Some stores, malls to get a jump on ‘Black Friday’

Published 12:01 am Monday, November 23, 2009

EVERETT — With just four days to go before the day some call “Black Friday,” retailers are getting ready for the big day — the informal kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

“We’re just really looking forward to the holidays,” said Julie Tennyson, marketing director at the Everett Mall.

Like many shopping centers in Snohomish County, Everett Mall will offer extended hours, holiday entertainment and sales promotions to entice consumers.

The mall will be crowded this November and December with short-term holiday retailers that line up both in the middle of the mall and in vacant permanent shops within the mall. All of Everett Mall’s retail space with the exception of the former Steve & Barry’s store have been rented for the holidays, Tennyson said.

Although retail surveys show that shoppers won’t purchase as many gift cards this holiday season as last, shopping centers including the Everett Mall are running gift card promotions to bring in customers for their tenants.

Everett Mall will continue its mystery gift card offer through the holidays. Shoppers who buy a $50 gift card, good at most shops in the mall, will receive an additional “mystery” gift card with a value up to $100.

“I think people are still going to give gift cards this year,” Tennyson said.

For the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, Alderwood mall is running its own gift card promotion. Shoppers who spend $100 before noon on the day after Thanksgiving will receive a $10 gift card, valid at most mall stores, and a complimentary subscription to “Martha Stewart Living” magazine.

The mall opens at 5 a.m. Friday, giving shoppers seven hours to snatch up $100 worth of goods and show their receipts to the Merry Giving Gift Zone, near Center Court. Alderwood also will run its gift card promotion on Saturday for as long as supplies last. JCPenney and a few Alderwood stores will open at 4 a.m., an hour earlier than others on Friday.

Seattle Premium Outlets, in Tulalip, will open early on Black Friday with its “Midnight Madness” sales event. But this year, several stores have decided to open even earlier, at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Among the stores opening early include Calvin Klein, Gap Outlet, J.Crew, The Children’s Place and the Zales Outlet. An hour later, at 11 p.m., Carter’s and OshKosh open.

Starbucks will start selling its espressos at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving to keep consumers caffeinated for their holiday shopping adventures. Eager shoppers don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving morning to find out about sales at the outlet mall. The discounts that each store will offer on Friday and through the weekend are listed on the Seattle Premium Outlets Web site.

Holiday hours

Alderwood: Closed Thanksgiving; open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday.

Seattle Premium Outlets: Closed Thanksgiving, with a few stores opening at 10 p.m.; opens at 12:01 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday.

Everett Mall: Closed Thanksgiving; open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday.