Stephen Gudan, 19, got in line at a Target store in Franklin at 2:30 a.m. to secure a spot so he could buy a $300 Xbox 360 bundle of goodies that included a $50 Target gift card for himself, among other items.
"I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet," said college student Gudan, who works part-time jobs at a Publix supermarket and Mapco convenience store. "I'm selfish this year."
Many consumers like Gudan said they're still nervous about the economy and will control their spending, but special deals on some big-ticket items brought them to stores to shop for themselves rather than others.
RelatedBlack Friday deals, 'hustle and bustle' drive shoppersWeekend mall hoursBlack Friday is whirlwind shopping day for old palsHoliday Gift Guide 2009Gifts for kidsGifts to make your girlfriend go ga-gaBlack Friday shoppersRetail analysts said scenes of sizable turnouts around the country indicated that the official start to the Christmas shopping season could very well end up with better results for retailers than last year's subpar sales totals.
"So far, we are seeing that consumers are willing to spend a little more than what was on their intended list," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at NPD Group Inc. "This is a big gift for retailers. It was missing from the equation last year."
In Music City, shoppers turned out for a wide array of early-morning bargains such as a 32-inch LCD HDTV for $246 at Target or a pair of $20 boots at Belk.
Crowds were large at the Prime Outlets of Lebanon's "Midnight Madness Pajama Jam" opening, with more than 500 people in pajamas lined up for free goody bags, said Ted Omohundro, regional vice president with Prime Retail. A rough head count showed 10 percent higher turnout than last year, he estimated.
(2 of 3)Real Estate Outlook: Pending Sales RiseRetailers close out best month in year
