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Business & Tech

Somerset County Stores Prepare for Black Friday

Early openings, deals widespread throughout the county.

With the official start of the holiday season looming, thousands of shoppers across New Jersey will be waking up before dawn to get their hands on some great Black Friday deals. Here in Somerset County, there is no shortage of deals to be had on Friday as holiday shopping gets underway.

For those looking to visit the Bridgewater Commons on Friday, shoppers will find several of the mall’s department stores opening early. According to a spokesperson for Macy’s, many of its locations state-wide will be opening at midnight Friday, including the location in the Bridgewater Commons.

Highlighted Black Friday deals at Macy’s include 50 percent off all Sharper Image iPod and iPhone chargers, 40 percent off of select regular price coffee makers, tea kettles and espresso makers, and half-carat diamond stud earrings in 14-karat white gold for $199.

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If shoppers are willing to travel to nearby Morris, Hunterdon and Union Counties, Sears locations nationwide also have plenty of deals for Black Friday shoppers. Highlighted deals at Sears will include 50 percent off of Kenmore washers and dryers, 60 percent off of all men’s outerwear and women’s sweaters and 60 to 70 percent off of all fine jewelry.

According to Sears Holdings Division Vice President of Public Relations Tom Aiello, the company’s associates are looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of the Black Friday atmosphere.

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“I think one thing is, if you’ve ever worked in retail during Black Friday, it’s kind of a fun time period,” Aiello said. “You see a lot on the news about how people are in long lines, but when you’re working it, there’s a certain spirit in the air. When you’re in the stores on Black Friday, it’s kind of fun.”

For those looking to sleep in—or for those looking to hit more than one mall in the same day—Bloomingdale’s locations across the state of New Jersey open at 8 a.m. Like other stores, Bloomingdale’s—which has a location in the Bridgewater Commons—has plenty of Black Friday deals that the store categorizes based on type, according to Bloomingdale’s spokesperson Gina Heuck.

“We have a wide array of gifts highlighted throughout the store in a few different categories,” said Heuck. “We have the ‘Love-It List Gifts’ for the most sought-after gifts, ‘Merry Must-Haves’ for those under $100 and the ‘Nifty Gifty’ for top gifts for everyone on your list.”

Opening even later than Bloomingdale’s is Efinger Sporting Goods in Bound Brook, which will be opening at its normal time of 9 a.m. on Friday. Despite the late opening, however, Efinger’s will still carry plenty of Black Friday deals to ring in the holiday season.

“We have some coupons running; some newspaper coupons and some email coupons (for holiday deals),” said Patrick Hoey of Efinger Sporting Goods.

There are even more Black Friday deals out there for consumers. Lord & Taylor, located in the Bridgewater Commons, will be opening at 5 a.m. and has deals on cashmere products for men and women, as well as 50 percent off of kids’ dresswear, men's coats, topcoats and rainwear, and the same discount for all “AK” Anne Klein boots.

Kmart, which is owned and operated by Sears Holdings and boasts Somerset County locations in Hillsborough and Somerset, is also getting in on the action. Kmart stores will be opening at 5 a.m. on both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, and has deals similar to those at other department stores. Notably, customers can get a 42-inch Panasonic flat-screen television at Kmart for $399 on Thanksgiving Day. For the approaching winter season, Kmart will be offering Craftsman 21-inch single stage snowblowers for $299.99.

Kmart, along with Sears, is also keeping its layaway service open throughout the holidays, so customers who wish to pay for items little by little can do so instead of paying all at once.

“One of the things that is of interest is that a lot of retailers have brought in layaway this season, but for a lot of retailers, it’s ending now,” Aiello said. “For Sears and Kmart, it’s continuing.”

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