After a cozy Thanksgiving, Mother Nature tested the resolve of Black Friday shoppers this morning with a dose of frigid temperatures and icy conditions that crept in overnight.
Judging by the queues at most local retailers, the will to find bargains wasn't shaken in the least by the wintry weather.
At Walmart in Harrodsburg, which is open 24 hours a day, many shoppers lined up twice to ensure they didn't miss out on savings for the hottest items.
Manager Gary True said it was the second year the store has given out bracelets at 2 a.m. to avoid the potential for problems when some of the big ticket electronics, like flat-screen TVs, officially went on sale at 5 a.m.
True said electronics, including some categories with greater markdowns this year, were going to be the most sought after items. In addition to the bracelets, the store had specific lanes for other consumer electronic products.
True said a midnight sale on clothing and other items also generated a lot of business.
"This is the biggest single sales day across the whole company," True said. "People are looking for Christmas bargains, so this is obviously a very important day for any retailer."
Strategy
David and Donna Drury applied lessons learned from past Black Friday experiences, leaving nothing to chance by being the first to arrive at Walmart with their lawn chairs at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Donna, who crossed off almost everything on her list, said the bracelets and designated lines made the morning more organized than her three previous go-arounds braving crowds on the biggest shopping day of the year.
Lines were also long at most other retailers that opened their doors before dawn.
JCPenney in Danville Manor shopping center had hundreds of shoppers waiting to get in at 4 a.m. Manager Deb Dahlgren said discounts on items like home furnishings, small electronics and jewelry led to unprecedented early lines.
"That is the most people we have ever had that early, and business has been really good so far," Dahlgren said.
Radio Shack, also in Danville Manor, was doing a brisk business in Android phones and GPS devices, according to Manager Larry Shaw.
Shaw has seen first hand the stampedes and fisticuffs that can ensue on Black Friday during stints at stores in New York and Washington, D.C. He said he was happy to see busy, yet more restrained shoppers and projected the sales would generate $25,000.
At Tractor Supply Co., one of the only businesses that remain in Ridgefield Shopping Center in Danville, Manager Lori Bobley said 75 people were waiting to get in. Lines of customers with full baskets and armloads of merchandise wound from the front of the store to the back minutes after the store opened at 5 a.m.
Shopping at home
Several veteran Black Friday shoppers said they were spending their money closer to home this year.
Arlene Mays of Danville, who hit both the Harrodsburg Walmart and JCPenney, said she used to go to Lexington but now avoids the rush. She already was wrapping up her Christmas shopping before those less inclined to hunt for bargains hit the snooze button.
For others, like Brandon and Michaela Howard of Cumberland Gap, Tenn., the annual shopping spree was the final course for their Thanksgiving visit to her parents' Mercer County home. They already had been to Walmart and Sears as they stood in line at Tractor Supply and had a trip to Lowe's planned as the last stop on their way out of town.
While most workers seemed harried and ready for a break well before sunrise, others like Tractor Supply Co. employee Gay Ramey, who got to work at 4:15 a.m. was all smiles amid the chaos.
"I look forward to this all year," Ramey said. "I love all of the people and the excitement with everyone getting ready for Christmas."
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