Shoppers up early to grab good deals

But like the mall and other stores, officials are ready to make the most out of Black Friday.

Shoppers from across South Florida are hitting the malls in what some analysts believe could be a record breaking Black Friday.

Many shoppers throughout the region said they noticed a stark contrast between the crowds on Thanksgiving and later on Black Friday.

The term “Black Friday” was coined in the 1960s to mark the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season.

Also over the past few years more and more, consumers are choosing to shop online not wanting to be bother with long shopping lines and crowds.

Regardless, local stores are ready to accommodate the crush of holiday shoppers.

The popularity of Black Friday has been on the wane over the past couple of years as more stores open earlier – even on Thanksgiving – and online retailers offer Black Friday-type deals year-round. Just about all Amazon Kindle tablets are discounted by $30 with the Voyage going for $169.99. “I think we’re doing better with the queue lines and people can come and get their wristbands so they don’t have to be here right at 6 o’clock to buy the product they want”.

Best Buy may have accommodated shoppers on Thanksgiving Day an hour earlier than Walmart but it will also be closing earlier than the retailer.

May said her favorite part of the Black Friday shopping was hearing the ripping of the plastic to signal the sale is on. Stores are trying to better cater to savvier. Wal-Mart started its online sale just after midnight on Thanksgiving, three hours earlier than previous year. He says, “I’ve got two teenage girls”.

Stephanie Sullivan says she’s searching for deals this holiday season on items for her son’s upcoming wedding. Around 137 million Americans plan to or are considering doing their shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. That includes online and store shopping.

Liang Giang Ying sits in a wagon full of packages as her father pulls her through South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. Despite that, stores like Boscov’s, JCPenney, Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods were all open on the holiday.

Shoppers at Macy’s flagship store in New York City rushed the gates as the doors opened for pre-Black Friday sales late Thursday afternoon.

Adobe’s data also shows that people are shopping from their smartphones more than ever before.

By the time Black Friday came around, there were four people in her group, down from the normal amount of about nine.

A report from Adobe says Americans have already spent $25.5 billion online this month, a 3.5 percent increase from past year. Target is starting Cyber Monday a day early, on Sunday, as well as offering a 15%-off deal in stores as well as online for the first time. The group estimates that nonstore sales should rise 7 to 10 percent.