Local Shoals stores offer Black Friday deals

Black Friday, noun: In the United States, it is the day after Thanksgiving — noted as the first day of traditional Christmas shopping — during which crowds of consumers are drawn to special offers by retailers.

The typical Black Friday shopper usually leaves his or her home Thanksgiving evening and returns sometime the next day. Black Friday usually sees the some of the best deals of the Christmas shopping season, if a person is brave enough to face the crowds.

Shopping for items like clothes and shoes? Penny’s, Belk, Kohl’s, Dillard’s and Martin’s Family Clothing are going to be the best stores for you.

Looking for those big-ticket electronics? You should try Best Buy, Target, Gamestop or Wal-Mart. If you want a Nook e-reader, try Books-a-Million — it is tends to be less crowded than other stores on Black Friday and will have good sale prices.

Are you one of those crafty, DIY-gifters or shopping for a crafty, artistic person? Be sure to check out Jo-Ann’s, Hobby Lobby, or Hancock’s.

Are you looking for a gift for a big college football fan? Look no further than Campus Spirit in the Regency Square Mall or Martin’s on Cox Creek Parkway. Campus Spirit is all about the college football scene — half of the store features Auburn gear and the other half features Alabama paraphernalia. Martin’s has a great selection of both and is a great way to knock

several things off of your shopping list in one stop.

Not sure what else to look for? Try the mall. It has clothing stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores and a video game store.

Don’t forget to check out local stores as well before you call it a day, because you never know what other great deals you may find. Darby Drive is home to many local stores, such as the English Village, the Calico Rose Quilt Shop and Stitchworks. Downtown Florence features stores such as Pegasus, Billy Reid and Goodman’s, as well as many others. Xtravagance by Susan — located on Pine Street — has a great selection of items ranging from college football gear to other items that you won’t find anywhere else. Local stores also won’t be as crowded as the big retailers and will open later at more reasonable hours.

Opening hours this year range from Thanksgiving afternoon to 6 a.m. Friday morning, and the opening hours for each store will be listed in their sale advertisements.

A successful Black Friday shopper will need a few things, too. A game plan, money and loads of patience are crucial.

The advertisements for Black Friday shopping are released a few days before the event. Create a game plan, write it down and follow it. Decide where you will shop, when you will shop and what you are planning to purchase. Be sure to have a back-up plan for popular items that are likely to sell out fast. Once you have what you need, check out and get out. If you have something that is in high demand, the sooner you leave with it, the better — Black Friday shoppers have been known to become violent.

Most importantly, don’t leave your patience at home. Stores will be crowded and shoppers will be in a hurry.

Coffee and caffeine will help you stay awake. Fast-food places will have Black Friday hours also. Remember, extra sleep and food will keep you going and make you a nicer person. Don’t become one of those violent Black Friday shoppers. It’s not worth it.

Check online for deals, too. Amazon and Overstock have Black Friday sales, and big retailers will have deals online. You may find a better deal, all without getting your hands dirty.