The sun has set in Nashville. But from inside a mall one would never know. Stepping outside, cars and people continue to arrive. The customers that were earlier “just looking,” now, have slightly heavier loads to carry. Where there once was just a purse or an empty hand, now hangs a bag or two. The spirit of Black Friday continues in Music City with a strong, steady beat.
Seven green shirt-wearing “sisters” drove up from Manchester early this morning to spend Black Friday shopping in Nashville. The “sisters” are seven women who are not just sisters, but also include a mother and recently added friend. This merry band have made Black Friday shopping a twenty-year tradition! Every year they wear matching shirts. This year, the green “team”shirts with a rhinestone outlined reindeer under the neckline, were acquired in Gatlinburg last weekend by a “sister.” Early this morning, they hit Target on the way to Nashville. Along with visiting the Boutique Mall in Green Hills, they will also make at least one more stop at the Cool Springs Mall in Brentwood/Franklin before returning home. “It has been a fun, full day! Can't wait until next year!”
3:00p Back at the Boutique Mall which was deserted before lunch. Pulling into the parking lots and looking for a space was a much different experience than 4 hours ago. On this visit it took some time to find a space. Once inside the mall, the crowds were noticeably bigger, but still not large. Contrary to forecast, no teen invasion at this mall. But Santa was here talking to children and noting who was naughty or nice!
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A Nashville shop used live music to attract and maintain customers. Download file
2:45p. I've been getting dust on my shoes the since Midnight covering Black Friday in Nashville. But it's been relatively boring in terms of music. Only recorded holiday tunes. It took me 15 hours to come across a merchant using live music to attract and maintain customers. Surprise. It worked! A small group of Black Friday Shoppers were gathered outside this shop. Isn't this the Music City? Why haven't more shopkeepers tapped into the amazing musical talent in this City?
A cafe worker in Nashville tells me that business has been slower than expected today. Watch her in this Quicktime video clip, where you can also see a very different type of "steel guiter."
2:00p. Hillsboro Village is a bohemian pedestrian neighborhood destination just a block away from the Vanderbilt University Campus. With interesting gift shops, funky retailers, coffee shops, an artisan bakery and restaurants this area is having a typical sales day. A few people are out strolling, browsing in the shops, but very few are carrying packages. The purchasing crowds are not here. Where are they?
Karen, a barista at a local coffeeshop, tells us how she arrived at work at 4am and expects a busy day. The link opens a Quicktime file.
8:30a. In contrast to the crowed Big Box Stores and ordinary shopping malls, the only people in the recently renovated Green Hills Mall, a high end, boutique mall, were a few customers, mall walkers and store employees. Sales are off to a slow start this morning. But some stores in this boutique mall, such as Panera Bread, predict record sales. Other stores disagree. They contend that bargain conscious customers will skip this boutique mall and flee to the discounters, "sales will only be slightly higher than a regular day." Several stores forecast an onslaught of teenagers around lunchtime. Whatever? Check back to see if a teen invasion occurs...
5:45a Still an hour before sunrise and fifteen minutes to go before the Green Hills Hecht's department store opens. Surprisingly, only a handful of shoppers are waiting. Due to the near freezing temperatures, all remain in their cars. But this crowd is different. The cars and SUVs in this lot are filled, primarily, with groups of women. Friends, sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts and grandmas. Maybe it's safer to attack Black Friday in groups? Maybe, it's social shopping to the rescue!
4:45a. A lot has happened since my last visit to Walmart! The parking lot is almost full. Cars and people stream calmly, in single file. Once inside, the pallets containing only 10-15 of each “Blitz” Special item are still wrapped and guarded by employees. Around each pallet, it's standing room only. Customers, some lined since midnight, carefully protect their spot or even place a hand on a particular box staking a claim. Ten minutes early, several customers popped the lid on a crate containing "Blitz" DVDs. Outnumbered the employees allow the customers to rummage through the disks and man their stations protecting the more valuable items; laptops, HDTVs, desktops and GameBoys. As time approaches the golden hour of 5a, customers become more anxious. I wonder if this is how the pioneers felt before they staked their land? Finally, two minutes early, the crowd overwhelmed the employees guarding a pallet containing desktops and HDTVs. The rest fell like dominoes. As customers grabbed their prey, they beelined to the nearest register. Only a couple of people mentioned that they may buy other “sale” items. This Black Friday Blitz promotion certainly attracted people to Walmart, but it may not have the anticipated effect of stimulating sales of non-Blitz items.
01:30a Across town at a Walmart Superstore things are different. Even though this store is open 24hours, the parking lot is nearly deserted and very few people are shopping. But there is an extraordinary number of staff persons working. When asked, a staffer replied, “Our specials, the “Blitz” starts at 5a!” But the store is open already open. She responded, “ around 4a pallets will be delivered to different departments and the staff will “guard” them until 5a, when the shrink wrap is cut.” She continued, “last year was kinda of mild, but two years ago customers fought for these special sale items.” She expects this year that customers will again be fighting for the “Blitz” specials because she heard that Walmart will be offering high quality special items. Check back to see if any fights break out! I'll keep you posted...
11:54p One degree above freezing and only six minutes until the kickoff of Black Friday in Nashville. Pulling up to the parking lots at the 100 Oaks Shopping Center reveals deserted lots, except in front of CompUSA. This lot is full of cars. Why? CompUSA opens it doors at 12:01a marking the beginning of Black Friday in Nashville. Over two hundred people are waiting, some for over two hours, to get “good deals.” Despite the cold evening temperatures, everyone seems to be in good spirits and not necessarily buying gifts for others, but a little something for themselves.
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