Locally owned businesses prepare for Black Friday

JACKSON, Tenn. — Locally owned businesses said they are stocked and ready for Black Friday.

“This is a busy time, and we love it,” business owner Calista Joyce said.

Many customers looking for deals shop Black Friday. “We’re doing 30 percent off of our faux fur,” Joyce said.

Joyce owns Beyond Vogue, a boutique in downtown Jackson. She said customers can get 40 percent off outerwear on Friday plus 50 percent off baby gear and Christmas items.

Joyce encourages people to shop local. “You’re helping people in your community, and boutique shopping offers unique items that box stores don’t.”

Robert’s Jewelers on Vann Drive will offer deals throughout the store Friday on Pandora purchases, diamond earrings, and freshwater pearls. Owner Janet Silver said this will be her 46th Black Friday. “They have varied from ‘lined out all the way around the corner’ to ‘it’s been sporadic,’” she said.

Silver said Robert’s Jewelers will be open an extra hour Friday and have extra staff. “We put on a lot of extra staff, especially in the Pandora area, for the rest of the holiday season,” she said.

Local stores said they start preparing for the holiday shopping season weeks and months in advance. “We start actually in September, and we start stockpiling more inventory,” Silver said.

“The store is fully stocked and we are ready to go,” Joyce said.

The National Retail Federation estimates more than 137 million Americans plan to or are considering shopping during Thanksgiving weekend.