Shoppers, retailers gear up for Black Friday

Stores are throwing their doors open earlier than ever this year, moving Black Friday into Thanksgiving’s territory.Not every business is excited for the prospect of trampling on the traditionally family-oriented holiday. For the Carson Mall, the clamor of sleigh bells and the influx of a single, white-bearded fat man will mark Friday.For some local businesses, Black Friday is not where it’s at, rather, it is Small Business Saturday.“We brought in 30 vendors,” said Kevin Ray, promotions and events director for the Carson Mall said. “Black Friday is Santa’s arrival.”One business opening at 6 a.m. Friday will be Paul Schat’s Bakery, which will open at the same time it always does, Ray said.Many of those business throwing their doors open early Friday, and even at the very start of Friday, will be offering patrons coffee, doughnuts, cookies and bother baked goods.“We will have doughnuts, coffee and cocoa for people who come in,” said Paul Zuniga, Home Depot Merchandising manager. All Home Depots open at 5 a.m. Friday and will be treating patrons to the hot beverages and baked goods. Fellow home improvement store Lowe’s will be opening at the same time Friday and both chains will be closed today.Office Depot will be offering coffee to those waiting in line for their 5 a.m. opening. For those waiting outside, it will be a cold morning, with a low of 23 degrees on Friday morning. Skies will be clear with little to no wind, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature will drop as soon as the sun drops, at 4:39 p.m. tonight. World Market, opening at 7 a.m., will treat the first 100 people in the door to a ticket to a preliminary showing of the movie the “Life of Pi,” along with a “Life of Pi” themed tree ornament, General Manager Jean Wegner said.JCPenney will be opening its doors at 6 a.m. and for Store Leader Frank Alcaraz, what that means is unknown. This Black Friday will be his first as the store leader. He said he thinks they will see few people lining up because of earlier opening times from other retailers.What will be big? Appliances. It’s always appliances, Alcaraz said, echoing Zuniga.“It’s always been appliances,” Zuniga said. Where Alcaraz has an edge over Zuniga is shoes, specifically, women’s boots.“(Shoppers) love those shoes,” Alcaraz said.Two stores sticking, just barely, to the Black Friday principle are Kohl’s and Best Buy —both will open at midnight.Best Buy had its first potential customer in line as of Wednesday afternoon and will have barricades set up as well as an off-duty officer to help control the crowds, Best Buy General Manager Leon Kauffmann said.Kohl’s will be offering those in line coffee, candy and cookies, according to Public Relations Coordinator Maggie Lund.One store skipping the turkey is Target, which will throw open its doors at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. The nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, will begin its sales at 8 p.m. today.Black Friday opening hours:Costco: 9 a.m.Marshalls: 7 a.m.Burlington Coat Factory: 6 a.m.World Market: 7 a.m.Home Depot: 5 a.m.Lowe’s: 5 a.m.Office Depot: 5 a.m.JCPenney: 6 a.m. Carson Mall: 10 a.m.Paul Shat’s Bakery: 6 a.m.Best Buy: 12 a.m.Kohl’s: 12 a.m.Target: 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving