Black Friday sales expected to bring out the shoppers

Makenna Cody of Havre was almost “trampled” buying a television during a Black Friday sale last year. This year she will be shopping online.

“I was helping carry the TV with my dad, and somebody hit me with the cart. I almost fell, but I caught myself. But we got it for a pretty good price, so it was worth it,” Makenna said, laughing.

Makenna’s friend, Jacie, is not put off by her friend’s previous experience. She will be shopping in person. She’s hoping to find good deals on Christmas gifts for her sisters and parents.

Black Friday madness will start early for many retailers this season. Managers of Havre Walmart, Herberger’s and Kmart have confirmed that the retailers will be open Thanksgiving Day. Kmart is looking to beat everyone to the punch. It will be opening 6 a.m. Thursday, one hour earlier than Walmart, and 11 hours before Herberger’s opens its doors. Assistant Manager Lee Richter is hoping for good weather. He said Kmart didn’t do “too bad” last year. “The weather worked to our advantage,” he added.

Debbie Friede, manager at Yummy Foods across from Herberger’s in Havre’s Holiday Village Mall, expects things to “get crazy.”

They did last year and she doesn’t see any reason why it wouldn’t this year.

When asked how employees felt about working Thanksgiving Day, Friede said her employees will be voluntarily working, but she will be understaffed.

Seventy-four-year-old Robert Gornell was resting at one of the tables in front of Yummy Foods. He was wearing blue jeans and a camouflaged baseball cap. Gornell had never shopped on Black Friday and had no plans to start this year.

“I don’t like the crowds,” he said.

There are a few businesses that will wait until Friday for their Black Friday sale.

Owner of Big Sky Images Ken Cyr does not have many good things to say about shopping or working on Thanksgiving.

“It’s a national holiday, and it’s a time we’re supposed to be with our families. It breaks up families. Thanksgiving is a day of thanks and appreciation. Pretty soon Black Friday will start Wednesday,” Cyr said.

Big Sky Images will open its doors 8 a.m. Friday.

Small business owners are not the only ones who put their employees’ family time first. North 40 Outfitters manager Sam Green said the Montana-based retailer will be closed Thanksgiving.

“We’re still family-owned, and (the owners) believe in letting people have time with their families. That’s why we’re closed Thanksgiving, and it’s the same reason we decided not to open any earlier Black Friday.”