Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Makayla Pardon, left, and Jake Schrock, right, shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Makayla Pardon, left, and Jake Schrock, right, shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
David Sotelo looks at a pistol at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
David Sotelo looks at a pistol at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Amanda Wright, left, and Lisa Nabors, right, shop at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Amanda Wright, left, and Lisa Nabors, right, shop at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro http://financial-advisors.credio.com/l/239253/Robert-Domanko Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Jake Schrock shops during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Jake Schrock shops during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Maria Villarreal checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Maria Villarreal checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Maria Villarreal, right, checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Maria Villarreal, right, checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Shoppers get a head start on holiday deals with so-called "Gray Thursday." Mitchell Slayden, Assistant Store Manager, hands out coupons for a popular 49" Toshiba television at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Shoppers get a head start on holiday deals with so-called "Gray Thursday." Mitchell Slayden, Assistant Store Manager, hands out coupons for a popular 49" Toshiba television at a Best Buy store located near the ... more Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Dany Delcid, left, Maria Rodriguez and her son Jorge look through a coupon book at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. The trio, as well as a group of extended family, had waited outside of the store since Sunday.
Dany Delcid, left, Maria Rodriguez and her son Jorge look through a coupon book at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. The trio, as well as a group of extended family, had waited ... more Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Sai Paturi waits in line for a laptop and headphones at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Sai Paturi waits in line for a laptop and headphones at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Balakrishnan Srinivasan, from right, Nagaraja Kuppuswarmy and Senthil Chandran, all software engineers, look at coupons for computers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Balakrishnan Srinivasan, from right, Nagaraja Kuppuswarmy and Senthil Chandran, all software engineers, look at coupons for computers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
People shop at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
People shop at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Vincente Montemayor pushes two televisions through a crowd of shoppers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Vincente Montemayor pushes two televisions through a crowd of shoppers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Gil Jimenez shops for a television at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. He, and members of his extended family, had waited since Sunday to go shopping.
Gil Jimenez shops for a television at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. He, and members of his extended family, had waited since Sunday to go shopping.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Vincente Montemayor leaves a Best Buy store with two televisions, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Vincente Montemayor leaves a Best Buy store with two televisions, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Jorge Albanis looks at televisions at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Jorge Albanis looks at televisions at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
For these shoppers, Black Friday is all about the hunt
The huge, glittering ornaments and wreaths dangling from the ceiling were one sign. Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" was another.
But the real proof that bargain fever that has taken hold on this, the traditional opening of the holiday shopping season, was the sight of eight ladies taking a break outside JCPenney at The Woodlands Mall. All werewearing T-shirts declaring them each a "Black Friday Boss." It was 7 a.m. and they'd been at it since 9 the night before.
"This is a tradition," said Tomball resident Dorletta Hildebrand. "It's more about the bonding than it is about the shopping."
Online shoppers were not as busy clicking as originally estimated. Nationally, the retail watchers at Adobe were reporting somewhat slower growth in Black Friday sales "slightly" lowering their estimate for online sales, to $2.6 billion.
The software giant reported: "Early data indicates a 15% increase in spending compared to 2014 with $822 million spent online between midnight and 11 am ET. Expected growth for Black Friday morning was 19%."
Smartphones accounted for 22 percent of those sales, Adobe said in the report, and tablets 15 percent. They have already combined for a record $380 million in sales.
Across the Houston area, earlybirds were out for the hunt.
Itzel Burt also enjoys the tradition of heading to the stores early "just to have fun." On Friday morning, she was outside the Kate Spade outlet at Katy Mills mall with her niece, Angelika Sbohr. They'd been out late shopping on Thanksgiving night and dragged themselves back around 8 a.m. for more bargains, this time with two teenage neighbors in tow.
The girls each picked up a small cosmetic bag, pink and sparkling. It's $45 but will be marked down to $18. A perfect holiday gift for their mothers, they think.
"Would she like it?" one asks Sbohr and Burt.
"It's nice" Sbohr said.
"Yeah, she'll like it," added Burt.
Together, they headed to the checkout.
At the Toys R Us along U.S. 59 northbound near Townsen Boulevard in Humble, shoppers were calm and orderly and checkout flow was steady. It was Denise White's third stop of the morning. She said the scene at the toy store was similar to what she'd seen at Target and Home Depot.
"Smooth."
"It really makes you feel a whole lot better," White said. "The more organized it is, the more you want to be out there more."
The longer hours for some stores -- Toys R Us, for example, opened at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving and will be open until Friday night -- has made things seem less rushed this year, shoppers said.
"The stocks are going real low some places, but what I've needed, I've found," said Rutilio Marin, cart stuffed with boxed toys, shopping with his wife for Christmas and upcoming birthdays in the family.
In Pearland, about 500 people rushed in within the first 10 minutes when Bass Pro Shops opened its doors at 5 a.m. Santa greeted folks at the door, and regular Black Friday customers recognized store employees who were working the doors last year.
"It's all about having fun with the customers," said general manager Robert Thomas.
The store continued to have a steady flow of traffic a few hours after the initial opening rush.
Outside the Academy Sports + Outdoors, Jerry Trembath was lined up at 3 a.m. When the doors opened two hours later, he was first in line for the firearms.
Trembath, 64, of Manvel was seeking a rifle and some other items at the store. Afterward, his plan was to "just go home." This was his only stop of the day.
Andrea Davis, on the other hand, began shopping with her mom at 8 p.m. Thursday, though they took a break. They had already been to Macy's and Target by the time they arrived at the Pearland Academy store seeking a fire pit and leggings. H-E-B was next on the list.
Most of the shopping is for themselves, though they like to get some gifts or DVDs to donate to shelters. Black Friday shopping has become a tradition.
"Mother and daughter tradition," said Davis, 36, of Missouri City. "And it's also the rush of the game."
David Sotelo was shopping for a firearm and shoes. It will likely be his only stop, or one of a few, Friday as the 27-year-old Pearland-area resident said "we did the majority of ours (shopping) online."
With some stores open overnight, crowds gradually filed into The Galleria, where some yet-to-open stores attracted clusters of eager shoppers by 5:45 a.m.
Crystal Nunnally was part of a growing line waiting for the doors at Zara, which still had not opened by about 6:30 a.m.
Black Friday, she said, remains the day when she feels the items she wants most are discounted the deepest.
"Throughout the year, I collect a list of things I just have to have," Nunnally said. Thanksgiving shopping, to her mother, Juanita, remains off-limits and reserved for family, they said.
Foot traffic gradually increased within the first hour of The Galleria's scheduled 6 a.m. opening, with many shoppers packing the mall's Starbucks and dashing off to their next stores, cups in tow and fiddling with smartphones that some shoppers said they were using to find more deals.
Some also began filling up the mall's seating. "I'm the person that holds the packages," smiled Leonard Sobedski, parked on a bench outside Macy's whole his wife and daughter hunted for bargains inside.
Sobedski, himself not an avid shopper, said his thoughts were on the aftermath: How the family would pack whatever they buy in Houston for the plane ride back to Ohio. Macy's was the first stop of the day, and hopefully the only one, he said.
Ervin Thomas, 28, isn't a Black Friday shopper, but came out to The Galleria since he had to be at work nearby later Friday morning. Thomas' game plan is simple: "I'm just gonna ease in there ... I already know what I want," he said, pointing to Zara where he has his eye on a men's coat.
After Thomas scores that find, that's it.
"After 12, I'm shutting it down," Thomas said. "This stuff is tiresome."
The Galleria's stores were given the option of opening on Thanksgiving and some, including Macy's, Top Shop and the Microsoft Store, did so, Galleria Marketing Director Andrew Huang said.
Even with the longer holiday shopping season and expected rush of online shopping this year, Huang said crowds appear similar to last year. He attributed that to the "touch and feel" aspect of retail that he said shoppers still prefer.
Despite talk of whether the energy slump and associated job losses will drag on the area's sales, Huang said retailers in recent weeks continue to see a buildup toward Christmas.
"A lot of them have seen really great improvements in sales, and a lot of them are confident about the holidays," Huang said.
As morning turned to afternoon in Katy, LaCenterra shopping center was bustling. Shoppers walked by the storefronts hand-in-hand, singing along to "Let it Snow" as a drizzling rain commenced. Inside a newly opened store called Scout and Molly's, based out of North Carolina, owner Ivonne Blanco said the day had been "amazing."
The boutique clothing store had opened at 9 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, offering it's best deals before noon.
"People just started flowing and flowing," Blanco said.
Meanwhile, at the nearby Villagio Town Center, a sign on the door of The Dancer's Closet advertised Black Friday discounts as steep as 70 percent off clearance items. But early Friday afternoon, no shoppers browsed the racks of ballet, jazz, tap and other dance or gymnastics wear. The neighboring bakery and stationary store were closed.
"We haven't had much success," assistant manager Mary Welch said.
The dance shop hadn't seen much traffic during Black Friday last year, either, but were hoping they could push more gift items this year, Welch said.
They would probably open, next year too, Welch continued, "just to be able to be here for our customers."Back in Pearland, Paula Golden, 56, was also shopping at Bass Pro Shops with her family. With five grandchildren, she said it's hard to beat $10 hoodies. She likes to get there early before the store runs out of the pink ones.
Golden does a mixture of her holiday shopping online and in stores. Electronics, cat food and the like can be purchased on Amazon.
But some items, like the hoodies, need to be touched and checked for sizes.
"These run in weird sizes so you can't really do it online," she said.
The holiday season brings to mind the chestnut about how it's always "better to give than to receive."
Lou Luethold, a volunteer with Toys For Tots, was checking bins around northeast Houston Friday morning. At the Humble Toys R Us, he found a small collection already had been deposited.
The online shopping rush in recent years has pushed toy donations to surge later in the holiday season, Luethold said, and he is confident "the best days are yet to come."
Last year, he said, Houstonians' generosity helped 8,600 families.
"One thing about Houston, it's the most charitable city in the world," Luethold said.
http://www.chron.com/business/retail/article/Shoppers-hunt-for-deals-on-Black-Friday-6657702.php
Makayla Pardon, left, and Jake Schrock, right, shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Makayla Pardon, left, and Jake Schrock, right, shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Jerry Trembath, right, waits to purchase a firearm Academy Sports + Outdoors during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers line up outside Academy Sports + Outdoors before they open, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
David Sotelo looks at a pistol at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
David Sotelo looks at a pistol at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
A YETI cooler is seen at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Amanda Wright, left, and Lisa Nabors, right, shop at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Amanda Wright, left, and Lisa Nabors, right, shop at Academy Sports + Outdoors, during Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro http://financial-advisors.credio.com/l/239253/Robert-Domanko Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Jake Schrock shops during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Jake Schrock shops during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers check out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Maria Villarreal checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Maria Villarreal checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Maria Villarreal, right, checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Maria Villarreal, right, checks out during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Customers shop during Black Friday at Bass Pro Shops, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Pearland.
Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers wait outside Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Customers check out Black Friday deals at Academy early Friday.
Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle
Shoppers get a head start on holiday deals with so-called "Gray Thursday." Mitchell Slayden, Assistant Store Manager, hands out coupons for a popular 49" Toshiba television at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Shoppers get a head start on holiday deals with so-called "Gray Thursday." Mitchell Slayden, Assistant Store Manager, hands out coupons for a popular 49" Toshiba television at a Best Buy store located near the ... more Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Dany Delcid, left, Maria Rodriguez and her son Jorge look through a coupon book at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. The trio, as well as a group of extended family, had waited outside of the store since Sunday.
Dany Delcid, left, Maria Rodriguez and her son Jorge look through a coupon book at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. The trio, as well as a group of extended family, had waited ... more Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Sai Paturi waits in line for a laptop and headphones at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Sai Paturi waits in line for a laptop and headphones at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Balakrishnan Srinivasan, from right, Nagaraja Kuppuswarmy and Senthil Chandran, all software engineers, look at coupons for computers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Balakrishnan Srinivasan, from right, Nagaraja Kuppuswarmy and Senthil Chandran, all software engineers, look at coupons for computers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
People shop at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
People shop at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Vincente Montemayor pushes two televisions through a crowd of shoppers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Vincente Montemayor pushes two televisions through a crowd of shoppers at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Gil Jimenez shops for a television at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. He, and members of his extended family, had waited since Sunday to go shopping.
Gil Jimenez shops for a television at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. He, and members of his extended family, had waited since Sunday to go shopping.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Vincente Montemayor leaves a Best Buy store with two televisions, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Vincente Montemayor leaves a Best Buy store with two televisions, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Jorge Albanis looks at televisions at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Jorge Albanis looks at televisions at a Best Buy store located near the Galleria Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
For these shoppers, Black Friday is all about the hunt
The huge, glittering ornaments and wreaths dangling from the ceiling were one sign. Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" was another.
But the real proof that bargain fever that has taken hold on this, the traditional opening of the holiday shopping season, was the sight of eight ladies taking a break outside JCPenney at The Woodlands Mall. All werewearing T-shirts declaring them each a "Black Friday Boss." It was 7 a.m. and they'd been at it since 9 the night before.
"This is a tradition," said Tomball resident Dorletta Hildebrand. "It's more about the bonding than it is about the shopping."
Online shoppers were not as busy clicking as originally estimated. Nationally, the retail watchers at Adobe were reporting somewhat slower growth in Black Friday sales "slightly" lowering their estimate for online sales, to $2.6 billion.
The software giant reported: "Early data indicates a 15% increase in spending compared to 2014 with $822 million spent online between midnight and 11 am ET. Expected growth for Black Friday morning was 19%."
Smartphones accounted for 22 percent of those sales, Adobe said in the report, and tablets 15 percent. They have already combined for a record $380 million in sales.
Across the Houston area, earlybirds were out for the hunt.
Itzel Burt also enjoys the tradition of heading to the stores early "just to have fun." On Friday morning, she was outside the Kate Spade outlet at Katy Mills mall with her niece, Angelika Sbohr. They'd been out late shopping on Thanksgiving night and dragged themselves back around 8 a.m. for more bargains, this time with two teenage neighbors in tow.
The girls each picked up a small cosmetic bag, pink and sparkling. It's $45 but will be marked down to $18. A perfect holiday gift for their mothers, they think.
"Would she like it?" one asks Sbohr and Burt.
"It's nice" Sbohr said.
"Yeah, she'll like it," added Burt.
Together, they headed to the checkout.
At the Toys R Us along U.S. 59 northbound near Townsen Boulevard in Humble, shoppers were calm and orderly and checkout flow was steady. It was Denise White's third stop of the morning. She said the scene at the toy store was similar to what she'd seen at Target and Home Depot.
"Smooth."
"It really makes you feel a whole lot better," White said. "The more organized it is, the more you want to be out there more."
The longer hours for some stores -- Toys R Us, for example, opened at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving and will be open until Friday night -- has made things seem less rushed this year, shoppers said.
"The stocks are going real low some places, but what I've needed, I've found," said Rutilio Marin, cart stuffed with boxed toys, shopping with his wife for Christmas and upcoming birthdays in the family.
In Pearland, about 500 people rushed in within the first 10 minutes when Bass Pro Shops opened its doors at 5 a.m. Santa greeted folks at the door, and regular Black Friday customers recognized store employees who were working the doors last year.
"It's all about having fun with the customers," said general manager Robert Thomas.
The store continued to have a steady flow of traffic a few hours after the initial opening rush.
Outside the Academy Sports + Outdoors, Jerry Trembath was lined up at 3 a.m. When the doors opened two hours later, he was first in line for the firearms.
Trembath, 64, of Manvel was seeking a rifle and some other items at the store. Afterward, his plan was to "just go home." This was his only stop of the day.
Andrea Davis, on the other hand, began shopping with her mom at 8 p.m. Thursday, though they took a break. They had already been to Macy's and Target by the time they arrived at the Pearland Academy store seeking a fire pit and leggings. H-E-B was next on the list.
Most of the shopping is for themselves, though they like to get some gifts or DVDs to donate to shelters. Black Friday shopping has become a tradition.
"Mother and daughter tradition," said Davis, 36, of Missouri City. "And it's also the rush of the game."
David Sotelo was shopping for a firearm and shoes. It will likely be his only stop, or one of a few, Friday as the 27-year-old Pearland-area resident said "we did the majority of ours (shopping) online."
With some stores open overnight, crowds gradually filed into The Galleria, where some yet-to-open stores attracted clusters of eager shoppers by 5:45 a.m.
Crystal Nunnally was part of a growing line waiting for the doors at Zara, which still had not opened by about 6:30 a.m.
Black Friday, she said, remains the day when she feels the items she wants most are discounted the deepest.
"Throughout the year, I collect a list of things I just have to have," Nunnally said. Thanksgiving shopping, to her mother, Juanita, remains off-limits and reserved for family, they said.
Foot traffic gradually increased within the first hour of The Galleria's scheduled 6 a.m. opening, with many shoppers packing the mall's Starbucks and dashing off to their next stores, cups in tow and fiddling with smartphones that some shoppers said they were using to find more deals.
Some also began filling up the mall's seating. "I'm the person that holds the packages," smiled Leonard Sobedski, parked on a bench outside Macy's whole his wife and daughter hunted for bargains inside.
Sobedski, himself not an avid shopper, said his thoughts were on the aftermath: How the family would pack whatever they buy in Houston for the plane ride back to Ohio. Macy's was the first stop of the day, and hopefully the only one, he said.
Ervin Thomas, 28, isn't a Black Friday shopper, but came out to The Galleria since he had to be at work nearby later Friday morning. Thomas' game plan is simple: "I'm just gonna ease in there ... I already know what I want," he said, pointing to Zara where he has his eye on a men's coat.
After Thomas scores that find, that's it.
"After 12, I'm shutting it down," Thomas said. "This stuff is tiresome."
The Galleria's stores were given the option of opening on Thanksgiving and some, including Macy's, Top Shop and the Microsoft Store, did so, Galleria Marketing Director Andrew Huang said.
Even with the longer holiday shopping season and expected rush of online shopping this year, Huang said crowds appear similar to last year. He attributed that to the "touch and feel" aspect of retail that he said shoppers still prefer.
Despite talk of whether the energy slump and associated job losses will drag on the area's sales, Huang said retailers in recent weeks continue to see a buildup toward Christmas.
"A lot of them have seen really great improvements in sales, and a lot of them are confident about the holidays," Huang said.
As morning turned to afternoon in Katy, LaCenterra shopping center was bustling. Shoppers walked by the storefronts hand-in-hand, singing along to "Let it Snow" as a drizzling rain commenced. Inside a newly opened store called Scout and Molly's, based out of North Carolina, owner Ivonne Blanco said the day had been "amazing."
The boutique clothing store had opened at 9 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, offering it's best deals before noon.
"People just started flowing and flowing," Blanco said.
Meanwhile, at the nearby Villagio Town Center, a sign on the door of The Dancer's Closet advertised Black Friday discounts as steep as 70 percent off clearance items. But early Friday afternoon, no shoppers browsed the racks of ballet, jazz, tap and other dance or gymnastics wear. The neighboring bakery and stationary store were closed.
"We haven't had much success," assistant manager Mary Welch said.
The dance shop hadn't seen much traffic during Black Friday last year, either, but were hoping they could push more gift items this year, Welch said.
They would probably open, next year too, Welch continued, "just to be able to be here for our customers."Back in Pearland, Paula Golden, 56, was also shopping at Bass Pro Shops with her family. With five grandchildren, she said it's hard to beat $10 hoodies. She likes to get there early before the store runs out of the pink ones.
Golden does a mixture of her holiday shopping online and in stores. Electronics, cat food and the like can be purchased on Amazon.
But some items, like the hoodies, need to be touched and checked for sizes.
"These run in weird sizes so you can't really do it online," she said.
The holiday season brings to mind the chestnut about how it's always "better to give than to receive."
Lou Luethold, a volunteer with Toys For Tots, was checking bins around northeast Houston Friday morning. At the Humble Toys R Us, he found a small collection already had been deposited.
The online shopping rush in recent years has pushed toy donations to surge later in the holiday season, Luethold said, and he is confident "the best days are yet to come."
Last year, he said, Houstonians' generosity helped 8,600 families.
"One thing about Houston, it's the most charitable city in the world," Luethold said.
http://www.chron.com/business/retail/article/Shoppers-hunt-for-deals-on-Black-Friday-6657702.php