Retailers report strong Black Friday weekend

Retailers report big gains in online sales this year. Black Friday has extended into a multi-day event. Whether it was the unseasonable single-digit weather or the dinner hour opening by some stores on Thanksgiving, there weren't large lines at area retailers, at least early in the afternoon.

About 20 people were in line at Best Buy in Baxter about 1:30 p.m. and roughly the same number at Target by 3:30 p.m. on what Fortune reports is now being called by some as 'Gray Thursday.'

'By all accounts, the peak holiday season got off to a promising start, with big jumps in online sales and shoppers in the mood to spend,' Fortune reported.

Just after 10 p.m. a light snowfall began. At Target, shoppers still navigated a short stretch, weaving around a couple of aisles, to reach the checkout but the short line flowed through and there was virtually no waiting. Strong sellers were still in stock like the iPad Air 2 and $4 DVDs. Midnight, the hour just a couple of years ago when Black Friday began with big crowds, now offered plenty of elbow room at big box stores where parking lots were less than half or two-thirds full.

By late Friday morning, shoppers could still find deals - such as discounted tablets, printers and TVs - in stock. Traffic was heavy in the Brainerd and Baxter area. Parking was overflowing at Menard's. At Kohl's, the checkout line stretched well back into the store as people shuffled coats and armfuls of merchandise forward inch by inch.

After seeing checkout lines, one shopper said he was reminded why he didn't shop Friday. But from the number of shoppers out in force, the tradition of shopping on Black Friday continued without taking a backseat to shopping early during the dinner hour on Thanksgiving.

Fortune reported this weekend is expected to generate sales of $50 billion and some 140 million Americans are expected to hit the stores.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported 44.8 million consumers shopped Thanksgiving Day last year, up 27 percent from 2012. In 2013, 4-9 percent of holiday shoppers were at stores by 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day compared to 37 percent at midnight, actually an increase from 28 percent in 2012. Last year, 92.1 million shoppers were out on Black Friday.

The average amount spent by shoppers between Thanksgiving Day and Sunday in 2013 was $407, down 4 percent from 2012, the NRF reported.

'With more than $50 billion in sales on the line for just a single weekend during retail's most competitive season, retailers will be looking for ways to wow their customers,' the federation reported. 'It's too soon to say if the Thanksgiving Day shopping trend will fade or if the buzz will build in 2015, but this year, we're betting on another strong turnout.'

Retailers were on both sides with those offering doorbusters to lure shoppers away from turkey sandwiches and those who made a point to promote their stores as ones that wouldn't be opening on the largely family holiday.

To keep people interested throughout the weekend, specials were found on various days.

For those who wanted to stay at home on the couch retailers offered deals online Thursday before stores opened. Retailers such as Best Buy heavily touted the online shopping option. It worked so well, Best Buy reported a spike in mobile traffic triggered issues and ended up taking the site offline for more than an hour Friday.

Target offered a pre-sale of certain Black Friday deals in stores and online on Wednesday. Top online sales items were iPad Air 2, Beats by Dre Solo HD headphones and the Intex Pure Spa Inflatable Hot Tub. In stores, Target reported top sellers with iPad Air 2, the Beats headphones and the iPad Mini.

Online, Target stated orders and sales increased more than 40 percent compared to last year, to be the Minnesota-based retailer's 'biggest online sales day ever.'

Stores handed out specials to entice shoppers to line up before the Thanksgiving opening hour like Target's Christmas crackers with coupons and $575,000 in gift cards. Target also encouraged guests to share selfies on Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win $10,000. J.C. Penney Co. gave the first Thanksgiving Day shoppers a free Disney snow globe and an envelope with a $10 off $10 coupon and one out of every 100 coupons featured $100 off $100 or more coupon.

Bon-Ton Stores, which includes Herberger's, stated this year was its biggest after Thanksgiving sale with more than 600 doorbusters available all day for online shoppers. Herberger's reported a strong turnout to the Thanksgiving Day opening and there were big crowds at the Westgate Mall on Black Friday.

Looking at a pre-holiday retail and consumer study, the National Retail Federation reported more than half of U.S. consumers plan to make at least some holiday purchases online this year and use their smartphones and tablets to research purchases.

'Online shoppers plan to spend 16 percent more this holiday season than all other shoppers for merchandise including gifts, decorations, greeting cards and food. All told, online shoppers expect to spend an average of $931.75,' the federation reported.

'The study also shows that confidence in the economy is gradually improving, and two out of five consumers are starting their holiday shopping in October (or started earlier) to spread out their budgets, capitalize on promotions and avoid late-season crowds,' the federation reported.

What's hot this year?

The National Retail Federation said Barbie had a good run but for the first time in 11 years of the survey, Disney's 'Frozen' merchandise is expected to move ahead of the Ken's girlfriend. Lego toys are expected to top the sales list for boys. Other top 10 sellers for children: tablets/iPads, My Little Pony, Monster High dolls, American Girl, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, video games, Hot Wheels, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Transformers, Marvel action figures.

Big screen TVs were again filling shopping carts this year as a top-seller for grownups.

With Black Friday done for another year, Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29, marks the annual recognition of small businesses in communities as a reminder to shoppers that spending a little at small locally owned businesses goes a long way. Cyber Monday is on the horizon as well with this year's holiday rush in full stride and December nearly here.

RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at http://ift.tt/1rDoQqK.

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