While many Jefferson County businesses are holding back until the weekend sale prices traditionally aimed at the Friday after Thanksgiving, some shops are planning to take full advantage of what is known as the biggest shopping day of the year.
On this day, myriad businesses across the state and nation open in the wee hours of Friday to take advantage of shoppers seeking the best deal, but a number of Jefferson County businesses are bucking that trend.
Hadlock Building Supply, 901 Ness’ Corner in Port Hadlock, for example, is keeping normal hours this Friday, opening at
8 a.m., said Jacklyn Lovato-Kraut, the company’s marketing manager.
The business had opened early in past years but now is focusing on social media.
The Facebook-only deals it started last year proved incredibly popular and attracted about six times as many fans to the business’ Facebook page than before the deals were offered, Lovato-Kraut said.
The deals run from midnight to 7 a.m. Friday and include the first person “liking” a certain item posted on Hadlock Building Supply’s Facebook page getting that item for free or for some percentage off the normal purchase price, Lovato-Kraut said.
“Each one is a little bit different,” she said.
Those who participate in the Facebook-only deals will be entered into a drawing held at the store Friday for a $50-off coupon on any Carhartt products, Lovato-Kraut said.
She said one woman last year took home most of the deals and the coupon after staying up most of the night Friday.
“I think it’s going to be busier this year,” Lovato-Kraut said.
Hadlock Building Supply also will offer special Friday promotions.
Quimper Mercantile Co., a publicly traded business that opened recently, will not offer special hours Friday but will have sales on several items, Assistant Manager Holly Mayshark said Wednesday.
Quimper, at 1121 Water St. in Port Townsend, will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and will offer select brands of clothing at between 20 percent and 50 percent off, Mayshark said.
Quimper Mercantile Co. — or QMC — was formed after Swain’s Outdoor, which was in the same Water Street location, closed in early 2011 after having operated in Port Townsend since 1996.
Suzy Carroll, owner of Uptown Nutrition at 1002 Lawrence St., will have discounts.
“I have a huge sale that I’m starting the day after Thanksgiving,” with many items marked from 30 percent to 75 percent off, Carroll said.
She said the sale isn’t because of the traditional sales day — she had forgotten about that, she said — but simply because she has new lines coming in.
“We have five or six new lines coming in and 300 new products, so we need to have room,” she said.
QMC will be one of more than four dozen Port Townsend shops and restaurants participating in this Saturday’s Small Business Saturday, which merchants nationwide have transformed into an alternative to the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving sales.
Customers may enter the Hometown Holiday Sweepstakes at 32 Port Townsend shops for a chance to win one of two $500 prizes in local merchant gift certificates.
The sweepstakes is open to those 18 and older, with entries accepted at local merchants until noon Dec. 1.
Many downtown businesses also will be serving treats and other refreshments throughout the day Saturday.
For more information, visit www.ptmainstreet.com or phone 360-385-7911.
In Clallam County, Swain’s General Store at 602 E. First St. in Port Angeles and the J.C. Penney store at 651 W. Washington St. in Sequim plan to open early.
Walmarts in both Port Angeles, at 3411 E. Kolonels Way, and Sequim, at 1110 W. Washington St., will be open all night Thursday into Friday morning.
Walmarts nationwide are offering post-Thanksgiving Day sales at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday and again at 5 a.m. Friday.
Many downtown Port Angeles stores will offer specials and refreshments during Small Business Saturday, with 23 businesses celebrating.
The specials precede the annual lighting of the Port Angeles community Christmas tree at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets beginning at 4 p.m.
Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant contributed to this report.