Cordele Dispatch, Cordele, GA

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  • Cashiers Jasmin Laidler and Barbara Wilson assist customers during the Black Friday sale held at Belk. They opened their doors at midnight and remained open till 10 p.m. Becky Crissman/Cordele Dispatch

    Shoppers flock to stores
November 24, 2012

Shoppers flock to stores

Becky Crissman Cordele Dispatch

Cordele — Thanksgiving is officially behind us and now we find ourselves at the very beginning of the Christmas season with just 29 shopping days left.

Many citizens burnt off those Thanksgiving dinner calories by hitting the aisles of area stores in search of bargain prices on Black Friday, some of which began those sales on Thursday evening.

Belk, who began their Black Friday sale at midnight, had customers waiting outside their door as employees arrived for work at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night.

“There was a line down the sidewalk that began at our door and went down to Harvey’s Supermarket,” said Belk store manager Cheryl James. “The customers at the front of the line said that they had been waiting outside the door since around 6 p.m.”

The first customers in line each received a scratch off gift card, for varying amounts as low as $5. One lucky card recipient received a gift card for $1,000 to spend in the store.

“Everyone received something,” said James. “The customer who won the big ticket was very excited.”

James said that the store seen a steady flow in those first few hours and that it began again at around 5 a.m. Every staff member worked throughout the day Friday and hours were extended till 10 p.m. James did not even have to give any thought when asked about what she felt was the most popular selling item in the store.

“Boots,” she said fittingly wearing a shirt bearing the words ‘GOT BOOTS.’ “We had a wide variety of boots, some priced less than $20. Boots are very popular right now so we seen a lot of sales in that department.”

Black Friday shopper Irene Cantrell of Cordele, who began shopping at 9 a.m. said that her shopping experience had been good.

“I am not a real big early bird” she said. “But I have been finding many good bargains. Some of them for Christmas gifts some for myself.”

Amidst the prodominently female crowd of shoppers a male or two could be found, also seeking the Black Friday bargains. Tim Kilpatrck of Cordele said that it was his wife that sent him to Belk to pick up a few items.

“I got my list and I am getting that and getting out,” he said.

Kilpatrick was accompanied by his brother Mark Kilpatrick who was visiting from Troy, Alabama.

“We went hunting this morning,” he said. “That was our ideal Black Friday experience.”

James said that she and the staff of Belk appreciate their customers.

“We are glad that people shopped locally and gave us a chance before going out of town,” she said. “We did have some out of towners that came seeking boots that had sold out at other stores. We appreciate all our customers and thank them for making our Black Friday so successful.”

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