More so than in years prior, Black Friday shopping traditions have been extended and pushed forward, not back – to late Thanksgiving Day. This year’s Black Friday shopping specials begin on Thursday afternoon, just barely after your dinner has digested. For some, they may be shopping as the tryptophan is still in effect. 

Want the best deals? Be prepared to stand in long lines. Not up for waiting two hours on Thanksgiving evening to get the best deal on the iPod, digital camera, or HDTV? No worries. Stores will still be open, and offering spectacular savings, all day Friday. Small businesses are joining in again this year, too. Small Business Saturday is targeted towards those who want to shop locally, support local businesses, and gift goods created locally. Some deals can be noted on Cyber Monday, too.
 
Take a look at area stores and businesses that are offering stellar sales after Thanksgiving. Happy holiday shopping from ShoreBread!
 
 

Shopping Local

The Centre at Salisbury: If it’s raining on Black Friday, go to the Centre at Salisbury, the only indoor mall in the area. You can get all of your holiday shopping done before the sun comes up. Stores like Boscov’s, Sears, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Macy’s, and JC Penny’s will be offering their best deals of the year. Other specialty shops, boutiques, and department stores will be open at midnight and remain open until 10 pm. Santa will be at the mall Friday afternoon to take photos with children.
 
The Commons: North Point Drive in Salisbury, MD is another place to be during the early morning hours on Friday. North Point Drive is lined by stores known for their Black Friday sales. The shopping center, known as The Commons, includes Target, Michael’s, Best Buy, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and many more mainstream stores will be open for early bird specials. Some stores, like Target, will even be open as early as 2 am.
 
The Tanger Outlets of Ocean City: Located just one mile from Ocean City, the Ocean City Factory Outlets offer up to 70% off of everyday prices at your favorite name brand outlet stores. On Black Friday, the outlets will be offering even better discounts. The retail shopping complex is home to stores like Aeropostal, Bass, Carters for Kids, Dress Barn, Gap, Pac Sun, Rue 21, Tommy Hilfiger, and more. Non-outlet stores like Marshalls, Staples, Michael’s, and Bed Bath and Beyond will be offering great sales in the same complex, too. The outlets will be open Thanksgiving from 10 am – 6pm, close Thanksgiving Eve, and will be opening at different times throughout the morning on Black Friday.
 
The Tanger Outlets of Rehoboth: The outlets in Rehoboth, DE are kicking off Black Friday with a Moonlight Madness sale. Their after Thanksgiving sales start at 10 pm on Thanksgiving night. Choose a designated time to shop for great deals and extra incentive – prizes. Start shopping at 10 pm on Thursday and be one of the first 200 shoppers in line at the outlets and receive a $10 Tanger gift card. Be one of the first 100 shoppers at 2 am on Friday and receive a $20 gift card.  There is a Tanger Mobile App that can be downloaded for specials Black Friday savings, too. Stores like Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Hartstrings, and Lane Bryant will be offering 50% off anything in the store while stores like Hollister, Izod, Juicy Couture, Lenox, and Michael Kors will be offering a designated percentage off of an entire purchase.
 
 
 

Black Friday Superstore Deals

K-Mart: Thursday Doorbuster Deals begin at 6am on Thanksgiving Day and continuing until 4 pm. The store will close at 4 and then reopen at 8 pm, closing again at 3 am. On Black Friday morning, K-Mart will open at 5 am. Doorbuster deals on Black Friday run until 11 am. Check out the list below to see some of their best deals:
 
Thursday Morning:
  • A 23.5-inch LED 1080p HDTV by Seiki is $88 (originally $190).
  • RCA's 42-inch plasma is marked down to $200 (originally $450).
  • Grab the 32-inch LCD HDTV by Proscan for $97 (originally $250). 
Thursday Evening:
  • The 50-inch Proscan 1080p LCD HDTV is marked down to $288 (originally $700).
  • HP's 15-inch g6 Pavilion Windows 8 laptop is $300 (originally $500).
  • Canon's PowerShot A2300 digital camera with 5X optical zoom and HD video is $80 (originally $140) and comes with a free 8GB SD card.
Friday Doorbusters:
  • The 19-inch Proscan LED HDTV is on sale for $88 (originally $130).
  • Samsung's Galaxy Prevail no-contract phone from Boost Mobile is on sale for $30 (originally $100).
  • The Net10 Unimax no-contract phone is $40 (originally $80).
 
Best Buy: Best Buy is doing an online and in-store promotion this year. Their two-day doorbuster sales start on Friday, Nov. 23rd and end on Saturday, Nov. 24th. Stores will be handing out tickets to waiting customers who plan to line up outside of the store for deals. You must be there at least two hours before opening to receive a ticket. Check out the list of tech items below for nice deals:
 
Friday and Saturday deals:
  • Samsung's 15.6-inch laptop with 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive ($350, originally $574) is a bundle deal: Webroot Security software, neoprene sleeve, wireless mouse, and 8GB flash drive are also included.
  • Save big on the Toshiba 40-inch LCD HDTV (originally $420), which goes on sale for $180.
  • Purchase the 32GB iPod touch in Slate and receive a free $50 Best Buy gift card.
  • The Nikon Coolpix S9050 is 50 percent off at $130 (originally $260).
  • Motorola Droid Razr MAXX on Verizon is free with two-year activation (originally $800 without contract).
 
Walmart: Walmart’s planning on starting their Black Friday sales a little early: Thursday evening at 8 pm and another round at 10 pm, final round at 5 am the following morning. The superstore has limited quantities of all electric and tech products this year – more so than years past- so get there early! Check out some great deals below:
  • Buy a 16GB WiFi iPad 2 for $399 and get a $75 Walmart gift card.
  • Part of the Thanksgiving Day 8 p.m. phase, the store has an exclusive all-white glossy 4GB Xbox 360 and wireless controller bundled with a Skylanders Adventure Starter Pack for $149.
  • The basic white Nintendo Wii console will be $89.
  • Find the 16MP 6X zoom Nikon S3200 Digital Camera for $69.
  • The Nook 8GB tablet is $100 starting Thanksgiving Day at 10 p.m.
  • Walmart's lowest-priced television of the weekend is the Orion 24-inch 720p HDTV for $78.
 
Target: Like all of the other megastores, Target’s doing Black Friday sales on Thursday, Thanksgiving evening. Stating at 9 pm, Target will begin their holiday sales. 
  • When you buy any iPad, get a free $60 Target gift card.
  • Pick up a 16GB Apple iPod touch ($195) and receive a free $40 Target gift card with your purchase. A 16GB iPod Nano ($149) earns buyers a $20 gift card.
  • You won't have a dull moment this holiday season with a 4GB Xbox 360 Bundle (originally $299) complete with the Xbox 360 Gaming System, Kinect, one wireless controller, and two games — Kinect Adventures! and Disney Adventures — for $200.
  • The Nikon L310 Digital Camera (originally $200) will be half off at $100. Ereading has never been so accessible with the Nook Simple Touch; originally $100, it's on sale for $49.
  • Receive 50 percent off the Apex 32-inch LCD HDTV (originally $250), which will be $147 at checkout.
 
 
 

Supporting Local Businesses: Small Business Saturday

Raggamuffin: Raggamuffin, the adorable little store that occupies the yellow brick building on 24th Street and Costal Highway in Ocean City will be open from 10 am – 6 pm on Small Business Saturday. The fun clothing and accessories on the racks, shelves, and displays at Raggamuffin are beautiful and original pieces. Every item in the store is hand selected by the owners and staff. Take advantage of the cozy and warm fireplace in Raggamuffin. Enjoy good music, yummy libations, and get a free goodie bag with any purchase on Small Business Saturday. Photo, at right, from the Raggamuffin Facebook page.
 
 
K-Coast Surf Shop: K-Coast Surf Shop, on 35th Street and Coastal Highway in Ocean City, will celebrate their 23rd annual Surfing Santa Sale. Starting Black Friday and continuing through Christmas, shoppers will receive a free $10 gift card with every $100 purchase. Enjoy huge storewide savings on surf clothes, accessories, and products. K-Coast has tons of Ugg boots in stock for the holidays, too. K-Coast Girl, on 78th Street and Coastal Highway, also offers unique items in their ‘girls-only’ boutique. While planning you shopping trip, grab a gently used coat out of your closet and bring it to K-Coast. The surf shop will be donating gently worn jackets and coats to the Atlantic UM Church Missions to help some locals in need. Those who donate will receive a $5 gift card to be spent whenever. Last year, K-Coast donated over 400 coats. Why not shop and help others at the same time?
 
 
Bungalow Love: Bungalow Love is a little shop, located at 12 Williams Street in Berlin, MD, that has shelves stocked with local, fair trade and vintage finds. Many items for sale are one-of-a-kind. The locally owned and operated gift shop sells handbags, cottage furniture, silk throw rugs, pottery, antique mirrors, and jewelry. A Mermaids Purse jewelry, made with sea shells, beads, and metals, are a great pick for gift giving. Photo, at right, from the Bungalow Love Facebook page.
 
 
The Treasure Chest: The jewelry store that occupies 20 N. Main Street in Berlin has one of the most unique jewelry selections in Delmarva. Every piece of jewelry for sale in the store has been hand-selected by the shop owners. The store offers jewelry repair, watch batter services, local artwork, jewelry boxes, and, of course, lots of diamonds and gemstones. The staff at The Treasure Chest are always welcoming and eager to assist their customers.
 
 
Bruder Hill: Looking for a gift that’s a little out of the ordinary for a leading lady in your life? Bruder Hill, 25 Commerce Street in Berlin, offers nice women’s clothing, accessories, jewelry, handbags, and gifts. The backroom of the shop is filled with consigned clothing, too.
 
 
Ta Da: Ta Da is an accessories store and Ta Da Home is the place to go for one-of-a -kind creations. The staff at Ta Da and Ta Da Home, 27 N. Main Street in Berlin, is ready to help you with any shopping needs.  The team that runs the store specializes in hand-painted glassware and furniture. These items are sold in the shop with home accent pieces and distressed, painted antique furniture.
 
 
Christmas Spirit: Since it’s officially acceptable to decorate for Christmas after Thanksgiving, use Small Business Saturday to support Ocean City’s one-and-only Christmas shop, Christmas Spirit. The 2-story Christmas cottage is located on 24th Street and Coastal Highway. The shop will be open on Saturday and filled with ornaments, garlands, decorations, and gifts. It’s the perfect place to pick up some new holiday gear to decorate your home with or wrap as a present for a friend.
 
 
EASYLIFE: EASYLIFE is a clothing, art, and accessory company based out of Ocean City, MD. All EASYLIFE products are screen-printed on the Delmarva Peninsula and have a money-back guarantee. All designs by EASYLIFE were created by Ocean City resident, Joey Smith, and were inspired by natural settings, oceanside lifestyles, and easy outlooks on life. Want a Black Friday special? Enter coupon code BLACKFRIDAY online while checking out on the site and receive free shipping. This shipping special is valid on 11/23/12 only. Check the EASYLIFE online store often for new products, hand-crafted jewelry, and screen printed goods. For more info about savings and to learn more about EASYLIFE, check out the EASYLIFE Facebook page.
 
 
Zenna Wellness Studio: Zenna Wellness Studio of Berlin, MD is encouraging our community to shop locally. The studio is offering one-of-a-kind, locally handcrafted gifts for purchase in the studio. Open from 10 am to 10 pm on Black Friday, Zenna Wellness offers some neat gift ideas. Zenna co-owner, Chrissy Ehrhart-Knight says, “Our hardworking local artists in this community are sharing their talents with you. Choose to support our community. Not only feel good about your purchases, but give a gift that your family and friends will know you chose for them with only them in mind.” For sale at the studio are paintings on canvas, yoga clothing, pottery, photographs, cook books, swag bags, headbands, accessories, and gift cards. For more information, check out Zenna’s Facebook page. 
 
 
Plak That: Plak That is a new Ocean City based company that creates custom wood prints.  Started in July 2012 by Wyatt Harrison, the company has a website that allows users to upload their own photos and have them printed directly on wood.  Customers can add text and effects to their design as well as sharing it with others through various social media outlets.  Most people have seen photos on stretched canvas, but having your wedding photos, family portraits, or favorite vacation shots printed on a wood canvas is a completely unique and stunning look. Each piece comes ready to hang and is made of Forestry Certified pine wood. Supplies come from lower Delaware, manufacturing and printing is done in Salisbury, and the company is incorporated in Maryland. In addition to using sustainable products, Plak That is joining 1% For the Planet and the Arbor Day Foundation to sponsor the planting of one new tree for every product that is sold. Be sure to check out Plak That this Friday night the 23rd at Nest Boutique (11 S. Main St.) in Berlin for the Holiday Arts Night & Christmas Tree Lighting.  There will be numerous pieces for sale as well as some special coupon codes to use on their website. Visit the Plak That’s Facebook page.
 
 
Causes of the Heart: Causes of the Heart is a really neat Salisbury, MD based business that’s focused on charitable acts. Nikki Dennis creates hand-made paper products, one-of-a-kind greeting cards, scrapbook-style memory books, and other neat items and sells them in an online store. As noted on the Causes of the Heart website, a percentage from each product sold will be donated to a local charity. This holiday season, Causes of the Heart has created RACK cards; Random Acts of Christmas Kindness cards. The idea is to purchase a RACK kit, conduct a random act of kindness, and then leave a little note behind for the kindness-finder to stumble upon. The goal is to spread a little bit of holiday cheer and make someone’s day a little brighter. For more info about RACK cards, visit the Causes of the Heart website. Photo, at right, is from Causes of the Heart’s Facebook page.
 
 
 
 

Cyber Monday

Shoppers can enjoy deeply discounted rates on the first Monday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Large stores offer deep discounts to people who purchase items online. Cyber Monday is increasingly becoming more popular than Black Friday. Those who don’t want to wake up at the crack of dawn, stand in line for overly excessive amounts of time, and battle for the last parking spot in a lot the size of eight football fields. The chaos of Black Friday shopping is overwhelming for many.
 
Cyber Monday is a terrific alternative for those who would rather take it easy on Friday, or for the enter weekend following the holiday, and have access to a computer on Monday. Some favorite web companies that offer great deals on Monday are Amazon, Best Buy,Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Macy's, and Overstock.
 
Check local businesses that have online stores for great discounts, too. South Moon Under,  Malibu’s Surf Shop, Chauncey’s Surf Shop, and The Kite Loft are all local Ocean City stores that also have web stores. These .com web retailers may offer specialty deals very comparable to those in stores on Black Friday. Photo, at right, from the Malibu's Surf Shop Facebook page.
 
 

Happy Shopping!