For most people, getting up early the day after Thanksgiving is less than appealing, but for the avid shopper, hitting the stores the day after Thanksgiving is tradition.

"Shopping the day after Thanksgiving in an American tradition," said Erin Ricks, a 21-year-old senior from Pocatello, Idaho, majoring in recreational therapy.

Ricks said her family usually walks around the Pocatello mall looking for bargains, but they usually don't buy anything.

"It's just fun to be there," she said.

Stores around the state are gearing up for the crowds, and many are offering specials after Thanksgiving Day.

Super Target will have specials throughout the store, said Lisa Clarke, hardlines executive for the Orem Super Target store.

Clarke said Super Target will have many lower priced goods, especially typical holiday items like toys. The Orem store is expecting crowds of 20,000 the day after Thanksgiving.

Laura Larson, a 21-year-old senior from San Diego, majoring in marriage, family and human development, said hitting the stores the day after Thanksgiving is something she doesn't miss.

"It's an event," Larson said. "It's like the Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale. You just don't miss it."

Larson said although she doesn't go shopping with a particular item in mind, she usually ends up buying shoes and belts.

Scott Cox, assistant manager of the Orem Wal-Mart, said the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest sales day for that store.

Cox said he estimates 15,000 people will shop at Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving.

Wal-Mart will have merchandise from all departments on sale, but because of the competitive nature of retail stores, Cox said he could not comment on exactly what would be on sale.

Natali Montague, a 21-year-old senior from Blue Springs, Mo., majoring in English, said she goes shopping the day after Thanksgiving for the sales.

"I'm a big sales shopper," she said.

Montague said she enjoys shopping after having spent Thanksgiving Day inside.

Like many other holiday shoppers, Montague said she prefers to go early in the morning.

"I like to be there when the stores open," she said.

Some after Thanksgiving Day shoppers go because of the holiday spirit.

"I go because I feel like the day after Thanksgiving is the official beginning of the Christmas season," said Heidi Wolters, a 21-year-old senior from Salt Lake City, majoring in psychology. "I think that the stores think that also, and so there are usually a lot of sales."

Wolters said she always goes shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

"It's just so fun to go and start buying things," she said. "I've always done it. It's kind of like a habit. I usually go clothes shopping, but I also like to go and be in the stores because I think it's so Christmasy."



Copyright Brigham Young University 22 Nov 2002