Local Thanksgiving Day shoppers line up for a run at bargains

For many retailers, Black Friday started on Thanksgiving this year, with the earliest storeopenings yet, and judging from packed parking lots and long lines across central Ohio, the earlierhours encouraged shoppers who were looking for bargains.

While some had criticized the Thanksgiving Day openings as a needless infringement on atraditional family event, shoppers who stood in line on Thursday seemed unfazed.

I actually almost prefer this, said Mike Garvey of Delaware, 40, who was wrapped in a blanketto ward off the late-afternoon chill as he stood at the head of the line outside the Target onSawmill Road, which was opening at 6 p.m.

Last year, I was first, too, Garvey said. My rule of thumb is to get here about 12 hoursahead of time. So I got here about 6 a.m.

When it opened at midnight, it got colder longer, he said of past years. This way wont benearly as cold. And, based on years past, the line is not as long. I think people had to make adecision do I do Thanksgiving dinner or do I stand in line?

This years main reason for venturing out to Target: The big thing Im going to buy is the XboxOne, Garvey said. Its for my son. Hes 10, and hes at home with his mom and grandparents.

Many, like Adeel Hamid of Dublin, said they ate their Thanksgiving dinner earlier in the day,then ventured off to wait in line for the Old Navy on Sawmill to open at 4 p.m.

Yeah, we just finished dinner, Hamid said. My wife and kids are back home. I got here about20 minutes ago. Im going to buy something, then go to Kohls, then to Tuttle mall, the Gapprobably, and Toys R Us. I have to get something for my 4-year-old twins.

Hamid was first in line at Old Navy. He, along with a dozen people behind him, said they wereinclined to go to the store not only because prices on everything were 50 percent off, but also because were going to win $1 million! said one woman standing behind him.

Old Navy had heavily promoted the sweepstakes event, telling shoppers that they had to be one ofthe first 100 people in line at an Old Navy on Thanksgiving to qualify for a chance at the money inthe national contest.

Many retailers, eager to beat their rivals in attracting the first big wave of the holidayshopping season, took the unprecedented step of opening in late afternoon or early evening.

This is all about competing for that early dollar, said Marshal Cohen, the chief industryanalyst for the market research firm NPD Group.

That thinking was much in evidence at Kohls on Sawmill, as employees gathered at the front ofthe store a few minutes before the 6 p.m. opening.

We really think this will make the initial crowd larger, said Jason McAtee, vice president andregional manager at Kohls. The line is a little shorter than last year, but we think the shoppingwill go longer. The kids dont have to be in bed yet, so parents can bring the kids with them andmake it a family event.

We got that feedback last year, when we opened at 8 rather than later, McAtee said. Peopleappreciated it being a little earlier. We want to be family friendly, so its important.

Nearby, manager Matt Poskocil stood on top of a checkout counter, giving a pep talk to about 100employees gathered below, some wearing Santa caps and other holiday clothing.

The shelves are filled, packed and ready to shop, Poskocil said to the workers. Youve donean outstanding job!

Another early opening, at 4 p.m., was Toys R Us. The first person in line at the Sawmill Roadstore was Kayla of Grove City, who didnt want her last name used.

I got here about 1:30, but I sat in my car until they got here, she said, gesturing towardthree other women who were, like her, sitting in folding chairs and swathed in blankets.

We didnt celebrate Thanksgiving today, so it didnt bother me. We did it yesterday, shesaid.

Like most people in line, she said she was waiting to buy Skylanders video-game merchandise.

I usually go out shopping early like this, she said. Its a little uncomfortable, but I lookforward to it. Ill probably go to Tuttle next hopefully, Ill just be there for an hour. Then Imight go to Target.

For some, the shopping day actually began before dawn.

Exactly a minute before the Big Lots on Morse Road opened at 7 a.m., three women walked brisklyfrom their cars as an employee began unlocking the front door of the store.

Were here for the George Foreman Grill, selling for $19, one said before ducking inside.

tferan@dispatch.com

Source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/11/27/Local-Thanksgiving-Day-shoppers-line-up-for-a-run-at-bargains.html