It will be more than a big shopping day: You could call this year’s Black Friday a “takeover.”

Experts predict a larger percentage of people will be shopping on Black Friday, 66 to 68 percent, compared to 55 percent last year.

More retailers are opening earlier, but because of Maine’s Blue Law, big stores can’t open until 12:01 a.m. Friday.

More money will be spent, experts predict. “Consumer enthusiasm is pretty high,” said University of Maine economics professor James McConnon. “Consumer enthusiasm is as high as I’ve seen it since the Great Recession in 2007.”

Nationally, projections call for consumers to increase spending by 2.5 to 4.5 percent over last year.

Personal income in Maine is up 3.4 percent in the first half of 2014 compared to 2.7 percent during the same time in 2013. Adding to consumer confidence is lower heating and gas prices, which gives people more to spend.

But while shoppers are expected to be more enthusiastic about spending this year, “consumers will be focused on price and value, shopping cautiously just like they have in the past.”

And more businesses are offering deals, not only the big-box retailers and smaller stores, but car dealers and the Maine State Prison, whose showrooms in Thomaston and Windham have announced their “biggest sale of the year,” said Director of Industries Scott Reiff.

“We’re gearing up, moving products to the stores from the shops in preparation for the sale,” Reiff said Tuesday. “This is our biggest weekend of the year.”

The showroom in Thomaston is discounting everything, rocking horses, toys and furniture, 40 percent; the Windham showroom by 30 percent. Popular items are furniture made by inmates with Maine wood, mostly ash and oak. “The wood is harvested at our Charleston facility wood mill,” Reiff said.

Store workers everywhere Tuesday were preparing for the big day.

“We’re getting all our merchandise all set up,” Auburn J.C. Penney floor manager Donna Nadeau said.

Like a lot of stores, Penney’s will open at 12:01 a.m. Friday when the deepest door-buster sales on electronics, jewelry and clothing will be featured. Another round of door-buster sales will begin at 2 a.m. First-come customers will receive $10-off coupons.

Other stores opening as early as they can in Maine include Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Best Buy, Kmart and Staples. Big Lots is opening at 1 a.m. Other stores are opening at 5 a.m, including Lowe’s, Lamey Wellehan, Olympia Sports and The Home Depot.

Still other stores will open at 6 a.m, including Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, Office Depot, Sports Authority and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Agren’s Appliance will open at 8 a.m.

Spreading out the shopping experience keeps shoppers on their toes, looking through fliers and online to see which items are on sale at what stores at what time.

That’s called “web-rooming,” McConnon said. “It’s the opposite of showroom. Social media is a growing trend of consumers web-rooming, comparing discounts and products. That bodes well for stores.”

Black Friday shopping has grown in style; some do “plaid shopping” on Black Friday, focusing on a more low-key shopping experience in locally owned shops.

On Small Business Saturday, shoppers buy at locally owned stores. And on Cyber Monday, online discounts run deep.

Compared to other years, this Thanksgiving is a bit later, which means a shorter shopping season for retailers. While some decry the materialism of holiday shopping, it’s important to the economy, McConnon said. Retailers make between 20 percent and 40 percent of their annual income from holiday sales.

Maine State Treasurer warns about ‘pitfalls’ of gift cards

AUGUSTA — With the popularity of gift cards growing, Maine State Treasurer Neria Douglass offers some cautions about giving or receiving gift cards this holiday season.

Based on national trends, Maine shoppers are expected to spend $50 million on gift cards this holiday season. While they’re convenient presents, “they are not without pitfalls,” Douglass said Tuesday in a press release.

“Buyers should purchase from trusted retailers only, and read the terms and conditions carefully.  Be sure to pass on the important information to the recipient.  The best advice I can give about gift cards is: if you have them, use them.”

According to the Tower Group, nationally $1 billion will be lost in unused gift cards this year, about $5 million for Maine. That means for every $100 sold, only $90 is actually redeemed, Douglass said, offering tips for givers and receivers. 

Tips for purchasers:

1. Check for fees; some cards have costly fees to load or reload funds to the card.

2. If considering an online auction site for purchase, do your homework.  Some are known for counterfeit cards or sell cards that have been obtained fraudulently.

3. Do not buy a gift card from a retailer in distress, i.e. on the verge of bankruptcy. 

4. Inspect the card before you buy it, don’t buy any damaged or altered cards.

Tips for recipients:

1. Guard gift cards like cash and use them quickly.   

2.  Under $5 left? Ask for a cash refund during your transaction.  Maine retailers are required by law^* to comply.

3.  Register your gift card with the retailer in case of loss or failure to redeem.

#SJBlackFriday

We’re going to be out with the crowds early Friday morning sharing reports and photos on social media and SunJournal.com. You can share your shopping experiences with us at:

Twitter: @SunJournal

Facebook:  Facebook.com/SunJournal

Instagram: Instagram.com/SunJournal

Email: blackfriday@sunjournal

We also will look for social media posts using the #SJBlackFriday hashtag. We will publish interesting reports and photos on SunJournal.com.