Black Friday mixed for merchants

Depending on the retailer, locals showing up for Black Friday shopping this year may have experienced smaller than usual or just about right crowds searching for holiday savings.

Several large retailers in Clovis offered consumers the savings early, opening in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day and at 6 a.m. on Black Friday. Tuula Sobush, the manager of Go! Games at the North Plains Mall, said the Thanksgiving Day early opening might have had an impact on how many shoppers showed up on Black Friday.

Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Cheyenne Clemons of Clovis stocks shelves Friday afternoon at Bath & Body Works. According to manager Yvette Smith of Clovis the traffic was steady and the store was on pace to meet its goal of top sales in its region, something the store accomplished last year.

“It is less than I expected,” Sobush said around noon, comparing this year's turnout to 2013. “I think it's because everybody is opening so much earlier.”

In addition to brick and mortar stores opening earlier, many retailers offered online Black Friday deals days before the actual event. These early and Thanksgiving Day sales competed with Black Friday for shoppers, as well as upcoming specials in conjunction with Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

But many smaller merchants did well on the unofficial first day of the Christmas shopping season. For Portales business owner Leslie Creighton, the Black Friday shopping event is all about meeting new customers and keeping regulars happy.

Creighton, co-owner of Creighton’s Town and Country in Portales, said her business started off slow Friday morning, but picked up before lunch and stayed steady throughout the entire day. The store featured a 20 percent off sale on belts, clothing, and jewelry.

Creighton said she sees a lot of new faces during the black Friday sale as family members take out-of-town relatives shopping.

“Every year we have different folks come into the store,” Creighton said. “It’s nice to see different people from out of town.”

Creighton said sales during this year’s black Friday had exceeded 2013 by about 3 percent.

Robert Encinias, owner of Robert’s TV and Appliance in Portales, said his Black Friday sales stayed in line with what he would expect to see during a normal Friday.

“It’s about what I expected, about the same as last year,” Encinias said of Black Friday business.

He said he hopes for business to pick up during Small Business Saturday.

Noemi Chavez, an administrative assistant at North Plains Mall, said business was slow at 6 a.m. when the mall opened, but more crowds started showing up around 8:30 a.m. and the parking lot remained packed throughout the rest of the day. Chavez estimated between 2,000 and 3,000 people shopped at the mall on Black Friday.

Shopper Denise Jones said the volume of the crowds in the afternoon at the mall were about what she expected. Jones said she isn't the type to wake up extra early to compete for deals, but comes later in the day to enjoy herself and avoid the competitive shoppers.

“They take it to a whole new level,” Jones said.

Bucking the trend of a sunrise opening, Guthals Nursery opted for a sunset Black Friday open house to let customers browse the fragrant, live Christmas trees and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

“We did this so people could relax, slow down and enjoy their Christmas,” said Penny Summers.

Although Black Friday is almost exclusively marketed as a day for consumers and retailers to compete for deals and profits, Jones said for her family the day is not about competition, it's about being with others.

“We love it,” said Jones, who was shopping with her daughter, “I came out to be among the people…we are thankful we're here, where there is so much to offer.”

Fern Goodson, co-owner of Bar G Western Wear in Portales, said business at her store was busy all day Friday.

“It’s been super. It’s been steady all day. I hope they come back Saturday too,” Goodson said.

Goodson said the store had sold lots of items, but had customers coming in to take advantage of their deals on boots and a storewide buy one, get one half off deal on hats.

She said she enjoys having the store open during Black Friday as a service to their customers.

“It’s a good time for them to save,” she said.