Bargain hunters look for Black Friday bonanza

Raven Barfield was one of the retail warriors up early to search for bargains on Black Friday.

When asked why a perfectly sensible adult would wake at the crack of dawn to jostle with thousands of other shoppers just to save a few dollars, the Abbeville resident chalked it up to biology.

“Men hunt, women shop,” Barfield said.

Taylor Serna, a Daleville resident, explained his early morning trip to the mall in two words.

“My wife,” he said.

Retailers throughout Dothan opened their doors early, hoping to lure in customers with early bird deals on merchandise.
Itaya White, a Lousiville resident, said even though she got up at 4:30 a.m. she still struck out on many deals.

“I’m trying to get these buys but I’m too late, she said. “Ive been trying to shop around and everywhere I go most everything is out of stock.”

Like many shoppers, White was drawn to the early sales by deals on electronics.

“I really want a new one (TV),” she said. “It’s about time.”

Christi Lee, an Abiline, Texas resident visiting family in the Wiregrass, said she was shopping for an early Christmas celebration.

“It’s easier to do it now than to have to lug everything over, especially with the gas the way it is these days,” she said.

While there was quite a bit of hustle and bustle at local retailers Friday, stores seemed less busy than in years past. Parking seemed more readily available than usual on Black Friday, and lines appeared to be shorter.

Last year, Alabama retailers racked up $9 billion in sales between November and December. Nancy Dennis, a spokesperson for the Alabama Retail Association, said consumer confidence indicators are starting to point upward again after a dismal few months and retailers are hoping to break even with last year’s figures.

“People are not going to give up Christmas,” Dennis said. “But they will buy fewer presents and spend less per gift.”

The siren song of slashed prices might induce some to crack open their pocketbooks a little more than they planned.
Brittney Grimsley and Whitley Brascomb of Dothan did some shopping at Wiregrass Commons Mall before work Friday. The two said they were hoping to take advantage of deals on expensive clothing.

“Coogis are like $100 a shirt, $79 for a dress, so that 15 percent off is going to help,” Grimsley said.