The Citizen

Despite the slumping economy - or perhaps because of it - some local retailers expect this year's Black Friday to be a major success.

“We're looking to have the best Black Friday we've ever had,” said Jeff Burdick, general manager of the Bass Pro Shops location at the Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius. “We're better prepared and ... we're just expecting a larger crowd.”

Bass Pro Shops will hold its second annual Great Turkey Camp Out tonight in an attempt to get people to the store as early as possible and get them involved. Shoppers can bring their tents and camp out in the parking lot next to the store. Refreshments will be provided and the store will have gift card drawings every half-hour. There will also be a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card giveaway as well as a $5,000 gas card drawing. This tradition will be continued every year, Burdick said.

While Burdick believes local stores may feel the ripples from the declining economy, he does not expect Bass Pro Shops to be affected.

“Because of everything that we've invested for Christmas this year, our expectations are better than last year,” he said.

J.C. Penney at the Fingerlakes Mall is also anticipating a high turnout for Friday's event, said store manager Curt Finley. The store will open at 3 a.m., an hour earlier than its printed advertisement states.

“Last year, we opened at 4 o'clock, there were so many people at the door, it was just wild,” Finley said.

Although Finley acknowledged that the troubling economy will probably impact the holiday season numbers, he does not believe Black Friday will be affected.

“There are some shopping experiences that aren't impacted like others. Black Friday is a special kind of day and people who don't shop any other time shop on Black Friday. We fully expect to meet our plans and ... to have a very good event this year,” he said. “Black Friday is a kind of a different animal and I think people will come out.”

Locally based retailers are also projecting a steady turnout during Black Friday.

Liberty Store owner Marty Goldman has been running a storewide sale for the last 10 to 15 years and the store usually does extremely well, he said. Goldman did not do anything differently this year to try to win over customers.

“We're sort of an institution, we've been here 92 years and people pretty much know they're going to get the better service, selection and a sale price, so they stop in,” he said.

Sam's Shoe Service is a destination store, so people can come in “without all the hustle and bustle and hassle and get exactly what they want,” said owner Sam Chindano Jr.

“I think we have a certain educated customer who knows what they want and know the value in my product,” he said.

Chindano is preparing for the holiday season but has not changed much this year. He believes his quality products speak for themselves.

“I think the big stores are cutting quality to offer lower prices and in my world, that's not the answer. The higher quality stuff feels better and lasts longer. ... People want to be comfortable all day long. That's who my customer is,” he said.

One thing Chindano has been doing this year is promoting the importance of supporting local businesses. He said it is having a positive impact. He also believes his store will not feel the crunch of the tightening economy during the 2008 holiday season.

“I think in other stores it will (be felt) but I've been right on target, where I want to be. I think that there's enough people who still want things done correctly and that's why they come here,” Chindano said.

According to the National Retail Federation, the projections for the 2008 holiday season indicate sales will rise 2.2 percent to $470.4 billion. The increase would fall below the 10-year average of 4.4 percent and would represent the slowest growth since 2002, when holiday sales rose 1.3 percent.

The good news is that up to 128 million people will shop the weekend after Thanksgiving, beginning with Black Friday. According to a survey conducted by BIGresearch for the NRF, up to 49 million people will definitely be shopping with another 79 million waiting to see what promotions will be offered. The number is down from 135 million people last year.

Fingerlakes Mall will be running special promotions throughout the weekend, including an iPod giveaway, said marketing manager Tracie Murphy.

“Stores have some exceptional sales going on in comparison to last year,” she said.

Murphy expects a successful Black Friday.

“With the gas price going down as much as it has, it's going to help out,” Murphy said.

The National Retail Federation also pointed to declining fuel costs as an indication that people may have more money to spend during Friday's blowout sales.

“I know the economy is not going great but I don't think it's going to affect what's going to happen Friday,” Murphy said. “Black Friday is Black Friday.”

Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net