Kennedy Mall was full of shoppers this Black Friday, although some said the holiday is not as intense as years past. "It is more calm," said Donna Weber, owner of women's clothing store Classy & Chic Boutique, which has locations at the mall and in the Millwork District. "A lot of stores do such a wide Black Friday now where it’s weeks long instead of just one day.
" While the National Retail Federation has predicted higher consumer spending in November and December compared to the same period last year, Black Friday no longer stands out as an individual day of sales. Research by Adobe Digital Insights shows certain type of products are cheapest online Thanksgiving Day. Cyber Monday as a whole has the biggest discounts of the holiday weekend, the research shows, while Black Friday discounts at many retailers start early in November.
Nonetheless, Kennedy Mall Marketing Director Logan Winn said he was happy with in-person turnout Friday morning. The mall, which opened early at 6 a.m.
, gave out "swag bags" to the first 200 people through the doors. "They got discounts, coupons, fun prizes," Winn said. Winn said the mall's efforts to entice shoppers worked, with more people, braving temperatures well below freezing, waiting for doors to open than there were bags available.
Kathy Nauman and Lisa Klein, both of Dubuque, said the day was as much about the fun as it was about the discounts. "We just like to get out ..
. go here, eat lunch," Nauman said. Mary Summers, of Dubuque, did .
