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• Black Friday 2009 (Part 1 of 2)

Congratulations.  You’ve just spent hours outside of your favorite retail store in the cold in anticipation of scoring some great Black Friday deals.

At this point, there is a good chance that you may not be able to feel your fingers.  I promise that the blood will get flowing again once those doors open.  Experience has taught me a few lessons on how to manage in the in-store shopping madness.

First, keep in mind that a growing number of stores have their employees walk the crowd prior to the store opening.  These staffers will offer certificates for some of their hottest sale items.  Once in the store, you simply take your certificate to a register and they will have the product ready for you.  This is a great advancement in the Black Friday shopping process.  It ensures those first to arrive get the advantage they deserve.  It also cuts down on a frantic crowd running towards certain areas of the store all at once.  Depending on how many things you’re planning to purchase, it’s a good idea to call the store and see how they will be handling distribution of their most popular Black Friday merchandise.

When there are not tickets distributed, take a “divide and conquer” approach once you get inside the store.  Have each person in your group responsible for finding specific products or covering a certain region of the store.  Black Friday items can go very quickly.  It just doesn’t make sense to have your group all walking an isle together looking for the same item.  Cell phones and walkie-talkies have made this process so much easier.  Make sure to have those cell batteries charged.  You’ll be using them frequently as you call others in the group to see what they found or where in the store they are located.

If you’re planning to visit a store to pick-up a number of smaller items, make sure to bring a bag.  Shopping carts can go quickly so don’t plan on having one available.  More importantly, carts are almost impossible to maneuver down aisles and around the store when there are a zillion other shoppers.  I’ve been in Menards when people where grabbing Rubbermaid totes as makeshift carts.  It wasn’t a pretty sight.  Bring your own shopping bag and you’ll have a real mobility edge.

Finally, any Black Friday shopping pro will tell you that well over half of the time you spend in-store can be spent just waiting in the payment line.  It’s all a part of the fun.  Do not expect to get in and out quickly.

Once you’re home and have unloaded all your bargain items, it’s time to finally get a little sleep and dream about your 2010 Black Friday plans.

About the author: Dan Peters

Dan Peters is a 30-something administrator at Hastings College where he tries daily to convince students that he’s not nearly as old as they think he is. Having grown-up in central Nebraska, Dan knows all the spots to have fun, eat a ton and find a celebration. Dan is a huge fan of Jimmy Buffett and is committed to the idea of one day having Jimmy play at the Adams County Fair.