Shoppers say crowds, deals larger than previous years

Staff photo by Eric Schwartzberg Customers exit Bed Bath & Beyond in Deerfield Towne Center at 7:20 a.m. Friday, Nov. 27, after receiving a 20 percent off Black Friday discount. The shopping center's management is offering a free stuffed reindeer toy to anyone who presents $125 worth of receipts from its stores by Dec. 24.

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By Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Writer Updated 1:51 PM Friday, November 27, 2009

Shoppers at Deerfield Towne Center today, Nov. 27, said they found larger crowds and deeper discounts there and at other Warren County stores than on any other Black Friday.

Marlene Atkins said she found a “very good” deal on Under Armour for 9-year-old son Christopher at Dick’s Sporting Goods after shopping at JCPenney, Kohl’s, Target, Justice for Girls and Barnes & Noble.

Atkins said she spent less this year than in previous years of Black Friday shopping not because economic conditions are bad, but because great deals are so plentiful.

“This is one of the better years,” she said.

Kristie Husband of Maineville scored a free smartphone at 7 a.m. in Deerfield Towne Center.

“I love a good deal and Cincinnati Bell had really good deals,” she said.

The seasoned Black Friday shopper said she sandwiched the cell phone stop between visits to Kohl’s and Target.

She said she planned to spend a little more this Black Friday than last year.

“Every year is different,” Husband said.

Tina Schaeffer of Mason shivered in the cold air outside The Learning Express shortly before the store’s 8 a.m. opening to take advantage of discounts of 25 percent or more.

Earlier in the morning, she browsed televisions and toys at Walmart before purchasing a $7 coat for her 9-year-old son.

Available parking spaces there were sparse.

“I had to park in the lot of the businesses in front of (Walmart),” she said.

Schaeffer said the crowd inside was much larger than in past years.

“They’re packed,” she said. “It’s a lot crazier now.”

Debbie Story of Pennsylvania came to Maineville for Thanksgiving and joined her daughter and her daughter’s mother-in-law on Black Friday to shop at Walmart and Target before stopping at Deerfield Towne Center’s Bed Bath & Beyond, which took 20 percent off purchases made between 6 and 10 a.m.

Story said the stores she visited saw more customers this year than last.

“It’s a lot worse,” she said. “The lines are a lot longer. They were all the way around the stores.”

Wendy Johnson, manager of Deerfield Towne Center, said many shoppers come for the early morning doorbuster sales at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Bed Bath & Beyond, then dine at the shopping center’s eateries before moving on to other stores that open later in the day.

She said customers who brings receipts totaling $125 to Deerfield Towne’s Center management office will receive a free, “Deerfield Reindeer” stuffed animal.

“It’s a little plush toy about eight inches tall and the kids love them,” she said. “We tried it last year and did very well. We could definitely account for a quarter of a million dollar’s worth of sales with that promotion.”

Cincinnati Premium Outlets

Althought Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Monroe had a surge of shoppers in the hours after opening for its Midnight Madness sale at 10 p.m. Thursday, there was a lull in shoppers and parking spaces were available around 8 a.m. Friday morning. A shuttle service was running from the overflow parking at the nearby Home Depot Distribution Center.

Niki Lozier, 16, of Liberty Twp., said she was ready to start shopping at the outlet mall by 5 a.m. Friday. Her mother, Barbara Lozier, had different ideas.

“I was hoping she’d sleep in,” said Barbara Lozier. “It’s my first time out on Black Friday because she had to shop.”

The call of Black Friday deals was loud and clear for Niki Lozier. She said she’s been baby-sitting and saving her hard-earned money.

“I had cash ready to burn,” Niki Lozier said.

Staff Writer Marie Rossiter contributed to this report.

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