Shoppers Jam Smyrna Target for Thanksgiving/Black Friday Sales

Kim Prasanerak

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA, Tenn.-- Hundreds of customers rushed through the doors of the Target store at 803 Industrial Blvd. in Smyrna on Nov. 22 to take advantage of discount sales on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Every year, Target is a hot spot for many Black Friday shoppers. Sales started at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The store featured sales on many items, including electronics, clothing and food. Team members worked hard to run a safe and fun evening that occurred until 1 a.m.

The Black Friday/Thanksgiving environment was very much different than a regular day at Target. Shoppers were on a mission to buy gifts for friends and family, and it got feisty. The crowds were wild, carts jammed the narrow aisles, and others walked in single file across the store. Miscellaneous items such as gift sets and stocking stuffers were on sale for as much as 50 percent off. Most of the shelves were swept empty by the middle of the night, especially in the toy section. TV sets were the most popular items.

People's moods were greatly affected by the rush of Black Friday shopping. Shoppers were stressed, tired and determined to buy popular items. When someone saw an item he or she wanted that was up to 75 percent off, they would grab it before someone else could. Because people were crammed together, pushing and shoving was a common part of the Black Friday experience.

Black Friday itself is not really that big of a deal. Most people know that they can order the same things online and save the same amount of money. These shoppers wanted to experience the adrenaline of the event firsthand.

A lot of people hyped up shopping around these times, and they wanted to see what all the fuss was about at Target. For some, it was a group activity for friends and family.

 Maxie Khetsisouvanh, a team member who was working Thanksgiving night, talked about her experience working on the other side as a sales clerk. She said it can be just as taxing for retail workers during the holidays as the customers who are shopping for gifts. Employees must ring up nonstop, serving endless lines of people for hours, answering people's questions left and right, and basically being five people at once. She said that this was her third Black Friday at Target.

“The crowds here are absolutely insane,” said Khetsisouvanh. “I’ve seen people almost get in physical fights, people running into the store, and mass shoving.”

Store manager Tim Larkin said workers prepared hard for Black Friday. Team members set up and arranged all the items that were on sale. They knew it was going to be a busy night in the store, so they were ready to go. Gates were set up outside of the store so shoppers could enter in an orderly fashion. Larkin said it was also essential to have security guards around the store to watch for fights and potential theft.

“Target has every single check lane open for two days of the year, Black Friday and Christmas Eve,” said Larkin. “Team members are stocking all the shelves, so they are ready to roll at 5 p.m.”

For more information about Target or to access its weekly sales, visit www.target.com.

Thousands Attend Mile-Long Yard Sale

By Ashley Corbitt

MSCC Buzz Reporter

            WATERTOWN, Tenn. – Watertown held its bi-annual Mile-Long Yard Sale on West Main Street at 7 a.m. on April 16, with hundreds of booths and activities and thousands of shopping options lining a main thoroughfare.

            Watertown holds the yard sale around the square twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. The yard sale was located off of Exit 239A of Interstate 65, roughly 12 miles north of Nashville.

            The yard sale is sponsored by the Watertown/East Wilson Chamber of Commerce. The chamber also sponsors the “Community Easter Egg Hunt” and the “Big Hill Challenge” that happens in June.

            The event drew thousands of shoppers from around the area to buy items from hundreds of vendors. Booths featured everything from food to antiques to tools and more.

Shoppers on the street.
Photo from Watertown website

 

          While West Main Street is only a two-lane road, it’s difficult for traffic to flow smoothly with shoppers flooding the streets. Police eventually made it a one-way road and directed traffic out of the square, closing off certain roads.

            There are many houses on West Main Street, and homeowners took advantage of the opportunity to set up their own items for sale in their yards.

            Popular items included glass items such as plates and collectibles. There was a vast amount of baby items to choose from for expecting mothers or parents. There were also booths for face painting and snow cones for children.  

            Parking was a hassle for those who arrived later in the day. Individuals parked on the street or in the grass, or paid $5 to park in various lots at churches and Watertown Middle School.

            “This was my first year here,” said Ashley Key, a shopper at the yard sale. “I did not know what to expect but there is a lot here, and I could probably stay all day.”

 
              If the yard sale was not enough, the city offered discounted tickets online for the Tennessee Central Railway Museum train ride. Collectibles and souvenirs were sold on the train.

            For more information about the Mile-Long Yard Sale, visit http://www.watertowntn.com.

                                                                                  ###