ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – The start of the Holiday Shopping season has moved around in recent years.
But whether it’s Black Friday or Brown Thursday….shoppers in the Green Bay area know their stuff, put their game face on and then take on the crowds.
Shopko, at Bay Park Square in Ashwaubenon, was the center of the shopping universe for hundreds of people when the doors opened Thursday afternoon.
“You do have to game plan. We plan about a week ahead and get all the ads and stuff.”
Pearl was ready to go….so was her friend, Chandra…
“Yeah…I would say we’re pros. We plan in advance and get it done. Lot of eating….cocoa.”
For 25 years Jim DePaul, Senior V-P of Stores for Shopko, has gone through what used to be known as Black Friday.
“Despite all the hype of all the business that goes online Black Friday for the brick and mortar retailer is still the biggest day of the year.”
But Brick & Motar has had to change with the times.
Online shopping is much bigger than it was 20 years, or even 10 years ago.
DePaul says retailers like Shopko have had to change with the times to embrace e-commerce.
He says for many retailers the sales between now and the end of the year count for 50-percent of their yearly profit
Meanwhile, some shoppers say they hope to finish off their work this week.
In addition to scoping the ads, they’ve even been checking out the layout of stores ahead of time.
One other tip….the veteran shoppers say you have to pack your patience.
“One year we were at WalMart and sat in the paint can aisle for about 10 hours to get a TV.”
