Item’s print edition Wednesday will give you a jump on Black Friday prep

The national economy may be in a downward tailspin, but to shoppers looking for a bargain, pulling out the credit cards on Black Friday may prove irresistible.
For those who haven’t yet caught on, Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving which marks the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season.
Stores along the North Shore are gearing up for it by stocking shelves and getting the word out about their respective super sales. Those in search of bargains can find a few leads in Wednesday’s print edition of The Daily Item which will contain more than 20 sales inserts from a variety of area stores.
Although Black Friday is not an official holiday, it can have all the feel of one as shoppers anticipate door-buster deals and loss leaders used to draw them into the stores. Die-hard consumers are making plans to arrive at the mall before dawn to be first in line when the doors open.
Most historians agree that the term Black Fridayoriginated in Philadelphia, a reference to the heavy traffic on that day. However, many retailers tend to use the term as a synonym for turning a profit.
Although the media often refers to Black Friday as the busiest retail shopping day of the year, the description isn’t accurate. While certainly among the busiest in terms of customer traffic, it has not always proven tops in actual sales volume. No matter, it’s a day to indulge in the national pastime ? shopping.