Layoffs, football could impact Black Friday

With the scheduled closure next year of the Energizer battery plant in Maryville, local merchants are approaching Black Friday this week with a sense of guarded optimism.

In Maryville, as elsewhere, the day after Thanksgiving is considered the opening of the holiday shopping season. That, coupled with aggressive discounts, and the fact that many people have the day off from work, have made Black Friday the single most profitable day of the year for many retailers.

Ryan Gessert, who owns the local Sears store, said there is little doubt the announced Energizer layoffs will force some families to cut back on their Christmas spending. On the other hand, he said, discounts of as much as 50 percent on tools and appliances could spur customers to open their wallets in order to take advantage of savings on needed items.

"I think it's going to have an impact," he said "But I don't know what the impact is going to be."

Following the lead of retail giant Walmart, which last year took the step of beginning Black "Friday" sales on Thursday, Gessert said Sears, located at 1315 S. Main, will add Thanksgiving hours for the first time, serving customers from 8 p.m. until midnight before reopening Friday at 4 a.m.

As with other local big-ticket retailers, he is expecting the "big three" — tools, appliances and flat-screen televisions — to form the core of early holiday sales.

Gessert said "widening" Black Friday into Thursday could spread out anticipated crowds and make shopping more pleasant.

"I think we'll have the same atmosphere (Thanksgiving evening) as on Friday," he said. "It's always a fun day. That's one thing about Maryville. Everybody's pleasant."

Another unknown for Maryville merchants is the number shoppers who will be out of town Friday for the Spoofhounds Class 3 state championship football game in St. Louis.

Since St. Louis is about a six-hour drive from Maryville, it is anticipated that many people will leave for the game on Thursday and not return until later in the weekend.

Walmart Supercenter Site Manager Lonnie Scheffe said he's expecting a "good crowd" during the store's Black Friday sales push, which begins at 8 p.m.

Thursday, but acknowledges that the combination of anticipated pink slips and Spoofhounds fever will likely have an effect.

"That's a good question," Scheffe said. "You have both the football game and the impact from Energizer. Whether people are going to hold on to their money or spend it, and how the economy is going to affect us, I don't know. It's up in the air."

Scheffe said Walmart was already experiencing a "small impact" from the announced Energizer closing. "People are just leery," he said.

Walmart attracted considerable media attention last year with it's decision to begin Black Friday sales at 10 p.m. Thursday. This year, the opening sales event will start even earlier, at 8 p.m., with the last year's midnight promotion moving to 10 p.m. Friday sales will begin at 5 a.m., an hour later than in 2011.

As for what he expects people to buy, Scheffe said customers will likely leave the store with an assortment of electronics, toys and sheets and bedding — all big sellers last year. In addition, Walmart is adding tires and firearms to its Black Friday discount mix for the first time.

Elsewhere in Maryville, Brad Watkins of Watkins True Value Hardware, will remain closed on Thanksgiving but open at 6 a.m. on Friday, 90 minutes earlier than usual. In addition to toys, tools and Christmas decorations, Watkins said he is expecting heavy volume on major appliances.

Cliff McNair, who owns Best Brands Plus at 2605 S. Main, said he has "mixed expectations" for Black Friday given overall economic uncertainty and a mediocre harvest for area farmers.

"I guess we're just wait and see," McNair said. "But we're going to be loaded for bear, and we're planning on a great day. We've been busy today, so that bodes well."

Both JC Penney and Maurice's, an adjoining women's clothing store, will stage early openings at 6 a.m. Friday but remain closed on Thanksgiving.

Maurice's Manager Shelly Stiens said she expects most of her customers to enter the store looking for deals on sweaters, boots and other cold-weather gear.

Penney's Manager Janise Schaffer said a new chain-wide pricing strategy has spelled an end to the store's traditional "door-buster" sales, but that numerous discounts of 10 to 30 percent will be available storewide, along with a giveaway featuring prizes ranging from jewelry to family vacations.

Besides Walmart, Walgreens Drug Store at 1114 South Main, is one of the few local retail stores that will be open on Thanksgiving itself. Assistant manager Brenda Deets said the doors will be open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. during the holiday, and that most customers will likely be making last-minute food purchases for Thanksgiving dinner.