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Wal-Mart to offer Black Friday preview on Saturday

By Angel Jennings, Los Angeles Times
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For Wal-Mart shoppers, prices Saturday may look a little like those on Black Friday.

Hoping to lure shoppers, the world’s largest retailer will hold sales at its U.S. stores Saturday to give fans a peek at deals normally offered the day after Thanksgiving.

The sale will start at 11 a.m. and go until midnight. The event, known as Super Saturday, will offer deep discounts on televisions, gaming systems and other items.

Some of the featured items include gaming console Xbox 360 250 GB Console with Kinect for $399 plus a $50 Wal-Mart Gift Card; tablet book reader Nook Color, sales price $199, originally $249; and a flat-screen television LG 47-inch Class LED TV, $698.

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Customers can sign up at Walmart.com or the retailer’s Facebook page to receive an email with the full details of the Black Friday early preview.

This is the first time that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has offered Black Friday deals this early.

Wal-Mart and other retailers are expecting a tough holiday shopping season as consumers remain cautious after months of bad economic news.

Wal-Mart is offering the Black Friday specials early this year so that shoppers who are watching every penny this season can plan ahead, chief merchandising officer Duncan Mac Naughton said in a statement.

Some analysts said these early-bird specials might attract some customers who would have stayed home otherwise, but said they don’t expect the large crowds and mayhem typical of Black Friday.

Retail expert Britt Beemer, founder of America’s Research Group, said consumers have grown to expect certain things during Black Friday shopping, such as limited quantities and early-morning shopping.

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“When you don’t have those issues and ingredients, it’s just a pre-Christmas sale,” he said.

Other retailers have already announced Black Friday plans as they seek more shoppers. Macy’s and Target said they will open at midnight after Thanksgiving.

angel.jennings@latimes.com

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Angel Jennings

As assistant managing editor for culture and talent, Angel Jennings oversees the Los Angeles Times’ Metpro and internship programs as well as works closely with HR and department heads to help manage a broad range of responsibilities, including tracking, recruiting, interviewing and selecting diverse candidates for job opportunities and advancing the company’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and access. She also works across the newsroom on retention, training and career development efforts. Jennings previously worked as a reporter in Metro. She got her start in the Metpro program in 2011 and has since worked on assignments with many departments in the newsroom, including Metro, National, Calendar, Business and podcasts. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska.

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