Big Box Stores Opened Earlier For Black Friday; 'Occupy' Protesters Rallied At Walmart

UPDATE (Friday 8:30 a.m.) - Crowds have filled Renton's major shopping centers this morning as parking is hard to come by. There were no reports of any major incidents overnight during some stores pre-Black Friday sales.

Media reports a small Occupy Seattle group will visit the Renton Walmart to send a message about a day they say fuels consumerism. They also plan to urge people to support local businesses. A larger Occupy Seattle group will go to Westlake Park during the Holiday Star Lighting Ceremony starting at 5 p.m.

UPDATE (Thursday 10 p.m.) - The Renton Walmart is filled with customers before the start of their pre-Black Friday sale at 10 p.m. Customers lined aisles around the store for great sales of laptops and flat screens. While others waited nearby for toys and speciality items as part of a logisticial planning to reduce issues with customers. The store hired four King County Sheriff Deputies to standby in case customers become out of hand due to the stores prices on electronics. The parking lot was completely filled by 9:30 p.m. and traffic around the store was begining to back-up.

The lines at Fry's wrapped around the store toward the back; while 40 people huddled under umbellas before the midnight opening at Target at the Landing.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.  Up to 152 million shoppers are expected to visit stores and websites during Black Friday Weekend, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Last year some 212 million shoppers spent about $45 billion over the four days, according the NRF.  is opening at midnight this year, last year the retailer opened at 4 a.m.

Writing in Forbes, Lydia Dishmah, provides an overview of "apps designed to help consumers shop smarter, faster and cheaper."  Shopkick, for example, enables shoppers to earn reward points just by opening the app in the entrance area of participating stores. Target is one local retailer taking part.

There's an official Black Friday website, TheBlackFriday.com, featuring Black Friday ads, sales information, and shopping tips.  Included in their tips:

• Decide what you want in advance, because you won't be able to cover all stores.
• Give preference to the big ticket items, because on these you'll save more.
• Buy only what you need so you don't end up paying a restocking fee.
• Avoid traffic congestion by parking away from the store and walking. 

Here is a sampling of Black Friday deals in & around Renton:

Walmart's Black Friday sale kicks off at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24 for children’s toys; more deals will be unveiled at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 25. and runs for 24 hours for electronics; and ever more special prices are promised at 8 a.m. on Nov. 25. For the shopper who like to attack the isles with a plan, Walmart offers a Black Friday store map.

Electronics appear to be again popular this year. A full 11 pages of the Walmart 31-page Black Friday circular are devoted to TVs, cameras, DVDs and other mobile and media-viewing devices; seven pages display children’s toys and apparel; and one page offers deals for holiday decorations.

Or, shoppers can get a head start by browsing Walmart’s Thanksgiving day online-only specials.

The one-stop shop department-grocery-electronics store will bypass Black Friday altogether by keeping its doors open on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. The store will re-open at 5 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, which is when the real deals will start during Fred Meyer’s six-hour sale from 5-11 a.m. Radio ads promise free coffee and doughnuts to fuel early morning shoppers. The store will remain open until 11 p.m. on Nov. 25.

Target will be closed on Thanksgiving day and re-open at midnight on Nov. 25 for Target’s Black Friday sale.

If the Black Friday rush isn’t your thing, Target is offering respectable deals on toys clothing, home wares and electronics in-store and online during it’s pre-Black Friday 4-day sale, which will run through Wednesday, Nov. 23.

After you’ve hit the early morning Black Friday sales, head over to Staples’ ‘early bird sale,’ which kicks off at 6 a.m. on Nov. 25 and runs through noon. While the early bird sale offers extra-special deals, the sale will continue through Saturday, Nov. 26. The office supply store’s circular advertises deals on electronics and home office supplies.

And then there are the coupons.

is offering a 15 percent coupon for any purchase from now until Nov. 30. Click here to print out that coupon.

At take an extra 15% off your entire purchase with promo code GOBBLE15 at checkout on any online purchase from Tuesday, Nov 22 to Sunday, Nov 27.

 is offering 15 percent off of your entire purchase through Nov. 30 with this coupon.

will give you 40 percent off of jackets and vests at the store with this coupon.

 will give you 50 percent off of any kids or baby item when you sign up for their coupon here. It appears to be a limited number of coupons rather than a free for all print for everyone so be sure to print it soon. 

is offering a V.I.P shopping bag filled with 11 exclusive products over a $100 value. To sign up for Black Friday e-mail alerts before the big day, click here.

If Black Friday and big box stores aren't you're deal. Stay at home, eat more turkey and venture out on .