Black Friday Sales 2009: Stores Prepare Early

Ah, Black Friday. That annual event where a mass of humanity emerges pre-dawn from their caves and goes off into the wilderness, hunting for that bargain to end all bargains.

It may still seem a little early, but Sears and Target are already getting ready for Black Friday 2009.

Black Friday is the nickname traditionally given to the Friday after Thanksgiving. It signals the beginning of the holiday shopping season.

Officially, Black Friday isn't a holiday, but but many people do have the day off. Black Friday is famously known as the busiest shopping day of the year.

This is only partially true, however. People do go out in droves, but in terms of actual sales volume it usually ends up ranking somewhere between the 5th- and 10th-busiest day of the shopping year.

Get the 2010 Entertainment Book here.

Sears will start its Black Friday 2009 sales this week with a "door buster" sale. Sears is offering a wide variety of so-called "door busters" each week until Christmas with the hope that eager shoppers will come early and often.

This week, the sale will start on Friday at 5 p.m. EDT and continue through Saturday. After the first week, "Black Friday Now" will take place on Saturday mornings through Christmas.

Here are just a few of the deals Sears will be offering this week:

- 50% off Craftsman® 302-piece mechanic's tool sets
- 50% off all DieHard work boots
- $79.99 3/8 ct. tw. diamond stud earrings

Target is also looking ahead to Black Friday 2009. The store has set up a special page on the store's website. You can also sign up to receive weekly ad specials and reminders & announcements regarding Black Friday deals.

To get other super deals and savings, make sure you get your hands on the 2010 Entertainment Book.