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Expert: Black Friday Not Just A Day, It's A Season

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Nov 28, 2008 7:03 pm US/Eastern

Expert: Black Friday Not Just A Day, It's A Season

Reporting
Jon Delano
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Downtown Pittsburgh was not particularly crowded on Black Friday, although lots of kids and the young at heart could be found skating at PPG Plaza and the family traditions of visiting the Kaufmann's - now Macy's -- windows and Santa's Workshop remain popular.

Still, as Pat Murphy, of Wilkinsburg, put it, "The lines to get into Santa's Workshop were a lot less."

With so many people watching their pennies, stores are trying hard to get folks to spend.

"This was a very interesting Black Friday because retailers were so concerned about the holiday season that they've been pushing sales for many, many weeks now. So in a sense Black Friday isn't just a day - it's a season," says Duquesne University professor Audrey Guskey.

Out at Ross Park Mall, Black Friday parking was a challenge.

"It's been busy," says Lisa Earl, the Ross Park Mall manager. "It's not necessarily crazy. I think it's a good crowd. It's relaxed. Everybody seems to be enjoying themselves, but it is busy."

So was this a record-breaking Black Friday?

"I was kind of surprised," noted Teri Walter, of McCandless, who was shopping at Ross Park Mall. "With everything going on in the economy, I didn't think it would be this crowded."

Not everyone agreed.

"I think it's about the same," said Colleen Messmer, of McCandless. "I think it's about the same."

And not everyone was here to shop, as one young husband candidly admitted to KDKA's Money Editor Jon Delano.

Delano: "Why are you here?"

"Cause she's here," said Joe Torrance, of Bloomfield, pointing to his wife, Ginny. "I don't know -- just tagging along."

But many others have just one mantra.

"Shop, shop, shop," says Margaret Baker, formerly of Monroeville and now of Austinville, Ohio.

She estimates that her family spent "probably about ... close to a thousand maybe."

Not bad given the great sales.

Still, the most honest man at the mall had this assessment of Black Friday.

"It's been slow compared to last year - it's been real slow," Santa Claus told KDKA.

Of course, if you're one of the many who missed all the sales of Black Friday, don't worry about it. Consumer experts say the sales are likely to continue all the way through Christmas. In fact, they might get a little bit better.



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