The infamous "Black Friday" sale continues its tradition this Friday as shopping centers in cities all over the country mark down their prices with millions of consumers ready to take advantage of the great sale on many choice items. Due to the number of people simultaneously inside shopping centers, some malls have opened on Thursday of Thanksgiving itself -- now called "Gray Thursday".
Shoppers will be competing with hundreds in a single shopping center during "Black Friday" with many of them having learned so many things participating in the shopping sprees previous years. According to WMDT interviewee Pocomoke City resident Carolyn Ennis, head to the shopping centers during the morning -- as early as 5 a.m. -- to avoid the long lines and possible violence.
She said that shoppers should have an idea of what they want before they arrive in the shopping center and see if the products on their list have good prices. According to USA Today, their analysis of information from the National Retail Federation indicates that holiday sales would increase to 3.6 percent this year equivalent to $655.8 billion. It was a great boost from the 3.4 percent drop in seven years from the Great Recession of 2009.
It also reported that those shopping in different US cities are "most (people who) lived in the area, but some came far, far away." In their interview with a man from Dublin Ireland named Rionagh Walsh, the man said he purchased loads of "Jewelry. Handbags. Sketchers" and "anything that would be of great value for us that wouldn't be in Dublin."
Some retailers chose to close and shut down operations this "Black Friday". Among them are Office Depot, RadioShack and The Mall of America. CBL & Associates Properties are also closing their malls to give their employees and shoppers time with their families.
Some shops have chosen to open during the Thursday of Thanksgiving itself. "Gray Thursday" had helped many get a headstart on the sales and avoid the long lines and shoving in select shopping centers. Shoppers said they felt for the employees who missed their Thanksgiving dinner with their families.
