For Many Retailers, “Black Friday” Quickly Becoming “Black Thursday”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For some of the world’s largest retailers, Black Friday sales are beginning even earlier this year.

Wal-Mart’s sale will start at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving day – two hours earlier than last year. Superstores such as Sears are following suit as well.

The reason? According to the Kansas City Star, last year, 24 percent of shoppers said they were at a Black Friday sale by midnight. Two years ago, that number was just 9 percent.

Retailers say the earlier sales have led to a 22 percent increase in sales.

Additionally, earlier sales help stores to manage traffic because it means not everyone is rushing in at midnight or the morning after Thanksgiving.