GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - If you go shopping tomorrow, you'll have lots of company.
Retail watchers expect the Saturday before Christmas to replace Black Friday as the busiest shopping day of the year.
For one thing, much of Black Friday's sales now take place on Thanksgiving night. Also, gas prices are down 30 percent from Labor Day -- which puts at least a few more bucks into the pockets of Wisconsin shoppers.
The economy has also attracted more consumer confidence. Because of all that, Kohl's Department Stores -- based in Menomonee Falls -- plans to have its retail stores open 24 hours a day from now until Christmas Eve.
Spokeswoman Ale Owens says Kohl's will trickle out a host of bargains through the period.
Jerry O'Brien of UW-Madison says lots of shoppers will look for markdowns -- but they're taking a chance on whether their favorite items are still in stock.
O'Brien, who heads the UW Center for Retailing Excellence, says retailers have done a better job of gauging their supplies to shoppers' demands. But those products with large inventories are more likely to be marked down now instead of after Christmas.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
