The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
MALL MADNESS: SHOPPERS HIT STORES IN FULL FORCE
More than 164 million to shop over holiday weekend, National Retail Federation reports
Forgoing post-Thanksgiving dinner naps, thousands of consumers instead decided to feast further on bargains, finding parking spots and fighting crowds to once again kick off Black Thursday, the unofficial official start to the holiday shopping weekend.
From electronics to bedding, from lingerie to shoes, consumers inundated the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor Thanksgiving Day to take advantage of slashed-prices deals calling their names.
This, however, is nothing new at the mall, as it’s been opening on Thanksgiving Day for the last several years, said Marketing Director Kate Miller.
“In 2011 and 2012, we opened at midnight and based on shopper demand we have been opening at 6 p.m. for the last few years. While there are certain stores that choose to remain closed until Friday, a majority of our retailers open, and some stay open all night through 10 p.m. on Black Friday.
“It’s all about the deals,” Miller said. “We had 700 people here at JCPenney at the beginning. Our great mix of retailers may have multiple offers going on in their stores and many of them change throughout the night and into Black Friday. Of course, Black Friday has been a
"Black Thursday offers huge flexibility where shoppers can jump back and forth to different locations for price comparisons." — Ana Serafin Smith, NRF senior director, media relations
tradition for many, many years, and for a lot of families, making a trip to Great Lakes Mall on Thanksgiving has now become a holiday tradition. Some families eat dinner at noon or 2 p.m. and they’re looking for something fun and exciting to do as a group.”
According to the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, based in Washington, D.C., more than 164 million shoppers will hit stores over the five days leading to Cyber Monday, this year on Nov. 26. Starting with that span, NRF expects holiday retail sales in November and December — excluding automobiles, gasoline and restaurants — to increase between
4.3 and 4.8 percent over last year.
Total spending is expected to range from $717.45 billion to $720.89 billion.
“Holiday sales increased by 5.3 percent in 2017 and 3.2 percent in 2016,” said Ana Serafin Smith, NRF senior director, media relations. “Black Thursday offers huge flexibility where shoppers can jump back and forth to different locations for price comparisons. We’ve also seen modified versions of Black Thursday with pickups in stores and home deliveries.
“Walmart really started it and pushed it in 2010 by opening for select hours on Thanksgiving Day. As soon as they did that, other big stores like Target, Macy’s and Best Buy and the like started to do the same.”
While many can’t fathom why anyone would subject
themselves to bustling crowds, long lines and gridlock traffic, others, seemingly many others, relish the rush of getting out and getting desired items for stunningly cheap prices — for the most part, as individual opinions vary to the arbitrary definition of what constitutes a deal.
Kirtland resident Heather Ward is one of those people who don’t “do” Black Friday.
“I missed too many Thanksgivings with my family because of working Black Thursday and Black Friday,” she said. “I may venture out late on Black Friday to locate a good deal, but I rarely see anything in the ads worthy of fighting the crowds for.”
Jenn Marrara, of Cleveland, isn’t a fan, either.
“Thursday is for celebrating Thanksgiving with friends, family and those
who mean the most,” she said. “Black Thursday is just another way for retailers to create hype and excitement to drive their bottom line. I personally prefer the warmth and comfort of shopping from my couch rather than standing in line with a bunch of hyper and excited people who are looking for a deal that isn’t necessarily a deal.”
Conversely, Mayfield Heights natives Stephanie and Laurel Gans embody the spirit of the day and the thousands seeking out and finding a good deal.
The twin sisters began their “new tradition” of Black Thursday shopping five years ago and plan to continue doing so.
“We eat a lot early and walk it off shopping,” Laurel said, laughing, while perusing items at Hometown Clothing Co. “We like to be a part of it, the whole thing. I guess you could say we’re joiners. Besides, it’s fun.”