Thanksgiving Shopping Cut Down on Black Friday Rush
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NORTH JACKSON — Black Friday is notorious for the chaos, crowds, and even fighting. But this year, new strategies helped local businesses cut down on the craziness. Businesses say opening early helped them keep better control of the crowd and cut down on that infamous Black Friday rush. Pamela Hamer said she saw two completely different scenes at local businesses when doors opened Thursday evening. First, madness at a local retailer. “My niece had to duck from a boot. It was a lot of chaos,” Hamer said. Then she said she saw the exact opposite. Best Buy had a ticket system. Customers waiting outside were handed a ticket for the item they wanted. A Best Buy worker said the system kept customers calmer and limited the pushing and shoving. “People were able to get in here, get what they were looking for.. Same amount of people as always, but less tension, more energy,” Willie Minor said. Minor believes customers are adapting to the day as well and they now expect a wait. They come in more patient than they have on previous Black Fridays. “Customers knew this is the time of year where things are busy so they waited,” Minor said. Minor also said that opening earlier kept a steady flow of people throughout the night instead of a huge rush right at midnight. “People got done eating, came in, found what they’re looking for and were able to leave on time.” Hamer said she hopes shoppers focus on being respectful of each other because she relies on the big savings to meet her Christmas list needs. “I saved about $800-$900 because I have 3 boys and they want the games and an xbox one..” Hamer said. Some shoppers say they now plan to only shop on Thanksgiving Day from now on and avoid Black Friday altogether. Other businesses in Jackson say opening on Thanksgiving Day did cut down on the Black Friday rush.
