Local stores open early Friday morning for shopping tradition 

JACKSON, Tenn. – Shoppers lined up for doorbuster deals Friday morning at stores for Black Friday.

Kohl’s, JCPenney and Old Navy were a few stores that opened their doors as early as 5 a.m.

“I got up early and I came all the way from Dyersburg to come and see what JCPenney’s got going on,” said one Black Friday shopper.

Shoppers came from surrounding areas to continue this shopping tradition.

“This is one of our stops every year. So see, I have it all written out in here who I’ve got to buy for, what I’ve gotta buy. I have like a little Christmas bible. She’s way more organized than I am,” said one shopper.

The National Retail Federation predicts holiday spending will be healthy in 2023, despite inflation and elevated interest rates. 

In some retail stores, shoes and apparel were a big hit. 

“I got a pair of shoes for $19.99 and a shirt that was $46 for $14,” a shopper said.

Increased foot traffic later in the day has some stores seeing more business around mid-morning to lunch time. 

“It’s a little different than, you know, back four to five years ago where everybody came in at the very beginning. It’s more spread out the last three years. They’re streaming in now. We’re gonna be busy for the rest of the day,” said Steve Johnson, the Store Director of Academy Sports.

There is still time for those Black Friday deals. Despite opening early, stores will close at regular hours on Friday. 

A NRF study also predicts consumers are to spend an average of $875 on gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items. 

This is around $42 more than consumers planned to spend in 2022.

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