Before attacking the stores this Black Friday or if you choose to dip out early on Thanksgiving dinner, it could be a good idea to do your research. Currently, there are numerous online sites that will not only be featuring deals on Black Friday, but will also have many of the retailers’ weekly ads and specials for the shopping holiday.
While, the majority of national chain ads can be found on websites like bfads.net and www.theblackfriday.com, it could also benefit shoppers by picking up a Cincinnati Enquirer Thursday. The paper will be stuffed with many Black Friday deals and ads.
Before busting down any doors, it could also be worth a shopper’s time to visit websites like www.pricegrabber.com or www.bizrate.com to compare prices.
However, comparing the ads themselves appears to be the easiest way to find the best prices.
Another thing to look for are the hours and day of each sale. For example, Wal-Mart will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, but won’t offer certain specials until 10 p.m. and will then offer additional deals at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.
Joining Wal-Mart and opening at 8 p.m. Thursday will be Toys R Us and Sears. Afterwards, Target will open at 9 p.m., followed by Old Navy, Best Buy, Kohl’s and Macy’s, all of which will open at midnight.
Nearby, the Cincinnati Premium Outlets will extend shopping hours this weekend. Each outlet store will end deals or specials at different times. Unlike last year, when most stores opened at midnight, many of the outlet stores will open at 9 or 10 p.m.
The early start time for these sales could be due to the expected increase in sales this holiday shopping season.
In a recent article by The Cincinnati Enquirer, it cites a study by the University of Cincinnati’s Economics Center that projects the region to have a 3.8 percent increase in sales. Meanwhile, The National Regional Federation is forecasting that shoppers will spend an average of $421.82 on family members and that Americans overall will increase their spending 4.1 percent, to $586.1 billion.
