Black Friday draws closer

Black Friday is only days away and area stores are gearing up to prepare for one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

The long weekend after Thanksgiving, considered the kick-off to holiday shopping, is expected to draw money-conscious shoppers who have less to spend due to the struggling economy.

Sedalia J.C. Penney Manager Don Lambertz said his staff has spent the last few weeks preparing the store by stocking new merchandise. Lambertz also has increased staff by 20 percent to handle the throngs of shoppers.

Although the store won’t open until 4 a.m., Lambertz expects shoppers to begin lining up at 2 a.m.

“We will be providing coffee and hot chocolate to everyone in line,” he said. “We want to make it as pleasant as possible.”

Although J.C. Penney associates can expect a long, busy day, Lambertz said the overall attitude at the store is positive.

“Black Friday is exciting and the staff thinks it’s fun,” he said. “The customers are always upbeat.”

Lambertz said he expects to see a large number of shoppers armed with flyers and shopping strategies.

“The economy is challenging everyone to shop smarter,” he said.

According to a poll conducted by the National Retail Federation, 57 million consumers nationwide plan to hit stores during the three-day holiday weekend. Another 77 million said that before heading out, they plan to research the discounts retailers are offering. The numbers are up from last year's survey in advance of Black Friday, when 49 million consumers said they planned to shop and an additional 79 million said they might if promotions were tempting.

Pettis County resident Charla Thompson has been doing her research for months. Thompson, 38, said she has been saving her money and poring over advertisements in preparation for Friday’s shopping event.

Armed with a list of about 15 family members, Thompson and her mother will start their day at 4 a.m.

“I won’t stop until I have a gift for everyone on my list,” she said. “I don’t care how long it takes.”

Thompson, who considers herself a “serious shopper,” said Black Friday is a tradition in her family and she looks forward to meeting people in line, finding the perfect gift and shopping with her mother.

“I’ve got my tennis shoes all ready,” she said. “I’m on a mission.”

While Knob Noster resident Patricia Armand doesn’t plan to start shopping at 4 a.m., she does plan to make a dent in her shopping list on Black Friday.

“I’ll be looking for great deals on electronics,” she said. “But, I’m not starting until about 6:30 a.m.”