Ready, set, shop! Five tips Black Friday shoppers in Metro Detroit should remember

Michael Wayland / mlive

At midnight, millions of people armed with shopping ads, coupons and caffeine are expected to bombard their local shopping outlets looking to get a jump on their holiday shopping.

“Though many retailers are already touting select Black Friday ads, there’s no doubt we’ll all be blown away by what retailers still have in their bag of tricks for shoppers,” said National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay. “We fully expect to see excited shoppers as early as midnight at stores around the country, as many holiday shoppers would rather stay up all night to take advantage of retailers’ Black Friday deals rather than set their alarm to wake up the next morning.”

According to the NRF, up to 152 million people are expected to shop during the Black Friday weekend, which has morphed from a one-day shopping bonanza into a four-day blitz of bargains.

In Metro Detroit, Toys R’ Us and Walmart are starting their sales Thursday night, followed by a number of malls and large retail stores, such as Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target and Parisian opening at Midnight.

“Now black Friday isn’t even Black Friday, it’s oozed into Thursday,” Jeff Green, president and CEO of Jeff Green Partners, told MLive Detroit. “So what is black Friday? I think Black Friday is a day where those who want to power shop and view shopping as a sport want to go out and be part of the activity.”

Green, a retail consultant with more than 25 years of experience, said online advertising, early promotions and Cyber Monday have all contributed to the expansion of Black Friday.

So are you ready? Here are four things Green said all Black Friday shoppers should keep in mind this weekend:

1. Get your shopping done early

“Retailers have gotten so much better on their inventory control that they don’t have excess merchandise, so two things can happen: either they will run out of the more popular products closer to Christmas, or possibly the price will go up as the supply dwindles.”

2. Don’t expect fewer crowds

“People who want to shop will continue to shop Black Friday, they may not buy as much on Black Friday because they may have had more of it finished, but they’ll be out there.”

3. Don’t rush

“The pressure to get out is not there unless there are items you want that they only have a limited number of.”

Green added going out at Midnight is fine, but if you want to sleep in a bit, sales will still be happening all weekend.

4. Always comparison shop

Green said use social media, smart phone bar code readers, Black Friday apps and everything else at your disposal to shop.

“That’s always easier with things like electronics, toys and sporting goods and not as easy for things like apparel.”

5. Remember Cyber Monday

If you didn’t get everything you wanted over the weekend because of that turkey-coma hangover, Cyber Monday will still offer an array of deals.

“I think Cyber Monday is going to be huge this year.”