Black Friday in Maryland

By Liz Creed

Black Friday in Maryland

‘Tis the season to shop! Thousands of Maryland shoppers fled to the stores on Black Friday this past week in search of the best deals and the perfect gifts. Black Friday of 2011 was unlike any previous Black Friday shopping day with its earlier opening times and online shopping trends.

Black Friday shoppers wait in the dark outside of Best Buy for some of the store's best deals.

Traditionally, Black Friday is when stores open their doors during the ungodly hours of the morning, offering the best deals on high-priced and sought-after products. This year, however, malls and individual stores opened their doors at midnight, with some even opening Thanksgiving night. In Maryland, Arundel Mills Mall opened at midnight, Toys R Us in Towson began its deals at 9 p.m. Thanksgiving night as well as Walmart at 10 p.m.

There was some conflict of opinion regarding the operating Thanksgiving shopping hours this season. Many feel that Thanksgiving should be about family and being thankful, while other shoppers feel as though this is an opportunity to save even more money during a tough economic time. Leigh Erlandson of Lutherville, a shopper waiting in line at Toys R Us on Thursday evening, said that she understood why people would be opposed to shopping on Thanksgiving but also said, “I also think in this economy, it's important for people to save a little…These are businesses. They're out looking to make money. That's their job. You can't stop that."

For many, the early hours, crowded malls and long lines are not the ideal way to spend the holiday weekend. Online shopping is an opportunity for those who prefer to stay at home and avoid the zoo-like parking lots and never-ending lines. About 47 percent of consumers will be doing some form of online shopping, up from 44 percent in 2010. It is also estimated that 70 percent of tablet owners and about 50 percent of smart phone owners will use their devices to purchase items and to research products.

If you felt too full from Thanksgiving dinner and could not make it out to the stores or simply did not know how to tackle Black Friday, it is important to know that there are still plenty of sales and good discounts throughout the holiday shopping season. Experts are recommending to do research before you buy a product and to familiarize yourself with upcoming sales and return policies from your favorite retailers. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have constant updates as well as access to mobile coupons and online discounts. It is also recommended that shoppers utilize retail apps on iPhones and tablets that offer product information, inventory and special discounts.