Anna Kline used to shop at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg just after midnight on Thanksgiving Day and end her shopping spree around 6 a.m. on Black Friday.
“My daughters usually dragged me along,” the Grayslake mom said.
This year, though, her plan for Black Friday is up in the air because she said there is uncertainty and much to worry about that makes her leery this year.
Crowds at stores while the pandemic is still rampant, and the sudden violence that has taken place at open spaces like the one on Sunday in Waukesha, Wisconsin — where a driver plowed through a Christmas parade and killed and injured adults and children — are making her think twice about her Black Friday shopping tradition.
This indeed will be a different type of Black Friday for shoppers for many reasons.
Due to the supply chain setbacks for everything from foods to electronics, retailers have been pleading through their newsletters and announcements for customers to shop early for their Christmas items so they can find what they want, and get it on time if it needs shipping.
The words “Black Friday deals” were uttered and plastered all over advertisements much earlier this year, leaving some to wonder what the day will be like this time around.
According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales surged in October for items such as clothing, electronics and fitness gear.
Still, Black Friday is expected to bring out a lot of shoppers.
An estimated 158.3 million Americans are expected to shop online and in stores from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, according to the NRF.
For those who plan to go out and shop on Black Friday and throughout the weekend know there will be deals, but not like in previous years.
According to Adobe analytics data, consumers should expect smaller discounts on electronics, appliances, apparel and toys, with goods 3% more expensive than last year.
Those price increases can be attributed to the supply chain disruptions.
Shoppers will also find the highest out-of-stock levels on apparel, followed by baby products, electronics and sporting goods, according to the Adobe report.
Some of the coveted toys this year will be Tamagotchi Pix, Got2Glow Fairy Finder and devices like the Nintendo Switch OLED, which is on the Christmas list of Ivette Helmi’s 7-year-old, she said.
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The Elgin mom of three was out shopping at a Mundelein Target the day before Thanksgiving because she’s not planning on shopping on Black Friday, she said.
Some of the deals to look for — aside from those at the big retail stores like Target, Kohl’s, Walmart and Amazon — are at places like Dicks Sporting Goods, where there will be up to 50% off all departments, including athletic gear and apparel.
At Carter’s, the entire selection of clothing for kids and babies will be 50% to 60% off.
At American Eagle, shoppers can find 30% off apparel and other collections, plus all jeans at 25% off.
While predictions are that Black Friday will have shoppers out scouring for deals, others like Nikki Kalodimos of Round Lake will be skipping that this year, she said.
She’ll leave the crowds at stores and the online surfing mania to others as she’s planning to stay home and instead do some Christmas decorating alongside her two kids.