FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Stores and shoppers are prepared for 2024's Black Friday, despite colder temperatures and online sales.
Harry Haynes is the store director for Fayetteville's Academy Sports + Outdoors store. The store was one of the earliest retailers to open their doors at 5 am, but Haynes explained that there are no extra hands on deck, just longer shifts in Fayetteville.
"It's our biggest sales day of the year. So, there is a lot of preparation, a lot of bikes being built, grills being built, and tables being built. Pricing is a big deal, so we're getting all that pricing ready to go. The team has done a great job getting ready for the holiday season," Haynes said.
The National Retail Federation estimated that 183.4 million people will shop online and in-store. For some, it was about traditions, while others say they couldn't miss out on the deals.
"We plan it on Thanksgiving night, and then we get up in the morning and we all meet together and do it every year," said Savannah Sparks, who arrived in Christmas attire.
"It's a lot better now. It's not nearly as crowded. You're not fighting a lot of crowds, but, you know, we're still doing the thing," said "Gammy" Sparks.
Channing Clark's early morning trip with his parents to Academy was his first time participating in Black Friday. He said "It was cool. You come in here early and get stuff like 50% off."
Brinleigh Fancher and Taivanee Rogers joked that they were "hoping to spend my parent's money."
Across Joyce Boulevard, shoppers waited out in the cold until 6 am. Juan Maldonado Jr. waited in line while his wife and kids waited in the car.
"She came here specifically looking for a laptop for my son, yeah, so maybe, hopefully, we find a good deal on that," Maldonado Jr. said. "The stores really don't have that good deals anymore, so I'm guessing that's why people really don't want to stand out here just freezing"
According to NRF, 65% of shoppers are still expected to shop in stores, but those in Fayetteville admit that online has changed the game of saving dollars with discounts.
"I'm telling you, it's a different ball game now. Black Friday, it feels like no one shops on Black Friday anymore. Everyone's offering Black Friday deals in October it feels like," shopper William Tate said.
"Honestly, all I've ever heard is horror stories about Black Friday, but this is pretty chill. Not that many people here, it's pretty relaxed," shopper Nathaniel Laningham said
"The buy online pickup in-store has taken off over the last 10 years or so, and it's no different today than it was 10 years ago. It's still a very big part of our business. But like you said earlier, I think that customers still want to come to brick and mortar, and they want to touch and feel before they buy," Haynes said.
Haynes adds that deals drive up customer traffic, and Academy focused on fitness this year. He explained that during COVID, everyone stayed home and they were getting into fitness and fixing their houses, and that's still true. Though online can make the experience easier for shoppers, Haynes said it's still busy for retailers.
"When an order comes in, we have to have someone physically go find the item that the customer is looking for, right, and then stage it somewhere where it's easily accessible for the next team member to give it to the customer. So, yeah, we still need a whole bunch of folks," he explained.