Black Friday: A shopper's delight
By Robert Wolfington IIIArticle Photos
Terry Schneekloth got some of his Christmas shopping done, but he had to get up real early to do it.
Schneekloth and hundreds of other early bird shoppers converged Friday on stores around Marshall, looking to save money on clothes, electronics and other gifts during Black Friday sales.
Stores slashed prices on big-ticket items, including large HDTVs and portable DVD players - enticing shoppers like Schneekloth to get up early.
"It kind of makes it a little easier when you have several to shop for," said Schneekloth. "It makes it easier to get those deals and spread that holiday money - which is a little short this year - around to everyone."
Despite a slowing economic climate, shoppers were out in full force Friday morning, buying up items at a reduced price at K Mart, Shopko and Wal-Mart - each opening its doors around 5 a.m. with door-buster sales.
Schneekloth got to Wal-Mart at about 4:45 a.m. and there was a line already formed throughout the store.
Kari Metheny, manager at Wal-Mart, said customers began lining up about 3 a.m.
"We let them come in this year because we were open," said Metheny.
"They could shop and look but they couldn't take anything until I made the page."
Kris Mariner of Balaton was one of the shoppers ready to get some holiday shopping done Friday.
"It means a lot, you save a lot of money," said Mariner. "You have to get up real early, but you get to buy things you would have bought anyway - you just save on it."
Sue Alcorn of Marshall admits getting up early to shop might be a little crazy, but she said she was happy to get the deals she got.
"I got up around 4:45 a.m.," said Alcorn. "It wasn't too bad. I got through pretty quick."
Joel Schultz of Marshall was up early, too, hitting Shopko at about 5 a.m. to buy a big screen HDTV on his brother's behalf.
"I got up at about 3:45 a.m. and I got here around 20 after 4," said Schultz. "There was a line already forming."
Schultz said his brother is going to owe him.
"It's a good deal; you have to get up early to get it. I almost got trampled for it. They had about four of (those TVs) I think."
Schultz said this marks his first and last venture into the world of Black Friday sales.
"This is the one and only time I will do this," said Schultz.
Not surprisingly, Metheny said electronics are at the top of most shoppers' list this year.
"Electronics are very popular," said Metheny. "The portable DVD player, we have the Wii and some laptops, that kind of thing. Electronics are probably going to drive the season for us this year."
Karen Moon of Marshall hit Wal-Mart early Friday morning before making her way downtown to shop at a local store.
"I went to Wal-Mart this morning and I got some coats and some portable DVD players," said Moon. "I was (at Forever Sara) at 6:45 a.m. so I could get a tree I wanted for 50 percent off. I went to work and we all walked back here (at about 10 a.m.)."
Moon said she likes to shop locally and appreciated the sales at local businesses Friday.
"I always shop locally, it's nice that all the stores were open early, including a lot of the shops here downtown," said Moon.
Emily Lozinski, owner of Forever Sara, said she saw a steady flow of customers throughout the morning Friday, mixed in with a few lulls that let her catch up.
Mariner said the deals worked out for her - she was able to buy the things on her kids' wish list.
"I got everything that was on their list," said Mariner. "This year I'm going to be a good mom."
