Business & Tech

Black Friday 2011: Everything You Need to Know Before You Leave the House

Patch has all the information you need to form a strategic plan this Black Friday, including links to local ads.

The Event

As if you needed an introduction, Nov. 25 marks one of the busiest shopping days of the year—Black Friday. The day often brings out the best and worst in shoppers. Some shoppers have been known to wait in line for hours before doors open; blistering cold weather has proved no match for the avid Black Friday deal-hunter.

The Forecast

From the National Weather Service: Mostly sunny skies and breezy on Friday morning, with a high near 58 degrees. A chance of showers headed into the evening. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. 

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Tips & Facts
  • CLICK HERE for predictions on what Apple plans to do on Black Friday.
  • Kohl's will open on midnight on Friday and remain open for 24 hours.
  • According to a Kohl's release, the store will also have new Night Owl specials this year from 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Nov. 26.
  • Most Walmart stores will be open all night Thursday and will allow shoppers to spend the night inside, instead of out in the cold. 
  • According to the Wasington Post, Walmart will begin its Black Friday electronics deals on at midnight Black Friday. Other deals will continue from 8 a.m. Nov. 25 throughout the weekend.
  • According to the National Retail Federation, holiday retail sales for 2011 are expected to increase 2.8 percent to $465.6 billion; and retailers will hire 480,000-500,000 seasonal workers.
  • The NRF also lists the top-10 holiday trends for 2011.
The Ads

And now for what you've all been waiting for—the ads.

Black Friday Cheat Sheet

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Store Open at...
Ad 10 a.m.
LINK 5 a.m.
LINK 6 a.m. LINK 8 a.m.
LINK 7 a.m.
LINK 12 a.m.
LINK 9 a.m.
LINK 8 a.m.
LINK 12 a.m.
LINK Lowe's 5 a.m.
LINK 12 a.m.
LINK
5 a.m.
LINK 6 a.m.
LINK 9 a.m.
LINK 7 a.m.
LINK 4 a.m.
LINK 5 a.m.
LINK 6 a.m.
LINK 12 a.m.
LINK 10 p.m. (Thursday) 
LINK

Food and Drink

From Delish.com: 

Restaurants.com has a special Black Friday deal, too, but you’ll have to act fast. The online-ordering site is offering gift cards at some serious reductions, such as its $100 gift card, good at up to 15,000 restaurants around the country served by Restaurants.com, for 40 bucks. The catch? The deal ends on Thanksgiving. Check out their web site for more information.

Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee Team Up to Give Away Free Coffee

From ' website: 

Black Friday Freebie for those Working the Busiest Shopping Day of the Year

How those working Black Friday can get their free coffee in three steps:

1. Like Seattle’s Best Coffee on Facebook, www.facebook.com/seattlesbestcoffee

2. Fill out your name and address

3. Wait for your sample of Seattle’s Best Coffee Levels Coffee to arrive in your mailbox

The first 100,000 people to participate will receive a free sample of Level 3 coffee mailed to their home.

Black Friday Deal for Shoppers Too

There is a Black Friday deal on the Seattle’s Best Coffee Facebook page for Black Friday shoppers too -- a $2 off coupon for the Level of their choice, which can be redeemed at grocery stores and mass retailers.

CBSNews highlights some of the deals from these retailers below

Best Buy 

  • Sharp 42" Class LCD 1080p HDTV $199.99 
  • Samsung laptop with Intel Pentium Processor 15.6" Display, 4GB memory $299.99 
  • Toshiba Wi-Fi Ready Blu-Ray Player $39.99
  • Seasons 1-3 of Mad Men on BluRay - $9 each
  • 250GB Xbox 360 console with Fable III and Halo Reach -$200
  • MacBook Pros and iMacs - $60 to $200 off

Macy's 

  • 50% off Sharper Image iPhone/iPod docking stations
  • $19.99 Rampage boots
  • Justin Bieber limited-edition holiday fragrance set (includes eau de parfum spray and Bieber's holiday CD)
  • With any $65 fragrance purchase, get a free digital camera

Target

All Black Friday deals start at midnight on Thanksgiving.

  • Philips 9" Dual-Screen DVD Player $99
  • Amazon Kindle 3G $85 
  • Acer 10.1 Netbook for $157 
  • Various movies and TV shows on DVD for $3.99
  • Element 40" 60HZ 1080p LCD HDTV for $265
  • $40 Target gift card with purchase of 8GB iPod Touch for $195
  • $15 Target gift card with purchase of 8GB iPod Nano for $129

Walmart 

Starting at 10 p.m. 

  • Xbox360 4GB with Kinect Console: $199.96 plus a $50 Walmart gift card
  • DVDs starting at $1.96
  • 6V or 12V Ride-Ons (e.g., Jeep Wrangler, X Games ATV or Barbie Jeep): $99 each
  • Barbie, Disney Princess or Bratz branded Fashion Dolls: $5 each
  • Paula Deen 20-Piece Cookware Set: $86.44

Starting at midnight:

  • Emerson 32" LCD TV (31.5" diagonal screen size): $188
  • LG Blu-ray Player: $49
  • Kodak C1450 14 MP Camera: $49
  • 8GB iPod Touch: $195
  • Samsung 51" Plasma TV (50.7" diagonal screen size): $498

Starting at 8 a.m. Friday:

  • Goodyear Tires starting at $59
  • Vizio 42" 3D LED Wi-Fi HDTV (42.0" diagonal screen size 1080p): $598
  • Buy any smartphone (except Apple iPhone) with a contract and get a $100 Walmart gift card


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here