NORTHBROOK – One Northbrook merchant is giving a literal meaning to Black Friday, another is not going to open to give its employees the day off, and at least three will begin the event on Thanksgiving.
Retailers in Northbrook are preparing for Black Friday (Nov. 27), Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28) and one has its website eyes trained on Cyber Monday (Nov. 30) to kickoff the holiday shopping season.
Jen Stamper, the owner of Juniper Boutique in downtown Northbrook, said she has set one promotion for Black Friday and another for Small Business Saturday.
“We’ll be offering 20 percent off everything black on Black Friday and in a women’s store that’s quite a lot,” Stamper said. “On Small Business Saturday we’ll be giving 20 percent off everything except jewelry.”
With the weather turning colder, Kovet Boutique in the Willow Festival Shopping Center will feature sweaters on Black Friday and outerwear on Small Business Saturday.
“If you buy one sweater you get 15 percent off, if you buy two you get 20 percent off (both) and if you buy three you get 25 percent off (all three),” Karen Scott, one of the owners, said. “On Saturday, it’s 20 percent off all leather goods and jackets.”
Scott said the company is taking advantage of Cyber Monday too. Kovet will offer a 25 percent discount for anyone buying goods from its website Nov. 30, and the shipping will be free.
Anyone looking to shop at REI at Willow Festival over the weekend will have to wait until Small Business Saturday because the outdoors retailer decided to close, give its employees the day off and encouraging people to do something outside on Black Friday, according to the company website.
“REI stores are closing on Black Friday,” the company said on its website. “The outdoors and the website are always open.”
Throughout the entire holiday shopping season, people can check out what Nicki the Shopping Elf has to offer on a dedicated Facebook page put up by the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce. There will be daily updates with deals and ideas, according to chamber President Tensley Garris.
For those who want a break between eating Thanksgiving dinner and doing the dishes, at least three Northbrook Merchants will open late Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) afternoon or early evening. Macy’s will have 29 hours of continuous shopping at Northbrook Court starting at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving and will not close again until 10 p.m. the following day, according to a company spokesperson.
Lord & Taylor at Northbrook Court will follow Macy’s opening at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving, closing at 1 a.m. and opening again from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 27, according to a company spokesperson. People shopping at Neiman Marcus at Northbrook Court will have to wait until Black Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m, according to a company spokesperson.
The mall itself will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to Suzanne Beres, the Northbrook Court marketing manager. She said most stores will be open during that time span for people should check mall website to be certain about a specific shop.
At Willow Festival, Best Buy will open from 5 p.m. Thanksgiving to 1 a.m. Nov. 27 before reopening that day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.