Missouri shoppers out in force Friday

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. -- One for you, one for me.

Black Friday shoppers stormed the stores for holiday gifts, and if they happened to see a few things for themselves along the way, they were OK with that, too.

Several shoppers in Missouri said they weren't planning to go overboard on holiday gifts this year, but were picking up things they'd been eyeing for a while or needed for their homes.

Drawn in by sale prices on flashy electronics, their carts also included toasters, vacuums and crock pots by the time they left.

Analysts expect sales gains to be the weakest in five years this year. The Washington-based National Retail Federation predicted total holiday sales will be up 4 percent for the combined November and December period, the slowest growth since a 1.3 percent rise in 2002.

Holly Reid, left, and Jin Kim sit on bench outside Target with their Black Friday purchases Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, in Brentwood, Mo. (AP Photo/Whitney Curtis)

Holiday sales rose 4.6 percent in 2006 and growth has averaged 4.8 percent over the last decade. The day is called Black Friday because it is associated with the time when merchants' balance sheets go from "red" into the "black" of profitability.

Wal-Mart worked to attract holiday shoppers far in advance of Black Friday by offering "Secret In-Store Specials" that began Nov. 2 through 3.

Wal-Mart's approach was intended to promote online shopping convenience and to spread out savings for customers, said Melissa O'Brien, spokeswoman for the chain. Several shoppers Friday said they heard about bargains through newspaper ads instead.

In mid-Missouri, David Overfelt, president of the Missouri Retailers Assocation, visited about eight stores in the Jefferson City area, seeing brisk sales but nothing out of the ordinary for a Black Friday. He had spotted people camped out in tents in front of a Best Buy electronics store early in the day, and said a Westlake Ace hardware store reported about 170 people in line for deals.

"So far, so good," he said. "We'll see how the whole weekend goes."

Hushi Ding walked out of Circuit City in Brentwood, Mo., with his arms full Friday morning. (WHITNEY CURTIS ~ Associated Press)

He said it's not uncommon for shoppers to buy something for themselves on Black Friday, especially if they're drawn by a bargain.

When it comes to toys, families were mindful of safety after recent high-profile recalls of toys containing lead.

Brookside Toy and Science in Kansas City, Mo., a family-owned toy store that opened in 1964, said the business is known for high-quality toys. Even so, some customers were staying away from toys made overseas. "We've been able to shift gears and buy a lot of made-in-America things," said an owner, Jim Ward.

He said Webkinzs are hot sellers for children, roughly ages 5-12. The stuffed animals, made by Ganz, come with an individual code allowing the toy to be electronically registered and providing access to a Web site specifically designed for children. There, the toy animal can be viewed as a virtual pet, and children are encouraged to play with them and look after them.

Ward said science and craft toys always sell well, and puzzles were popular this year. For the specialty toy store, Black Friday is typically busy, but not a mad rush. There, too, shoppers were picking up some extra purchases. "It seems like they always leave with additional things," he said. "Lucky for me."