Target (NYSE: TGT) recently touted that it will "provide shoppers with a jumpstart on unbeatable Black Friday deals" by opening at midnight on Friday, Nov. 25 -- basically, the very second the Thanksgiving holiday is officially over. The move undoubtedly excited some shoppers, even as it's inspired a petition to delay its Black Friday opening plans, as they require many employees to miss out on the holiday celebration. However, Target is hardly alone in opening earlier, or publicizing deals on what is recognized as the craziest shopping day of the year.
On Black Friday, Toys "R" Us is going even further than Target, and opening at 9 p.m. Thanksgiving night. Deals include a free $50 Toys "R" Us gift card with purchase of any Apple iPod touch, 50 percent off LeapFrog Leapster 2, and 35 percent off select LEGO Construction Sets, among many others. The catch: These deals are only available between the 9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day opening and 1 p.m. on Black Friday (while supplies last).
Kohl's is hoping to engage customers with its "earliest opening in company history," opening at midnight on Black Friday. Macy's (NYSE: M) will also open at midnight for the first time on Black Friday.
Most Kmart locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving; this is something the company says it has done for 20 years. On Black Friday, Kmart stores nationwide will be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kmart is offering a plethora of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday special deals; sister company Sears, which is not open on Thanksgiving, will open its doors at 4 a.m. on Black Friday and close at 9 p.m. It will have "doorbuster" deals of its own, but perhaps its most strategy to capture holiday shopping dollars is a promotion at Sears Outlet stores. Sears Outlet is offering to match competitor Black Friday prices on items of the same make and model -- and do it well in advance. From the company's website:
"Between 11/10/11 and 11/30/11, if you find a lower price on the exact item and model number with the same features in a local competitor's 11/25/11 Day After Thanksgiving ad, Sears Outlet will match that price. Just bring the ad in store to a sales associate at the time of your purchase and we'll match it."
Note the "local competitor" stipulation. Sears Outlet wants to compete with mom-and-pop stores on this front, not the other big box stores. Full details, including more red tape, here.
Walmart will open at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and a plethora of Black Friday specials kick in on Nov. 25.
Gap announced that many of its stores, across all brands (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Stores) will be open on Thanksgiving, but not all--a total of nearly 1,000 stores. Check with your local stores to confirm availability.
jcpenney (NYSE: JCP) is opening its doors at 4 a.m. on Black Friday, promising "more than 500 extraordinary doorbuster deals." But, unlike the press releases form competitors, also highlighted in jcpenney's announcement is that it will use the Black Friday event to raise funds for The Salvation Army.
