Thoughts on Black Friday by Executive Vice President, Tom Ray

This Friday is Black Friday, the official start to the holiday shopping season. The media is all prepared with their stories and advice on what to watch for and what to watch out for. This morning the "expert" on the Today Show suggested that consumers get to the stores early for the best deals and that supplies may be limited...really? I needed an expert to tell me that!

I don't set my alarm for 3am for much of anything in my life except maybe to catch an early flight or catch a trout. But hey, if crowds of people want to gather at WalMart at 4am, I'm not gonna stop you!

I like what the new electronics retailer did in my neck of the woods. I walked in yesterday and the greeter told me that all the Black Friday deals were already on the sales floor, no need to bust the doors down on Friday morning. Now that's convenient.

And doesn't it seem as if the holiday shopping season starts earlier each year. Black Friday used to really signal the official kick off of holiday shopping, but if your house is anything like mine, you already have a closet holding a cache of Christmas gifts.

I really hope Black Friday is huge for retailers, they need it. I hope shoppers sense the many signs of recovery and take a positive attitude into the holiday season. I also hope consumers take a responsible attitude into the holiday shopping season.

For those of you who set your alarm for 3am Friday morning, good luck, be safe and have fun. I'll be hitting the snooze button around 6:30am.

T. Ray
EVP, Jim Doyle and Assoc