It's still early November, but look out, shoppers -- you may have already missed a few Black Friday deals.
In the weeks before Thanksgiving -- the traditional start to the holiday shopping season -- plenty of retailers are advertising sales that are intended to jump-start holiday spending.
Walmart has a Super Saturday sale this weekend that promises savings on TVs and toys; Sears is advertising one on jewelry, electronics and footwear. Amazon.com shoppers will find timed deals each day and a countdown clock to more Black Friday-week savings. Michael's shoppers received an email blast about pre-Black Friday door busters on Nov. 1 and 2.
And Target, this summer, offered a Black Friday sale in July.
"It's evident that the holidays are coming a little earlier this year," said Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation. "It's just another way for retailers to excite customers to get into stores."
With a still-slow economy, retailers said they are touting early sales as a way to help shoppers spread out their spending. Many of the early shoppers are expected to use layaway, but others are simply looking for the best deals.
Target's July 23 Black Friday sale was intended to generate excitement about the store, and put the company at the front of shoppers' minds come Christmas, spokesman Lee Henderson said in an email. Later early sales are intended, in part, to engender loyalty to specific stores.
In addition to the early sales, Sears has begun price-matching this season, and cardholders are able to get 5 percent back on holiday purchases through the end of January. Spokeswoman Ebonne Just said the moves are meant to encourage customers to start shopping early.
"With the way the economy has been, Sears and Kmart are both trying to help this holiday season," she said. "It alleviates a lot of stress."
Shoppers at Walmart on Saturday will find cupcakes and balloons in the toy section. Because more shoppers are spreading out their purchases and waiting until payday to spend, Walmart spokesman Bill Wertz said the company decided to offer more bargains. The store typically does not have sales, favoring its "everyday low prices" mantra.
"It gives them a wider choice of when to shop, how to manage their purchases," Wertz said.
Grannis, with the NRF, said actual Black Friday sales tend to be storewide, while early ones are on specific items. As retailers compete for dollars, she said, they are trying myriad ways to get people to shop earlier and more often.
"Shopping levels are not where they were pre-recession yet," she said. "2011 has really been a rollercoaster."
