Retailers Prepare for Black Friday | Video

Jessica Roose | 11/22/2012

Thanksgiving is nearly over and that means that the start of holiday shopping is about to begin. And this year some of the Black Friday sales are starting in just a couple hours.

Year after year shoppers hit the racks to try and find the best deals on holiday gifts and this Black Friday will be no different.

"I was just talking with my dad about looking at the sales to see if there`s the three things that I want to get that are expensive normally," said shopper Diane Kline.

Kline`s on the hunt for a TV, refrigerator and freezer but her dad, Jim, says she`ll have to go on that trip without him.

"Too much crowds. I`m too old," he said.

This year, those crowds can start gathering outside some stores before the turkey gets cold.

"It absolutely is earlier than last year. Last year we opened at midnight, this year we`re opening at 9:00 p.m. So a little bit earlier. Always when it comes to hours careful consideration is made about our guests, about our business needs as well as our team member needs," said Target Team Leader Lori Miller.

Which might make the decision easier on shoppers when deciding which store to go to first. Because three hours after Target opens, other stores like Kohl`s and Best Buy will start their sales.

"I think stores are opening earlier and earlier just to really grab a lot of that traffic that`s going to be out and make sure they`re the first retailer to actually get them in their store," said Best Buy manager Austin Binstock.

Preparing for the biggest shopping day of the year is no easy task.

"There`s definitely a lot of planning that goes into Black Friday. We have a lot to do all over the store as far as merchandizing, taking care of all our shipments and of course getting all of our people trained and ready for the day as well," Binstock said.

"We start preparing months in advance, just from the plans that we get from our headquarters partners, looking at our team member needs that they have for the holiday season, looking at staffing as well as just getting the store ready," Miller said.

A strong start that they hope will continue throughout the holiday season.

Several stores in both the Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck and the Dakota Square Mall in Minot will be open at Midnight.

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