November 19, 2007: 09:26 AM EST
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the first time ever, Wal-Mart is moving the traditional "Black Friday" shopping event up one day early, aiming to catch early-bird shoppers as the turkey hits the table.
Also today, Wal-Mart announces one of its "Secret In-Store Specials," available this Friday -- a KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer for $139 - and posts on-line its entire "Black Friday" advertising circular, full of great savings on hundreds of items.
Three Days of Black Friday Deals, Starting
-- Online Thursday: On Thanksgiving Day, shoppers can go to Walmart.com
(http://www.walmart.com) to find online specials on many of the
season's hottest items in electronics, toys, apparel and home, with
free shipping through its Site to Store program. While on the site
Thursday, shoppers also can see Wal-Mart's Friday "Secret In-Store
Specials" -- additional savings not in the circular and available in
stores the next day.
-- In Stores Friday: From 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov. 23, Wal-Mart stores will
ring in huge savings on traditional Black Friday offers advertised in
its circular and through its "Secret In-Store Specials" revealed
online. Friday's specials will be available while supplies last. Also
on Friday, Walmart.com will reveal a new set of "Secret In-Store
Specials" available Saturday through Sunday.
-- In Stores Saturday: Beginning Saturday, Nov. 24, at 8 a.m., shoppers
can grab savings on a totally new set of "Secret In-Store Specials"
available while supplies last through Sunday. In addition, many items
advertised in Wal-Mart's Black Friday circular are also available
through Saturday.
"It's time to expand 'Black Friday' into three full days for the millions who want this convenience and need these savings," says John Fleming, chief merchandising officer, Wal-Mart Stores U.S. "With strong preparations and more registers open than ever before, we're looking forward to welcoming America into our stores."
A taste of special Thanksgiving Day savings only on http://www.walmart.com include:
-- Motorola H670 Bluetooth Earset -- $24.87 (nearly 60% savings)
-- Zune 30GB MP3 Video Player -- $98.87 (nearly 25% savings)
-- Garmin Nuvi 650 Portable GPS System -- $298.87 (more than 30% savings)
Examples of "Black Friday" circular savings in Wal-Mart stores offered Friday, 5 a.m. through 11 a.m. include:
-- Polaroid 32 inch LCD HDTV -- $448 ($100 savings)
-- Polaroid 42 inch LCD HDTV -- $798 ($400 savings)
-- Sony Cybershot Camera (7.2 MP) -- $79.87 ($50 savings)
-- 8 inch Digital Picture Frame -- $49.84 ($50 savings)
-- Garmin Street Pilot c330 GPS -- $128.88 ($50 savings)
-- Select Toys for just $10 -- such as the Transformers Bonus 2-pack,
Little Mommie Bedtime Baby, Chicken Dance Elmo, Scene It Jr. DVD Board
Game, and Moon Sand Sandcastle (savings up to 50%)
Not One, but TWO Fridays This Week
Because these moves may change the way power shoppers view the week, Wal-Mart has petitioned Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal at London's Royal National Observatory, to declare that Sat., Nov. 24 also officially be named a "Friday," giving the week two actual "Black Fridays" as deserved.
"There are various kinds of shoppers and some don't want to go out on Friday, but by Saturday most people want to get out of the house and they still want to be able to save like their friends did the day before," said Fleming. "We're providing that opportunity for an additional 'Black Friday' event, all over again."