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ECONOMY DOESN’T STIFLE BLACK FRIDAY CONSUMERS

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, November 28, 2008 11:28 PM CST

While some stores did not see wall-to-wall traffic, others were jam-packed as cautious shoppers from Southeast Arkansas came to take advantage of the best deals in Pine Bluff on Black Friday.

Shirley Harris of Grady (left) makes her way to the car after doing a little Christmas shopping Friday afternoon in Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald

J.C. Penney and other retail outlets reported recently that they expected a decline in holiday sales, but that did not stop the store from being busy. Some stores opened around 5 a.m. with many expected to stay open as late as 10 p.m.

Several shoppers Friday said they were either looking for specific bargains or cutting back this year.

Beverly Davis, a retired registered nurse from Warren who was at The Pines mall, said she had been out since 5 a.m. for her children as well as grandchildren. She began her day in Monticello.

Davis said the crowds don’t bother her, other than those she encountered at Wal-Mart, since she does all or most of her shopping on Black Friday. Despite the bargains, she still expects to go over her budget.

“When you only shop once or twice a year, this can be the best time,” Carolyn Vassar, an employee of the Pine Bluff School District, who was taking advantage of sales at J.C. Penney. “I’m not usually an early shopper, but I’ll be shopping for the grandbabies soon.”

Bobbi Lynn Clayton, director of a childcare center in Dumas, was shopping at Bath & Body Works. Clayton said she normally is not brave enough to go out on Black Friday, but was able to summon the nerve for the first time. She came to town to look at a washer and dryer at Sears and said her family really enjoys the atmosphere this time of year.

At Goody’s the scene was a dictionary definition for Black Friday with customers waiting half an hour or more at times. Kelley Jennings of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, who was visiting family in the area, said she had been up since 3 a.m. She wasn’t as impressed with the deals this year, but enjoyed having her daughter, Alli Jennings, who was along for the ride in a stroller.

Linda Irons of McGehee was at Goody’s with her sister, Doris Taylor of Amity, and both had been up for several hours to take advantage of “Door Buster” sales. The sisters take advantage of Black Friday as a rare occasion to spend time with each other and plan to shop in other communities including Monticello, Greenville, Miss., and locations in Louisiana.

“We mostly shop for ourselves and we’ll be out until after dark,” added Irons. “My husband says, “Don’t let the dark catch you,’ but we rarely listen.”

Big Lots was also a shopping hot spot for customers such as Evon Watkins, who was shopping with her daughter, Melissa Watkins, and her granddaughter, Gracie Watkins. The girls love to shop together and use it as a bonding time.

Perhaps the most positive part of the day was for the Salvation Army, which was emptying kettles more than once at locations such as Big Lots for their Red Kettle Campaign, said Sgt. Tyrone Pinder, local corps administrator. The bell ringers were expected to bring in about $2,000 in donations from the 15 locations they service.

“We might still be down, but everyone’s heart is still there,” added Pinder. “I can’t complain with so much generosity.”

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