Anxious shoppers once again battled Black Friday madness, only this time, shoppers had two choices: enjoy a quiet stuffed-full-of-turkey-and-pumpkin-pie day or shop instead.
As long as most folks can remember, stores usually open-ed in the early morning hours on the day after Thanksgiving that’s called Black Friday because that’s the day when retailers would show a profit for the year. But this year, stores such as Super Kmart, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us started their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving.
“The flow has been really good,” said Amy Burns, store manager of Super Kmart at Ashtabula Towne Square. “It’s going forward.”
It is unclear how many shoppers went to the earlier openings versus the traditional Black Friday hours, she said. But according to an International Council of Shopping Centers-Goldman Sachs survey of 1,000 consumers this month, about 17 percent planned to shop on Thanksgiving Day. That’s up 16 percent from last year when retailers tested the earlier hours.
Burns said Super Kmart shoppers seemed most interested in electronics and toys.
Shopper Abel Ladeau of Ashtabula started his holiday shopping at the mall at 4:30 a.m. Friday. Four hours later, he walked out with several shopping bags, including a big one from Bath and Body Works for his better half.
At Wal-Mart, Eileen Heath and her 9-year-old daughter, Daisy, ran into madness early Friday.
“We couldn’t get through the aisles because it was so crowded,” Heath said. “They started ripping (the plastic wrap on the crate) and tossing them to their friends.”
The dolls, regularly $50, were $15 Friday morning, she said.
Daisy said she couldn’t believe people were acting so crazy.
Many shoppers said they are worried about unemployment and the possibility of tax increases. At the same time, the stores’ earlier shopping hours are making it more convenient for people to spend their money.
Cheryl Cliff of Kingsville started shopping Thursday night at Wal-Mmart and continued through the night, wrapping up the spending spree at Kmart Friday morning.
“I don’t smoke and I don’t drink; I shop,” she said. “This is my one vice.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon HAPPY SHOPPERS prepare to check out at the Super Kmart at Ashtabula Towne Square around 5 a.m. Friday. (From left) Teresa Santana, Evelyn Matheson, Jennifer Santana and Desiree Santana were shopping by 3 a.m.
Discussion
Black Friday madness starts early in Ashtabula County
- Local News
-
-
Road closings
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Sill Road will be closed for railroad repair at the CSX Railroad crossing between Middle Road and Route 20 Wednesday through May 28.
-
Area motorcycle riders receive blessing for safe riding season
More than 20 are motorcycle riders received a blessing, Sunday, for a safe riding season.
-
KSUA professor wins prestigious national award
Irene Edge has kept students on the cutting edge of information technology for decades.
-
Boaters gather in Ashtabula Harbor to pray for safe season
Safety on the water was the over arching theme of the 64th Annual Blessing of the Fleet Saturday evening in Ashtabula Harbor.
-
The earth will occasionally move under Ashtabula County
When the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 leveled Missouri, the shock waves were strong enough to ring church bells in New York and break windows in Washington D.C. People in southern Ohio fled from their cabins. Closer to the quake’s epicenter, earth liquefied, sand volcanoes popped up and rivers appeared to run backwards. It was the first recorded magnitude 8.0 earthquake in North America, and to this day the strongest. Seismologists agree it could happen again. Some believe it could happen any time within the next 50 years.
-
Fishing derby draws hundreds to Conneaut
Two-year-old Mark Miller, of Wooster, wasn’t quite sure what to make of his success Saturday during the fishing derby at the Conneaut Fish and Game Club.
-
Monthly cruise-ins are an outlet for car enthusiasts in Andover
It all began 15 years ago when four young families got together and decided to form a group to share their love of cars with others and give back to the community.
-
Tradition draws thousands to Kingsville Township lawn sale
Parking spaces disappeared quickly Saturday morning as crowds began to gather for the 39th Annual Kingsville Lawn Sale.
-
Fifth man in Ashtabula murder case pleads guilty to kidnapping
Now it’s five out of six.
-
Walnut Beach restrooms and concessions will be ready in time for summer
They are working on the restrooms at the Walnut Beach concession stand in preparation for the summer season, but the city still is looking for a concessionaire, City Manager Jim Timonere said.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Road closings
