SHOPPERS SET FOR DAWN PATROL.Byline: Candice Choi Staff Writer Marissa Gold is getting up at the crack of dawn to storm the malls today. The Encino woman already finished most her shopping, but trekking out to the malls the day after Thanksgiving is as much a part of the holidays as carols and mistletoe mistletoe, common name for the Loranthaceae, a family of chiefly tropical hemiparasitic herbs and shrubs with leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries. They have green leaves, but they manufacture only part of the nutrients they require. . ``It's part of the whole experience of getting into the spirit,'' Gold said. ``All the lights up and the windows are decorated and the trees are lit, and it's just a great people-watching experience.'' Like countless others, Gold does a lot of her shopping online these days. In fact, online retail is expected to reach $21.6 billion, a 19 percent increase over last year, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report by JupiterResearch. At Visa, e-commerce increased by about 50 percent from last year going into the holiday season, said spokesman Mike Yakel. Still, shoppers like Gold are expected to dive into the brick-and-mortar crowds in record numbers this year. Although the Saturday before Christmas traditionally dominates in terms of sales Terms of sale Conditions under which a firm proposes to sell its goods or services for cash or credit. , Black Friday Black Friday, Sept. 24, 1869, in U.S. history, day of financial panic. In 1869 a small group of American financial speculators, including Jay Gould and James Fisk, sought the support of federal officials of the Grant administration in a drive to corner the gold clocks in with the highest number of shoppers, said Scott Krugman, spokesman for the National Retail Federation. And Black Friday is set to be even more chaotic this year since Christmas falls on a Saturday, Krugman said. ``That could diminish the importance of the Saturday before Christmas,'' he said. Malls are bracing for the pandemonium Pandemonium Milton’s capital of the devils. [Br. Lit.: Paradise Lost] See : Confusion Pandemonium chief city of Hell. [Br. Lit.: Paradise Lost] See : Hell . ``I'm a glutton glutton: see wolverine. for punishment,'' said Woodland Hills resident Karen Gasbarro, who plans to ``dump her kids off'' somewhere for the day so she can hit the stores. Getting up early will be a cakewalk for Calabasas resident Cathy Balin, who's an early riser anyway. She and her sister Linda Elmont, who is visiting from Boston, plan to have the coffee brewing by 6 a.m. and be wrestling with the throngs of shoppers by 7:30 a.m. The early morning spending spree Noun 1. spending spree - a brief period of extravagant spending spree, fling - a brief indulgence of your impulses is a tradition for the sisters. ``Every year the crowds just seem to get stronger and stronger, especially with the population increasing,'' said Beth Silhasek, marketing director at Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga. It's all about the extra deals, the ``doorbusters'' - special sales that end in late morning - and overall excitement of the day that sparks massive crowds, said Scott Krugman, spokesman for the National Retail Federation. ``Black Friday has always been about the ceremonial kickoff of the holiday season,'' he said. ``People don't go because they have to, they go because they want to.'' Last year, Krugman said Black Friday eclipsed the Saturday before Christmas as the busiest shopping day of the year. Troopers like Gold were still strategizing earlier in the week to get to the mall by 8:30 a.m. today. Gold started the tradition of storming the mall on Black Friday with her mother in elementary school elementary school: see school. , and it's since become an annual ritual. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, she and her mother start mapping out their plan, and consulting over the phone which stores to swoop through first. They collect intelligence on discounts and sales. Gold pays attention to the ads on TV and radio. She maps out which malls and department stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. will be best for the items on her shopping list. ``I don't spend time walking around aimlessly aim·less adj. Devoid of direction or purpose. aim  less·ly adv.aim ,'' she said. ``Holiday shopping is different - it's not about hanging out at the mall.'' Even though she's not a morning person, Gold usually gets started early on Black Friday. She even has a parking strategy. Instead of searching for a spot close to the entrance, Gold goes straight to the top of the parking structure where she knows she'll find a spot. ``And I always eat beforehand. The food court can be just as much of a nightmare,'' Gold said. Her shopping days have run from just three hours to as long as eight hours. The yearly crowds don't daunt daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin Camarillo resident Julie Covey either. ``It doesn't bother me at all. I shop all day - it's worth the bargains,'' Covey said. Candice Choi, (818) 713-3634 candice.choi(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box Box: AND THEY'RE OFF... SOURCE: Daily News research Daily News |
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