By Josh Bergeron and Sarah Robinson

The Selma Times-Journal 

 

While some were still recovering from a hearty Thanksgiving meal, others took advantage of sweet deals and discounted prices on Friday.

Many stores reported increased traffic during the annual Black Friday shopping holiday.

But for some, Black Friday actually began on Thursday.

JCPenney, in the Selma Mall, started its Black Friday sale 8 p.m. Thursday and continued through 9 p.m. Friday. The items on sale included diamonds for $79 each, electrical appliances for $19.99 with a $10 rebate and coats 60 percent off.

“This was our first year opening on Thanksgiving,” Bunny Gowdy, the service lead expert at JCPenney said. “Throughout the night, we had a great crowd.”

Selma Resident Erica Boyd said she visited the JCPenney in the Selma Mall to purchase Christmas gifts for her nieces and nephew.

“I love the sales,” said Selma resident Erica Boyd said. ”Christmas time is my favorite time of the year, so I try to do all my shopping around the Thanksgiving season.”

Some stores got an even earlier jump on Black Friday sales.

Hibbett Sports, in the Selma Mall, had its sales from Wednesday to Sunday.

Marylin Kennedy, the store’s manager, said shoe sales attract the most customers.

“We do the Buy One, Get One Half Off, which is when you can buy any shoe at regular price, and get a sale shoe half off or you can buy two sales shoes of equal or lesser value and get one half off,” she said. “That’s what they are coming in looking for; they are looking for a good deal on a pair of shoes.”

Big-box stores weren’t the only ones celebrating the shopping holiday. Local business on Broad Street also saw increased traffic.

And like many of the big-box stores, local businesses also offered discounted prices to entice shoppers.

Allez-oup discounted nearly all of its merchandise by 30 percent and extended its hours to 8 p.m.

Sneakers, on the corner of Broad Street and Selma Avenue, saw more than 100 customers by early Friday afternoon, store manager Tina Stripling said.

“We actually have been pretty busy today,” Stripling said. “I’d say it’s been a pretty good day.”

A few other locally owned stores were more focused on getting ready for Small Business Saturday.

“Black Friday is usually more beneficial to big-box stores,” Swift Drug Co. owner Buddy Swift said. “Our big day is Saturday.”

To help promote Small Business Saturday, Swift Drug Co. and Butler-Truax Jewelers will hand out $25 American Express gift cards to the first several customers.

But for most stores, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are the beginning of a busy holiday shopping season.

“The holidays are usually a busy time for shopping,” Butler-Truax owner Jim Truax said. “In a jewelry store, 25 to 30 percent of our sales is during the holidays,”