Hundreds of Clallam County shoppers fought the early morning chill and the urge to hit the snooze button for Black Friday door-buster sales in Port Angeles and Sequim.

Store managers reported similar volumes as last year as the Christmas shopping season officially got under way.

“It was almost identical to last year,” said Paul Quinn, manager of the J.C. Penney Co. store at 651 W. Washington St. in Sequim.

“I would estimate we had roughly 250 through the door in the first five minutes,” he said.

“People were parked out in the lot a quarter after 3. We opened a few minutes before 4 [a.m.],” he said.

“It was unbelievable.”

The day after Thanksgiving is widely touted as the biggest shopping day of the year and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season.

It is often called Black Friday because it’s supposedly the point in the year when retailers begin to turn a profit, or get “in the black.”

Quinn said the temperature dropped just before dawn, which drove some customers to the coats and outerwear.

Other popular items at J.C. Penney were appliances, women’s boots and jewelry, Quinn said.

In Port Angeles, Swain’s General Store drew its typical early morning crowd.

Store manager Don Droz said there were “just under 200” when the doors swung open at 5 a.m. at the store at 602 E. First St.

The first 100 Swain’s customers received a $10 gift card for the landmark Port Angeles variety store.

“We went through those within a few minutes,” Droz said.

“The line kept coming in.”

Jackets and other cold-weather gear were selling fast at Swain’s, which was buzzing with activity as Santa arrived at noon.

“It’s just crazy,” Droz said.

The four weeks between Black Friday and Christmas account for 15 percent of Swain’s annual sales, Droz has said.

Walmart got a jump on the rush by offering a sales promotion for toys, home goods and apparel at 10 p.m. Thursday and electronics two hours later at midnight.

The big event in downtown Port Angeles this year was Saturday rather than Friday, said Barb Frederick, executive director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association, or PADA.

Saturday was designated Small Business Saturday, and many stores offered specials and extended hours that day, while PADA sponsored the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets.

In Port Townsend, merchants opted for offering extended hours and specials during Small Business Saturday rather than opening very early on the traditional Black Friday.

Forks Outfitters opened at its regular time of 8 a.m. Friday instead of the 7 a.m. of past Black Fridays.

There was no initial rush at the door, but store manger Dave Gedlund said business was brisk beginning at about 10 a.m.

“Its been real strong,” Gedlund said Friday afternoon.

Clothing, hardware and sporting goods were the top sellers at Forks Outfitters, which works its Black Friday sales forecast around West End customers who travel to Silverdale and Port Angeles for door-buster sales, Gedlund said.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.