Black Friday: W.Va. shoppers out in force
Holiday shoppers in Charleston found shelves full of bargains Friday as retailers tried to entice consumers to buy in the midst of the national economic downturn.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Holiday shoppers in Charleston found shelves full of bargains Friday as retailers tried to entice consumers to buy in the midst of the national economic downturn.
At the stores along Corridor G, many people said they kicked off the post-Thanksgiving shopping season before the sun rose.
"For kids' [merchandise], it's fantastic, because you can get double what you got last year with these deals," said Sue Daniels of Charleston.
Daniels, along with her daughter, Michelle Garnes, and sister, Carolyn Mains, had been out since 4 a.m. Their purchases included a sewing machine, clothing and tons of toys.
Daniels' and Mains' father started the family's "Black Friday" tradition a few years ago, and they don't mind braving the crowds, they said. At Wal-Mart, Daniels said, "you were in line longer than it took to go through the store."
The sisters enjoy people watching just as much as the bargain hunting, they said.
"They are so comical," Mains said.
At Circuit City - which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month - shoppers parked their vehicles near the doors and loaded their car trunks and truck beds with big-screen TVs.
Nearby, at Bath & Body Works, the Vance family, of Harts, emerged with big blue bags full of lotions and other gifts.
They had started their shopping journey at the Logan Wal-Mart at 4:15 a.m., and then headed to Charleston.
"It's a ritual," said Anna Vance. "We go out with walkie-talkies and cell phones."
She bought $154 worth of merchandise at Bath & Body Works for only $66.25, she said.
At many stores, the inventory and sales were better than last year, she said.
"The stock is better," she said. "They've got a lot more to choose from."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Holiday shoppers in Charleston found shelves full of bargains Friday as retailers tried to entice consumers to buy in the midst of the national economic downturn.
At the stores along Corridor G, many people said they kicked off the post-Thanksgiving shopping season before the sun rose.
"For kids' [merchandise], it's fantastic, because you can get double what you got last year with these deals," said Sue Daniels of Charleston.
Daniels, along with her daughter, Michelle Garnes, and sister, Carolyn Mains, had been out since 4 a.m. Their purchases included a sewing machine, clothing and tons of toys.
Daniels' and Mains' father started the family's "Black Friday" tradition a few years ago, and they don't mind braving the crowds, they said. At Wal-Mart, Daniels said, "you were in line longer than it took to go through the store."
The sisters enjoy people watching just as much as the bargain hunting, they said.
"They are so comical," Mains said.
At Circuit City - which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month - shoppers parked their vehicles near the doors and loaded their car trunks and truck beds with big-screen TVs.
Nearby, at Bath & Body Works, the Vance family, of Harts, emerged with big blue bags full of lotions and other gifts.
They had started their shopping journey at the Logan Wal-Mart at 4:15 a.m., and then headed to Charleston.
"It's a ritual," said Anna Vance. "We go out with walkie-talkies and cell phones."
She bought $154 worth of merchandise at Bath & Body Works for only $66.25, she said.
At many stores, the inventory and sales were better than last year, she said.
"The stock is better," she said. "They've got a lot more to choose from."
Elsewhere, big-ticket and electronics items were on deep discount.
Target shopper J.D. Watson had had his eye on an LCD TV for a while. On Friday, the St. Albans resident finally made his move. He bought a 47-inch Philips model for him and his girlfriend.
"We did our homework," Watson said. "We looked online for months, just watching the prices drop."
Usually priced at more than $1,800, the TV and a 3-year warranty cost Watson $1,220. He saved an extra 10 percent when he opened a Target credit card account.
LCD TVs are some of hottest items this season, said Target store manager Shaun Hubbard. The Nintendo Wii "Guitar Hero" game also was a big seller Friday.
"Anything for Wii is big," Hubbard said.
Hubbard said he couldn't get into specific numbers, but said he was pleased with store traffic Friday.
"We feel really good about the way things have been," he said.
According to the National Retail Federation, more than 128 million Americans planned to shop Friday or this weekend. That's down from 135 million last year.
Despite the weak economy, some local shoppers said they weren't cutting back their Christmas budgets.
Mandy Rollyson and Shannon Triplett had stuffed their Target shopping carts full of toys: a Hannah Montana guitar, Star Wars Millennium Falcon, a wagon and more.
The friends left their homes in Sutton at 3 a.m. to find the best bargains at Corridor G. Every year, their husbands go hunting the week of Thanksgiving, and the women go shopping together on Black Friday.
"Kids just get bigger every year . . . ," began Rollyson.
"And want more expensive gifts," Triplett finished.
Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com">alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.
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