What to expect on Black Friday

For some people, Thanksgiving weekend wouldn't be complete without turkey, mashed potatoes -- and Black Friday. Considered the official start of the holiday shopping season, Black Friday is traditionally when shoppers score some of the biggest deals of the year on items such as TVs, apparel and toys.

This year, however, fewer consumers are in the mood to shop and retailers have been slashing prices for weeks in the hopes of boosting sales. This month alone, luxury retailers Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue have held massive sales, with many items 40% to 70% off, while discounters such as Kmart have offered "early Black Friday" specials on toys and other merchandise.

With so many dirt-cheap prices already, expect to see even more early-bird store openings and "door-buster" deals than usual this Black Friday, as well as heftier discounts and perks such as free parking.

If you want to get an early start, the 86 stores at Citadel Outlets just off the 5 Freeway in Commerce will open at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night, and a handful of stores at the Glendale Galleria -- including the Disney Store and KB Toys -- will open at midnight. Best Buy stores are scheduled to open at 5 a.m. Friday.

Here's a look back at how Black Friday played out in 2007, according to the National Retail Federation:

66 million people shopped on Black Friday.

One in four of those shoppers were at the stores by 5 a.m.

The average Black Friday shopper spent $347.55 Thursday through Sunday.

One in four shoppers bought toys.

-- Andrea Chang

Photo: Early-morning bargain shoppers line up outside a Best Buy store in Lakewood. Credit: Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[PirateHooker]

You should shop for some sweet costumes this Black Friday at Ted & Elaine's Halloween Super Store: http://tinyurl.com/6gwzwj

[Edith]

WOW !!! I CANT WAIT!!!

[M.V.]

Meet you at the Disney Store in Glendale Galleria at Midnight!