Eager holiday shoppers will load up on carbohydrates today, head to bed early and set their alarm clocks for the post-Thanksgiving Day shopping blitz.
Retail stores across the country will throw open their doors before dawn with post-Thanksgiving Day sales to kick off the Christmas shopping season.
Swain’s General Store at 601 E. First St., Port Angeles, is one of many places in Clallam County where deal-seekers will gather in the brisk morning air.
A crowd of about 100 is expected for the 5 a.m. Swain’s door-buster. Employees will provide coffee and doughnuts in the parking lot beginning at 4:30 a.m.
The first 100 through the door will receive a $10 gift certificate. Last year, the gift certificates were gone in about 20 minutes, recalled Swain’s Merchandise Manager Mike Mudd.
“We anticipate a great holiday weekend,” Mudd said.
This shopping season marks the first for the new Port Angeles Walmart Supercenter at 3471 E. Kolonels Way.
Sales on video games, DVDs, toys, apparel and home accessories begin at midnight and run all day Friday at the Walmarts in Port Angeles and Sequim, 1284 W. Washington St.
Electronics go on sale at Walmart at 5 a.m., Sales Manager Becky Hill said.
Walmart stores around the country will sell flat-screen TVs, iPods, Blu-rays and laptop computers at discount prices from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time or until supplies last.
Necessities & Temptations gift shop at 217 N. Laurel St. in Port Angeles is doing something different this holiday season — a used coat trade-in.
Anyone who brings in a clean coat with working buttons and zippers will receive $20 off a new coat from the downtown gift shop.
Clean gloves, scarfs and hats are good for a $2 trade-in for the same winter accessory.
Owner Edna Petersen said the recent cold spell prompted the staff’s decision to go with a used-coat swap.
“We put our heads together and said, ‘What can we do that’s good for our customers and good for the community?'” Petersen said.
“We just decided this would work really, really well.”
Necessities & Temptations will open at its normal time — 7 a.m. — on Friday. Coffee and treats will be provided.
Back at Swain’s, Mudd expects this year’s hot items to include propane smokers, slippers, sporting goods and men’s and women’s apparel.
“We always do a great [advertising] tab, but this year’s tab is even better,” Mudd said.
“We always run a big coat sale. Of course, with the way the weather is, that will probably be better than usual.”
After the early-morning rush, shopping typically stays brisk for most of the day the Friday after Thanksgiving.
“It’ll build through the early afternoon and continue to get busier as the day goes on,” Mudd said.
JCPenney at 651 W. Washington St. in Sequim will open its doors at 4 a.m. The retail hub normally opens at 9 a.m. Fridays.
Maurices, the women’s apparel store at 104 West First St. in downtown Port Angeles, will open one hour early — 9 a.m. — for a three-hour door-buster sale on polar fleeces, winter vests and other apparel. The store will remain open until 9 p.m.
On the West End, Forks Outfitters will open one hour early at 7 a.m. Friday.
Store Director Dave Gedlund said some shoppers may skip their trips to Port Angeles for the Friday door-buster sales if the roads remain icy.
“We’ve had people hit Walmart [in Port Angeles] and come back and hit our deal,” Gedlund said.
Forks Outfitters is a one-stop shopping spot at 950 S. Forks Ave.
Rite Aid, which has two stores in Port Angeles and one in Sequim, announced a three-day sale for customers with membership cards.
The “Three Days to Save” sale runs from Friday through Sunday, with deals on electronic gadgets, wrapping paper, hair dryers and other goods.
A “Gift of Savings” promotion for customers with Rite Aid wellness and rewards cards allows shoppers to earn $5 to $25 gift certificates for $25 to $100 purchases made Friday through Christmas Eve.
Rite Aid stores will open at 7 a.m. Friday and close at their usual times.
The Port Angeles Rite Aids are located at 621 S. Lincoln St. and 110 Port Angeles Plaza.
Sequim’s Rite Aid is located at 520 W. Washington St.
Brown’s Outdoor in Port Angeles will not open early Friday but will sell sportswear for 30 percent off and other goods at 20 percent off.
Brown’s Outdoor is located at 112 W. Front St. Its hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Port Angeles Goodwill at 603 S. Lincoln St. will open one hour early at 8 a.m.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.