Although they may have missed out on some of the biggest doorbuster deals of the day, Renee Powers and Carla Owens were still getting plenty of Christmas shopping in on Black Friday.
The two avoided the big crowds by going later in the morning but were able to find plenty of bargains.
After making a stop at Gordmans in Seymour, they planned to hit other local retailers, including JCPenney and Maurices.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“You can’t beat the deals,” Powers said.
Some of the hot ticket items at Gordmans included clothing for the whole family, electronics, toys and kitchen appliances.
“We came here for the $10 jeans,” Owens said.
The store specializes in name brands at affordable prices, said store manager Janna Dubnuk.
Gordmans opened for special hours on Thanksgiving Day from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. and then reopened at 6 a.m. Friday.
Dubnuk said customers were lined up both days ready to shop.
“We probably had 100 people in line,” she said. “Everyone was excited to get here early to see what we had.”
Some of the most sought-after items included a 50-inch smart TV for $180, Pelican coolers for $90, Google Home minis for $15 and a battery-powered Realtree truck for kids for $90.
“We sold out of TVs both days,” Dubnuk said.
The first 75 customers each day also received a free holiday tote bag, were entered to win a giant FAO Schwarz stuffed bear and received a scratch-off card, most of which were worth $5. One of the cards each day was worth $100.
On Friday, Miguel Nicholas of Seymour was the $100 winner. He planned to spend the money Christmas shopping, he said.
Small local businesses also were depending on Black Friday shoppers to be out in force not just Friday but on Small Business Saturday, which is today.
At 13th Floor Music and Accessories in Seymour, customers lined up Friday morning for Record Store Day, an event where music fans can find special releases only available at independent music stores.
Owner Mark Allman said this was the second year he has offered Record Store Day on Black Friday. With the resurgence of vinyl in recent years, customers were ready and excited to get in the door.
“There were 10 to 15 people lined up outside, and a few were here really early,” he said.
The store opened at its normal time of 10 a.m., but Allman said customers were waiting before 9 a.m. Due to the limited nature of products, customers could purchase two items at a time before having to get back in line.
Special issues by Pearl Jam, Phish and Paul McCartney all sold out quickly, Allman said.
“We had people calling about those,” he said. “Jerry Garcia Band and Cheap Trick were popular, too.”
For those who couldn’t make it Friday, Allman said there will still be plenty of Record Store Day specials still available today.
Also, new Prince, Beatles and Megadeth box sets came in this week, along with new music-related books, shirts and toys.
Black Friday is almost its own holiday for some.
The Klakamps and Calhouns, both of Seymour, have turned Black Friday into their own special holiday.
“It’s an annual tradition for us to have our friendsgiving Black Friday shopping day,” Kelli Klakamp said.
Kelli and her husband, Robert, and their close friends, Toby and Tiffani Calhoun, shopped until they dropped.
“The four of us go every year to Edinburgh and stay out late, then go to Walmart and whatever other stores in Columbus,” Kelli said.
One of the Klakamps’ scores was a TV at Walmart on Thursday night hours after the sale had already started.
The families usually end their outing at Waffle House but this year switched it up to IHOP.
“It’s something we look forward to every year, even if we don’t buy much, but we always do,” Kelli said.