Tuscaloosa retailers predict brisk business for Black Friday as pandemic eases

Tuscaloosa retailers have prepared for months for this Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season.

And while COVID-19 is still a concern, local businesses expect brisk sales this year and a shopping experience that will be a little more like past Black Fridays, as coronavirus cases have fallen, vaccination rates have risen and mask requirements have eased.

Kendall Thompson, the director of retail at Wagner's RunWalk, a said the running specialty store experienced strong sales during Black Friday in 2020 despite the pandemic and he predicts more of the same this year.

"Black Friday, last year, was one of our best Black Fridays that we had ever seen. So we have a positive outlook on this year," Thompson said.

"It's interesting (that in) the running store industry, we've seen a really big boost since the pandemic, people just wanting to get outside and be active. So it's actually helped our sales."

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According to the Alabama Retail Association, holiday sales in Alabama could grow by double digits for the second year in a row. The association forecasts that Alabamians will spend nearly $15 billion during November and December in 2021.

Charles Spurlin, owner and founder of the Shirt Shop at 525 Greensboro Ave., is also optimistic about Black Friday sales, although he does have some concerns.

A majority of University of Alabama students will be heading home for the Thanksgiving holiday, which means Tuscaloosa retailers can't rely their purchasing power to boost Black Friday sales.

Spurlin also said that not having the Alabama-Auburn football game in Tuscaloosa this season could affect Black Friday foot traffic at local stores. This year's game, known as the Iron Bowl, will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.

"You know that we're we're in a football state. We're in a football town and the Auburn-Alabama game this year is played in Auburn. So that will that will affect Black Friday," Spurlin said.

While Black Friday is always a big sales day, he said that Alabama football game days are the store's most busy and successful shopping days.

Meanwhile, Wagner's will experience its first Black Friday in its new location. In the spring, Wagner's moved into its new downtown home at 420 Queen City Ave.

"(In 2020 for Black Friday) ... we were in Midtown Village, so we did get a good amount of walk-by traffic on Black Friday," Thompson said. "So it will be interesting to see if that (new location) hurts us at all this year. But I do expect us to still have a good season."

How to handle shoppers' coronavirus concerns will remain an issue for retailers. Both Thompson and Spurlin said masks will be optional at their stores.

"If you're very concerned and you come in here and you got a mask on, we will put on a mask to show you that we're going to respect your position," Spurlin said.

Thompson added that Wagner's will continue its rigorous cleaning protocol to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

"We have hand sanitizer everywhere. We wipe down counters, we wipe down everything anybody touches regularly throughout the day," Thompson said.

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Alex Gatewood, owner and founder of the Locker Room at 2104 University Blvd., told the Alabama Retail Association that the pandemic could make things tough on late shoppers.

“Order early or you don’t get it this year,” he said, referring to lingering supply chain and shipping issues related to the pandemic.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa retailers predict brisk business for Black Friday