Black Friday madness begins early - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

The holiday shopping season is here, and with it come door buster deals, long lines, and, of course, those early morning stampedes.

But this year, shoppers can expect all the madness will start a little early.

"There's are a great group of folks that want to shop early and get to bed earlier," Duncan Mac Naghton, Chief Merchandise and Marketing Officer said.

Many stores, like Wal-Mart and Sears, say they'll begin Black Friday sales at 8:00 Thanksgiving night.

"We're really anticipating a really strong holiday season," Sears Store Manager Dean Whipple said.

Experts say the earlier hours could help bring in more shoppers for what many are saying will be a competitive season.

"You can eat your dinner clean your dishes, buy at 8, go home and rest and at 5 o'clock by some more," Mac Naghton said.

The National Retail Federation expects holiday shopping will jump more than 4 percent this year. Even locally owned businesses say they'll be taking advantage.

"It's great exposure that everyone needs and wants and it plants a seed whether they're buying that day or coming back later," Owner of Nicole's Boutiques, Nicole Chickering said.

Chickering has owned Nicole's Boutique for 15 years. In that time she has seen her fair share of Black Friday's. This year, she says she plans to advertise new deals and promotions, hoping to get holiday shoppers through their doors.

"It really helps to get that added exposure that you want at this time of the year," Chickering said.

So the long lines and stampedes will still happen. But now with even less time for eager shoppers to digest their turkey.