Janesville stores focus on customer safety
JANESVILLE — Local retailers are gearing up for big crowds on Black Friday, the traditional madhouse kickoff to the holiday shopping season.
But they’re doing it with more than cash registers in mind.
Safety, both for shoppers and staff, is their foremost concern, they said.
On Black Friday last year, a Walmart worker in Long Island, New York, was trampled to death in a 5 a.m. rush of thousands of shoppers.
The Kohl’s store in the Janesville Mall this year is planning for large crowds, said Vicki Shamion, vice president of public Relations and Community Relations, Kohl's Department Stores.
“We use several methods to attempt to control crowds including stanchion sets and opening a limited number of entrances to control the flow and direction of traffic,” she said. “We position associates at the front of the store in order to answer customer questions and direct them to locations of key departments and items.”
When necessary, Kohl’s works with local authorities to make them aware of early openings and extended hours to request increased patrols, especially when large crowds are predicted.
Shane Davis, manager of the Best Buy in Janesville, said his store would work with the Janesville Police Department for help during extended hours.
This year, Best Buy will open at 5 a.m., and Davis said its likely people would camp outside the story in anticipation of “door-buster” deals.
“Two years ago, people started lining up at noon on Thanksgiving,” he said.
Davis said Best Buy customers will line up in single file and be allowed in the store 50 at a time. Inside, they’ll be directed to where they want to go, whether they have door-buster tickets or not.
“Once the line gets moving, it goes pretty smooth,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty good system.”
Over at Target, employees will give maps to customers lined up outside to help them find what they’re looking for, said Jessica Carlson, a spokeswoman for the retail chain.
“Our crowd control program has worked successfully year after year, and we continually review and refine it,” she said. “Our priority is to ensure guests and team members have a safe, secure shopping environment.”
Employees and signs inside the store will lead shoppers to the “hot deals” that will be spread out throughout the store, she said.
“People will have plenty of room to shop,” she said. “We realize people are excited about all the great deals, and we want to help then have a safe experience.”
Nov 21, 2009 at 11:44 a.m.
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DiGriz...I have been meaning to respond to one of your posts. Thank you so much for the laughs each day. I look forward to your comments. Oh, I have never shopped the day after Thanksgiving (just to stay with the topic of the article)
Nov 21, 2009 at 9:11 a.m.
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Reminds me of those five terrifying words... "Ladies and gentlemen... The Who!"
Nov 21, 2009 at 3:33 a.m.
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I do not shop on Black Friday. The people act like animals! No amount off is worth the people acting like it is bar time rather that sale time!
Nov 21, 2009 at 1:31 a.m.
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good day to stay in the chicken coop.
Nov 21, 2009 at 12:21 a.m.
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I hate to shop and do so only when I absolutely cannot avoid it. When that happens, I phone a local merchant (usually in Beloit), tell him/her what I am seeking and they have it waiting for me when I get to the store. The time saved --- along with not having to deal with any hassles --- is well worth any extra cost. Plus, the merchant almost always does what he/she can to accommodate me ... and does so with a smile. It's a win-win situation for both of us.
Nov 21, 2009 at 12:13 a.m.
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DiGriz: Those "tripod things" are actually IUDs. They are showing up in boxes of products shipped from China. Rumor is that the citizens of that nation are protesting its strict population laws.
Nov 20, 2009 at 10:37 p.m.
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I love Walmart. We have a big family and it's saved us so much money. Also, where else can you get everything under one roof! Saves us gas too, no running around.
Nov 20, 2009 at 10:15 p.m.
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If a big chain like Walmart, Target, etc., is going to save me money over the small businesses, I'll shop at the big chains.
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:27 p.m.
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"Is there anything you people won't blame on our current government??"
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I don't blame them for Herpes, or those little tripod things that come in pizza boxes.....(I blame the Chinese for those!)
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:20 p.m.
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No1shouldHate.... Sorry but he is right on the sales Ill.vs Wi.Check out the filers for black friday in Rockford papers.You can save lots of $$ by shopping in Ill.I've seen big ticket items that were 100.$ less.
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
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(I've tried...)
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.
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(Wondering if Digriz can do anything outside of parentheses anymore?)
Nov 20, 2009 at 4:28 p.m.
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dkush21 - Do you even know what you're talking about with this minimum mark up law? The law is designed to stop retailers like Walmart from cutting their prices below cost. It protects small businesses from losing sales from big giants like Walmart. If you actually think about it, what are you gaining from shopping in Illinois? You have to spend money on gas to get there AND pay 3% more in sales tax. Tell us how much will you save? Is there anything you people won't blame on our current government?? Give me a break.
Nov 20, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.
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Uh, yeah, it's nothing to do with the sponsor.
Nov 20, 2009 at 3:10 p.m.
Nov 20, 2009 at 3:01 p.m.
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I'm at work and I've got mascara down to my chin, and I'm at work!
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I need a beer.
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.
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ROTF LMAO!!!!!!
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.
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DeGriz - Brilliant!!!!I'm trying to type through my tears.
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.
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(This comment was verbally abused, smacked in the head, and then beaten to the ground by the site staff, which was attempting to procure one of three Nintendo Wii's available for purchase at less than half of the manufacturer's suggested retail price.)
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:42 p.m.
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That's a nice thought, beeferer. However after growing up on a farm, that will never happen.
Nov 20, 2009 at 2:27 p.m.
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Going off of what "dkush21" said, I had a guest come purchase a TV from my Target store simply because Wal-mart could not honor the price advertised online because of WI mark up law. Target had it on sale for cheaper than Wal-mart's 'everyday low price' so he came to Target to buy the TV. So this state law also effects the retailers, but I'm sure Target is glad to take a sale away from Wal-mart any day. :)
Nov 20, 2009 at 1:39 p.m.
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I am quite sure Illinois does not want Wisconsin drunk drivers coming into the state after bar time so they can wait in line to purchase something they don't need in the first place.
Nov 20, 2009 at 12:09 p.m.
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Is it even going to be worth it here in Wisconsin. The Unfair Sales Act prevented Walmart to honor store ad sales that went on November 7th. People came in to stand in line for laptop, tv, etc. and the only thing that was honored was getting the xbox 360 for 199.95 with a $100.00 gift card. Poeple were mad. Alot of people were talking about going across to Illinois to get the Black Friday deals because they didn't know if these deals would be honored here in Wisconsin. To our state government officials who passed this minimum mark up law,DON'T CRY WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT THIS LAW IS TAKING REVENUE AWAY FROM WISCONSIN! And you have only yourselves to blame.
Nov 20, 2009 at 9:57 a.m.
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People could learn something from cattle.
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