Black Friday shopping might be quiet this year
Many retailers began offering Black Friday Deals as early as October 1.
It's the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season with Black Friday.
Many places began offering deals earlier this year, with some retailers kicking off their deals as early as October.
For months, we've seen shortages on the shelves, leading to some early Christmas shopping.
And with stores accommodating that pre-holiday rush, experts are now predicting a quiet Black Friday ahead.
"I am not sure we're going to have that much enthusiasm for that particular practice, you know. National retailing federation says people like to get back out in the stores. Those that like to shop will go out and have the experience. But I don't know since they had deals going on since October. And the press says it's going to continue and continue. Amazon had a prime day, I don't think people are so compelled to go out there." said University of Iowa marketing professor Nancy Abram said.
Many shoppers say they'd rather shop local and support small businesses, than run to the big box retailers.
"I do try to go in store and really buy from places that are only in Cedar Rapids or only in Iowa. I am a big fan of Etsy though, and sometimes those deals are good too," Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Research Specialist Lucy Schneekloth said.
Many shoppers say the nearly 8-week jump on holiday savings comes as a welcome relief, while inflation still weighs heavy on Iowans' wallets.
"Little bit on the inflation side, just trying to find good deals and best deals. Making my money go a little further with getting some of these discounts," Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Workforce Specialist Laura Seyfer said.
But those discounts may not do any good if you can't find what you're looking for.
Experts say there's still a national shortage of electronics and appliances.
So if you've got your heart set on a hard find, start looking now.
A number of retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day.
The main ones will be Hy-Vee, Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club, Kohl's and Sephora.
Your best bet would be to call ahead if you're hoping to shop after your turkey dinner.
