Black Friday is only a few days away, and the 2009 edition of this shopping day is getting ready with its shopping deals. Many retail stores in Bakersfield are having different perspectives about this busy day.
“We are excited for this day,” said Loren Bornstein, store manager at Buckle in the Valley Plaza Mall. “We know we are getting really busy, so we are currently training our team how to multitask to get them prepared for that day.”
On this day, just as every other year, many stores open their doors at first light. “We are opening at five in the morning,” said Steven Dejong, store manager at Target on Wible Road. “We are expecting a lot more people than ever because I think we are a lot more aggressive with the low prices this year. We are increasing products as well as the staffing because that is going to be a real need on that day.”
On the other hand, due to the fact that unemployment rates are the highest they have been in nearly three decades, many retailers are worried that the consumers will be frugal on this day.
According to Banana Republic’s store manager Shelly Wellborn, “Everyone is facing a different economic situation which could mean that our sales might not be as productive as they were last year.”
“We are having different economic situations,” she said. “But I am afraid this year we are probably not going to hit the big numbers because of the bad economic situation some people are in. We are simply hoping to exceed our customers’ expectations and sell a lot more.”
For some Bakersfield residents, like Melissa Gaytan, 21, liberal studies major at Bakersfield College, this day is “the most exciting day of the year” for “shopaholics” as she remarked.
“I love shopping,” she said. “This year I am planning on going to every store if possible. I really don’t care if it’s really cold or if there is a lot of traffic, but I have to go. I can’t wait.”
On the contrary, for others, this day just doesn’t have an impact in their lives.
Bakersfield College student Wilfred Card, 22, believes this day is just like any other. “There are sales all year long,” he said. “It’s just that retailers wash people’s brains because they advertise their sales on this day a lot more. Plus, it is ridiculous how all kinds of people wake up so early in the morning just to buy things that in reality they don’t need. They are just wasting their money on bigger TVs and clothing when they already have some at home. It’s so ridiculous how people get so excited with this day.”
Regardless of the different points of view of this big shopping day, some public security departments, like the Valley Plaza Mall security, is taking in consideration that many people are going to be shopping that morning and that it is essential to keep vigilance to make it a pleasant day for those who shop on that day.
“We are taking this day just like any other day, but our staff will be ready for anything, and we are definitely prepared,” said Sgt. Sanchez.