By Shelley Smith
ssmith@salisburypost.com
Shoppers ó on your marks, get set, stimulate the economy!
Black Friday fanatics will test their speed and endurance Friday morning as they flock to various shopping centers all over the nation to perhaps give the economy a needed boost while putting presents under their Christmas trees.
So why is it called “Black” Friday if it’s a day full of shopping for great deals?
The term Black Friday is decades old. Years ago, accountants kept records by hand, using red ink for losses and black ink for gains. Black Friday basically means, “in the black.”
Here in Salisbury, the earliest Black Friday sale apparently begins at 3 a.m. at Old Navy.
“People have been calling all week about it,” said one of the store’s managers. One of the best deals Old Navy’s got going on ó performance fleece tops for $5 and graphic tees for $5.
Old Navy is also partnering with the video game Rock Band and will have a kiosk set up so customers can play the newly released program and can even dress up like rock stars.
The second-earliest opening is at the Salisbury Mall and Kohl’s, opening at 4 a.m.
Belk and JC Penney will be opening at 4 a.m., Radio Shack at 5:30 a.m., Bath and Body Works at 6 a.m. and Books-a-Million at 7 a.m. The rest of the mall will open at 8 a.m.
Coffee and breakfast will be served at most stores, and shoppers can rest their feet and wallets in the mall if they are waiting for another store to open.
Walmart and Kmart will be the places to be and have the prices to beat for electronics.
Walmart is offering a 32-inch LCD HD TV for $248, a Blu-ray Disc Player for $78 and a 12 megapixel Kodak digital camera for $69.
Although Walmart is open 24 hours, they will be handing out tickets for sale items at the doors, beginning at 5 a.m.
Kmart will open at 6 a.m. and is offering a four-piece luggage set for $39.95, a four-piece table tennis set for $99 and a two gigabyte MP3 player for $9.99.
Most stores in downtown Salisbury will open at normal times and stay open until 9 p.m. for the Downtown Salisbury Holiday Night Out.
For $10, you can make your own ornament at Pottery 101. The Thread Shed will debut a new Christmas shirt. Maia’s Fashions will have 50 percent off everything at the store, and several stores will be doing giveaways and drawings throughout the day.
The Salisbury Police Department will have several additional traffic units patrolling the streets, and Police Chief Mark Wilhelm said an increase in accidents could occur, depending on how many people are out shopping Friday.
On Friday and Saturday, the N.C. Research Campus will host a holiday farmer’s market at the Old Cabarrus Bank Building from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Artisans, entertainment, and produce will fill the building, along with Mrs. Claus stopping by to pick up letters for Santa. A horse and carriage will provide rides for attendees, weather permitting.
For all of those who dare venture to retailers on Black Friday, good luck, and don’t forget the coffee.