SAN DIEGO COUNTY, California — Black Friday is going to look a lot different this year. Most stores have been releasing their deals in advance and online. But there are a lot of stores that will be open Friday for the annual shopping tradition.
San Diego is in the state's most restrictive purple tier, which means only 25% capacity will be allowed indoors to shop. Which could mean, there will be long lines. All shoppers are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
News 8 spoke to several shoppers outside the Target in Clairemont who said they plan to avoid the stores on Black Friday.
"It's just too hectic, way too hectic," said one shopper.
Most stores will be closed on Thanksgiving but will re-open on Black Friday. Stores like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Macy's, Home Depot and Marshalls will all offer in-store shopping.
There are some websites that list the larger national chains and their planned operations for their stores on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
However, most retailers started releasing deals online weeks ago.
"Consumers actually started the purchasing process early. So what we saw for the first time this year, things were pushed back into October," said SDSU Marketing Professor Heather Honea.
The National Retail Federation forecasts retail sales during the holidays will actually be higher this year compared to last year, with an increase between 3.6 percent and 5.2 percent.
Professor Honea said she suspects companies must find a way to evolve in the future.
"That's what happened with movie theaters. They had to become this much richer experience because everyone's so comfortable with their big screens in their homes," she said. "So I think this will be the impetus for retail to re-think, re-design and re-imagine."