Red Cross national retail manager Talei Kitcheingman said Red Cross was calling it a ‘‘Red FRI YAY!’’ instead of Black Friday.

‘‘We are just having a little bit of fun and creating some interest in our shops and making specials for our customers,’’ Kitcheingman said.