Stores expect strong Black Friday turnout

Thrifty shoppers armed with credit cards, cash – and possibly cattle prods – will descend on Lebanon stores Friday for holiday shopping galore.

Black Friday – the day of the year often credited for bumping retail businesses into “the black” financially – draws family, friends and bargain-hunters out to local stores after they finish putting away the Thanksgiving leftovers.

Lebanon stores, from big-box retailers to locally owned specialty shops, will offer deep discounts and extended hours for the traditional kick-off to the holiday shopping season.

“I think it will be fantastic,” said Sue Vanatta, director of the Lebanon-Wilson Chamber of Commerce. “The economy’s up a little bit, and people seem to be shopping more this year...People are really getting into the holiday spirit early this year.”

Helene Cash, owner of Crystal Couture on the Square in Lebanon, said she is expecting a good number of shoppers for Black Friday.

“Last year’s Black Friday was a little bit overwhelming just for how busy we were, and we continue to grow each year,” said Cash.

She said the Black Friday pattern is slightly different for her store than for big-box retailers.

“Our mornings are a little bit more quiet,” said Cash. “We get busier in the afternoon…It’s a completely different environment.”

Rich Dixon, general manager of the Best Buy in Mt. Juliet, hired 25-30 employees in anticipation of a huge turnout.

With the recent popularity of electronic gadgets big and small, the big-box electronics retailer is well positioned to snag a good portion of holiday shopping dollars.

While the throngs of shoppers will do wonders for retailers’ bottom lines, they will also do wonders for the cities’ bottom lines when the cities collect those sales tax revenues.