Old Navy welcomes Thanksgiving Day shoppers

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - Shoppers at one clothing chain didn't have to wait until Black Friday to take advantage of holiday sale prices.

Old Navy decided to try to get a leg up on its competitors. It was open Thanksgiving Day starting at noon.

Old Navy assistant manager Charlie Charles said, "If you take a look at what other retailers are doing, you've got one that -- no names, of course -- but you have one opening at midnight for early bird specials. So, if they're going to open at midnight, why don't we just beat them to the punch?"

Every advantage retailers can get will count this year. Trade groups and research firms vary in their expectations for consumer spending this holiday season.

A firm called America's Research Group thinks sales could fall as much as 4.5 percent from last year. Another association, the International Council of Shopping Centers, thinks sales could rise as much as two percent.

Most of the shoppers who spoke with 24-Hour News 8 said the economy had them cutting back last year and they intend to cut back this year as well.

Shopper Dawn Sanzone said, "We kind of cut back a little last year and we are still going to cut back a little bit. It's going to be a little bit leaner this year, you know, for everybody, I think."

Charles said she didn't know whether the store would get much business on a day most people are home cooking and eating turkey.

"We opened at noon and I was pleasantly surprised and very shocked. It's been fun to actually see everybody hustling and bustling because we thought for sure we would be deader than a doornail," she said.

It wasn't elbow-to-elbow inside the store but, in this economy, even a fairly good crowd of shoppers is worth celebrating.

For Black Friday deals, visit our Holiday Shopping section .