Stores/Shoppers prepare for Black Friday - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Thursday is Thanksgiving and most retailers will be closed for business.  But they started getting ready for Black Friday today.   And shoppers were getting ready, as well.

Stores did good business, today even though they weren't packed with holiday shoppers.  But those stores expect to do even better business starting Thursday.

It's the day before the day before Black Friday and Westfield Franklin Park Mall is crowded with people looking for that early deal, like Denise Laberdee, who told 13abc reporter Bill Hormann, she will save money by shopping a day early.   "I think so.  I'm doing pretty good."

But about a half dozen people are getting a head start by spending the night outside the Best Buy on Airport Highway.  They've been here since Monday.

Best Buy tells 13abc it's beefed up its stock of electronics which is exactly what the guys in line want to hear.    Tyler Van Klingern expects to save a lot of money once the store opens.  "On everything we're going to get, we're probably going to save $1200, $1300. So it's worth it."

Target stores begin Black Friday on Thanksgiving night.  They're stocked and employees are jazzed about the busy day ahead.  But shoppers are out a day ahead, as well.

Store manager Olivia Corey says those shoppers will be back out Thursday.  "They will be here... (they're just planning) out their route."

At Westfield Franklin Park, they've added 46,000 square feet of new shopping space.  Retail experts believe sales nationwide will jump 4-percent this year, so stores are optimistic.

Julie Heigel, with Westfield, says that means more jobs.  "Retail has added 26,000 new jobs this year just for the holiday season."

We talked with people inside the Bath and Body Works at Westfield.  The store has hired more people and those employees are storing deliveries and getting 250-carton shipments a day just to make sure the shelves are stocked.

Owner, Cara Good told us, "Black Friday is the biggest day of the year for us.  We're going to be very busy."

Actually, Bed and Bath Works expects sales to jump from $15,000 a day to $115,000 on Black Friday alone.

But some shoppers just do not want to fight the crowds, this weekend, so they are out early.   Megan Effting says too many shoppers are irritating.   "When there's so many people you can't find what you're looking for because people get it before you do."

Rachel Kufel agrees, seeing real benefits to shopping one day early, "It's nice.  look, there's hardly anyone here, there are sales.  I'm doing good."

And retailers expect *they* will do well this year, too.

Toys R Us is busy stocking shelves and, this year, they're offering more for sale.

Their advertiser has 15 more pages. than in years past.

And everyone believes this will be a busy shopping season.