Its Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when retailers lure potential Christmas customers through their doors. But at some stores, Black Friday began last night. Many retailers used to wait til the stroke of midnight to open their doors, but Theres a new shopper demand this year, says Kristen Hauer. Kristen Hauer is general manager of the Tanger Outlet Mall near Jeffersonville. Shopping on Thanksgiving is becoming a new family tradition, Hauer says. So hardy shoppers braved last nights snowy roads and freezing temperatures to wait in line. Theyre looking for the best deals and different stores have different door busters going on so each store has its own thing thats going to be a hot item, Hauer says.
Gary Gregory and his wife Kim waited for the Coach Factory store to open at 6 p.m. She loves Coach so she said this was our first stop, Gary Gregory said. She cooked Thanksgiving dinner; said shed done such a wonderful job that I have to come with her. Coach specializes in leather goods like handbags and outerwear and according to Kim Gregory Theyre affordable, stylish, and they go with everything, Kim Gregory said. As for pre-Black Friday, Kim Gregory says: You seem to get the better sales. And that only comes around like once a year, Gregory said.