Jefferson County shoppers can expect the same treatment at home as shoppers nationwide will receive today: early morning hours, reduced prices and special sales.
Hadlock Building Supply, 901 Nesses Corner Road, for instance, opened today at 4 a.m. with sales on merchandise, as per tradition on so-called Black Friday, which is, traditionally, the day that retailers go into the black — make a profit — for the year.
“We started doing this a couple years ago,” said Bill Kraut, general manager.
“We realize a lot of people are heading into Kitsap and out of the area so we wanted people to get a chance to shop here before they head out.”
Kraut said the early opening time allows shoppers to examine local deals in Jefferson County before sales in other areas start.
“It’s different, and it’s kind of fun,” Kraut said.
Retailers were ramping up earlier this week with decorations and bargain deals for the door-busters who they expected to show up en masse today, with some stores opening before dawn.
Despite the holiday cheer, national economists are saying this shopping season could be a difficult one for retailers.
As more and more people face unemployment and tightening credit, the Commerce Department reported that the nation’s gross domestic product fell 0.3 percent in the third quarter, and disposable income has seen its biggest drop on record.
In Port Townsend, the economic situation has been aggravated by the cutback from two car ferries to one traveling between the town and Keystone until the state builds two new ferries to replace the Steel Electrics that were taken off the route just before last Thanksgiving.
Port Townsend retailers hope to extend the day-after-Thanksgiving shopping spree with a Merchants’ Holiday Open House on Saturday.
Many downtown stores will stay open beyond normal business hours to serve refreshments and offer in-store specials to their customers, while carols are sung and horse-drawn carriages travel on the streets outside.
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Wild Rose Chorale will lead caroling, while the Port Townsend Livery will offer horse-drawn carriage rides.
The day after Thanksgiving is considered the biggest shopping day of the year, and Brit Beemer, an analyst with America’s Research Group in Orlando, Fla., predicts one-third of U.S. consumers will go shopping today.
Gas prices are down, so the effect the economy will have on this season’s sales remains to be seen.
One thing is certain — good deals are out there.
“We’re in a major, major retail free-fall,” Beemer told The Seattle Times. “If you want to buy something [today], you’re probably going to get the deal of your life.”
Today, many stores will begin offering sales and other incentives to draw customers inside.
“We’ve really diversified our inventory with a lot of electronics and stuff for Christmas gifts,” said Kraut of Hadlock Building Supply.
“We’ve gone beyond just a hardware store.”
A drawing for a 47-inch flat screen television set is scheduled at 7 a.m.
Another Port Hadlock business is opening its doors earlier than most on the morning after Thanksgiving.
Good Sports, 97 Oak Bay Road, will open at 4:30 a.m., offering savings of up to 40 percent off until 6 a.m., and Santa Claus will make an appearance from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Through weekend
Swain’s Outdoor, 1121 Water St., in Port Townsend is extending it’s Black Friday sales from 6 .a.m. today through Tuesday.
Store Manager Brian Menkal said many gift items will be specially priced.
“With the economy as it is, we wanted to find a lot of items to mark down for both gifts and stocking stuffers,” Menkal said.
Menkal also said any items that are not marked down can be discounted by 10 percent discount if a shopper has brought a can of food to be donated to a food bank.
Swain’s Outdoor also received its delivery of Christmas trees this week.
“You can get the whole deal, and have the relatives help you set up while they are around,” Menkal said.
Also opening early — at 6 a.m. — will be Radio Shack, 1300 Water St.
Goodwill, 602 Howard St., in Port Townsend is offering discounts of 50 percent storewide today, after it opens at 8 a.m.
Many other stores will offer discounts. Among them: Craft Cottage, 1980 Sims Way; the Green Eyeshade, 720 Water St.; About Time, 839 Water St.; Monsoon, 636 Water St.; and Grace’s Gifts, 10783 Rhody Drive, in Port Hadlock.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
