Macy's unveils Black Friday deals online

Macy's is counting on both the power of online and SpongeBob to make its registers ring for Black Friday.

The retailer, which has a store at The Mall at University Town Center, unveiled Thursday its Black Friday doorbuster deals at macys.com/blackfriday. Deals range from 60 percent off men's outerwear , kitchen appliances $8 to $10 after rebate and up to $150 off Dyson vacuums.

Macy's will open starting at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving. and door busters will last through 1 p.m. Black Friday then another set of specials Saturday, Nov. 29 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The big holiday item Macy's is pushing is SpongeBob SquarePants and a holiday plush that can be had with Patrick and Plankton finger puppets, at macys.com/squarepants. In-store, customers can scan special hang tags to unlock SpongeBob content.

“This year, we’re adding another level of entertainment to our highly anticipated Black Friday doorbusters and specials,” said Martine Reardon, chief marketing officer at Macy’s. “As customers navigate their shopping route throughout the store, they will be able to score digital gift codes offering instant wins via Macy’s mobile app. This element of surprise along with a playful new commercial featuring our official holiday ambassador, SpongeBob SquarePants, is certain to add a new element of fun to our customers’ shopping experience on Black Friday this year.”

Macy's is also giving away instant win prizes by using the store's mobile app. Customers can scan QR codes in-store to enter the instant win experience during doorbuster hours and customers will see if they have won a digital gift code worth $10, $25, $50 or $250.

At the end of each hour, a new pool of prizes becomes available and customers can play again. See rules and alternate method of entry at macys.com/million. Customers can text “APP” to 62297 to download Macy’s mobile app.

Mall at University Town Center to open Thanksgiving

The Mall at University Town Center at its opening on Oct. 16. FILE PHOTO

After getting stuffed with turkey, shoppers can stuff themselves inside The Mall at University Town Center for Thanksgiving this year.

The new two-level mall announced Tuesday that it will open from 6 p.m. to midnight Thanksgiving then reopen 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Black Friday. Not all stores will be open during that time and others, including department stores, will have their own hours.

For instance, Crate & Barrel announced this month that none of its stores will open for Thanksgiving while Macy's will open at 6 p.m.

Deals and hours for individual stores will be posted at www.mallatutc.com. Some of the specials posted on the mall's website include get $50 for every $150 spent at Tommy Bahama, 30 percent entire purchase at White House | Black Market and up to 50 percent off select cell phone cases plus receive a free screen protector with any purchase at Cellairis.

Bealls Black Friday 2014 ad leaked

Black Friday ad leaks have returned allowing some shoppers to get as giddy as a music fan seeing a set list posted from their favorite band before a concert.

And if you're a fan of Bradenton-based Bealls, you're in luck. BFAds.net leaked what appears to be this year's Bealls ad.

Bealls will open 6 p.m. Thanksgiving and stay open through 11 p.m. Friday, according to the ad, then reopen 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. The biggest draw is that every store will raffle off a Guy Harvey paddle board worth $1,500. The first 200 customers in each store between 6  p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving will be entered to win, according to the ad. Those customers will also receive a $5 coupon.

The Thursday sales from 9 p.m. to midnight will offer 60 percent off most items in the store including toys and holiday home items. Then midnight Thanksgiving to 7 a.m. Black Friday, a coupon is included for 60 percent off clearance items, that goes down to 50 percent off from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

Other deals listed include 50 percent off sterling silver and fine silver plate jewelry, $15 off Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda jeans, $9.99 juniors screen tees, $4,99 young men, kids and juniors tees, 50 percent off Disney "Frozen" tees and toys and a $50 Shark steam pocket cleaner.

Are any of these deals enticing enough to get you out of bed and into the store? Comment below.

Sam's Club taking broader approach for Black Friday

A Sam's Club member shops for toys. PROVIDED PHOTO

For some retailers, Black Friday doesn't have to be limited to one day.

Warehouse giant Sam's Club is attempting to lure shoppers into its members-only store with both a pre-Black Friday one-day sale and an event to bring in non-members after Black Friday.

Sam's Club announced that a one-day sale for members will start at 7 a.m. Nov. 15 with what the company is touting as Black Friday pricing.

Here's what Sam's Club is teasing for sale that day:

• 60” Vizio Ultra High Definition Television: $998
• Jawbone Up24 Wearable Technology: $69
• .96 Carat Total Weight Diamond Fashion Pendant: $699
• Hotel Luxury Reserve Collection 1,000 Thread Count Sheet Sets, available in king and queen sizes (Sam’s Club Exclusive): $69.98
• Frozen Karaoke Set with Full Soundtrack (Sam’s Club Exclusive): $69.86
• Children’s Frozen Robe and PJ Set (Sam’s Club Exclusive): $17.98
• Cuisinart 14-Piece Ceramic Cookware Set: $79.98

“We know many of our members are excited to get a jump on their holiday shopping so we’re not making them wait for Black Friday,” said Rosalind Brewer, president and CEO of Sam’s Club said in a statement. “We’re going to bring members new items early and often throughout the holiday season. Our line-up of holiday events invites members to save, and provides all gift givers an opportunity to discover the value of member savings and enjoy new surprises on every trip into the club.”

Sam's Club maintains a Bradenton store off U.S. 301 and State Road 70 at 5300 30th St. E., and a Sarasota store off Fruitville and Cattlemen roads at 300 N. Cattlemen Road.

Sam's Club will be closed on Thanksgiving then reopen 7 a.m. Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. SamsClub.com is offering free shipping on Black Friday-labeled items on Thanksgiving, too.

For shoppers who aren't a Sam's Club member, they can shop at Sam's on Nov. 29-30 for an open house both in-store and online. The company is promoting that items will have Black Friday prices, but what those deals are remain to be seen.

PlayStation 4 could cost $553 in Kmart rent-to-own program

Kmart shoppers file into the Bradenton store at 
6 a.m. on Thanksgiving in 2011.
 (File Photo by Paul Videla/Bradenton Herald)

Kmart is going to start offering a rent-to-own program for merchandise in time for the holiday shopping season, making the retailer function like a Rent-A-Center or Aaron's.

Kmart announced that it is partnering with Whynot Leasing, LLC, to start a rent-to-own program nationwide starting Nov. 22 to let customers take home merchandise now and pay as they go, including doorbuster specials on Black Friday.

But yes, there is a catch. And despite the no-credit requirement, you're essentially being screened as if you're being checked for credit.

Thanks to interest charges, this means that $400 PlayStation 4 I wrote about in today's Herald, could cost $553, which also includes a balloon payment at the end of the lease.

Here are the details of the program:

• Merchandise has to cost $150 
• Eligible merchandise includes home appliances, mattresses, ready-to-assemble furniture, lawn and garden equipment, consumer electronics, seasonal toys, sporting goods and service plans. 
• Merchandise is brand-new and not refurbished 
• You must be 18 years old or older 
• Have to make $1,000 or more a month 
• Have a social security number or tax identification number when applying 
• First payment made at store, then electronic monthly or bi-weekly payments 
• After five months, lease can be bought out 
• A balloon payment/lease premium is charged at the end of the lease 

About that interest--it's based on the price plus the length of the lease. Here's an example from a Kmart spokeswoman of how the charges could break down for a $400 product:

• $400 (or a combination of items totaling $400) looks like 
• 10 bi-weekly payments of $33 over 5 months = $330 
• Balance owed PLUS Lease premium at the end of 5 months = $220 
• Total cost to own = $553 

The lesson here is if you're impatient, it will cost you. And if you want to avoid excessive interest charges, make higher payments or more frequent payments.

Layaway option

Layaway is still offered without service fees at both Kmart and its sister store Sears for a limited time, but the waived fee promotion ends before the Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales. A non-refundable cancellation fee applies.

At Kmart, free holiday layaway is valid on new layaways through Nov. 23 and a 12-week layaway option is available for purchases $300 and more. Sears layaway has the same terms, except the 12-week layaway has to be for purchases $400 and more. After that, the fees will apply, and a deadline for layaways with seasonal merchandise (like ornaments, trees) are typically during the first week of December.

Holiday Hours

Kmart is opening earlier than most stores on Thanksgiving by opening at 6 a.m., and will not close until 11 p.m. on Black Friday. Sears will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving and close at 10 p.m. on Black Friday. The doorbuster deals will be available until 1 p.m. on Black Friday.

That's 41 hours straight of shopping at Kmart. Goodbye, Macy's Day Parade.

Manatee County Kmart and Sears locations

Kmart, 7350 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton

Kmart, 6126 U.S. 301, Ellenton

Sears, DeSoto Square Mall, 303 US 301 Blvd, Bradenton

Ellenton Premium Outlets Black Friday Deals

Stores at the Ellenton Premium Outlets will be open Thanksgiving night again this year to get a jump start on Black Friday specials. (2011 File photo/Bradenton Herald)

Stores at the Ellenton Premium Outlets are already rolling out their Black Friday deals, and I'm here to help guide you through some of the highlights.

As with last year, some stores are opening as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 28 this year, and a smaller bunch at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., before the Midnight Madness begins. The outlets are located off of US 301 and 60th Ave. E at 5461 Factory Shops Blvd.

The best deals I've found so far include some freebies, cheap underwear, and heavily discounted jackets, boots and handbags.

For those looking for some fresh skivvies, Jockey is offering $10 door busters and HanesBrands is offering 50 percent off any one item. Le Creuser is giving away a free kitchen tool for the first 100 customers who buy something on Thanksgiving through 8 a.m. Black Friday, but who are they kidding -- those tools will be gone in the first two hours.

Wilson's Leather is giving customers 60 percent off the entire store plus 30 percent off your entire purchase, making winter jackets, wallets and iPhone cases an attractive option this season. U.S. Polo Assn., also has some great deals for polos under $10, sweaters for under $20 and sportshirts and blouses for under $16.

And finally for the feet, Naturalizer is giving 50 percent off boots on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

(For Ellenton Premium Outlet's Black Friday hours read this entry.)

Here are some of the offers posted by stores on the Ellenton Premium Outlets website. Many of the stores not listed here have specials running throughout the month and some into December:

Aerosoles
Nov 27 - Dec 1
Take 25% off your entire purchase and take advantage of Doorbuster specials - select styles marked down*
*Cannot be combined with any other offer, coupon or promotion. See store for details.

Calvin Klein
Nov 28 - 29 (until 2am)
Take an additional 15% off 
2am-10am: Take an additional 10% off
Entire Store 10% - 60% off 

Dooney & Bourke
Nov 28
Exclusive Lexington Shopper $99 
Nov 29
50% off the entire store plus the Exclusive Lexington Shopper $99 

Fragrance Outlet
Nov 28 - Dec 1
Free Fragrance with any purchase of $50 or more 

HanesBrands
Nov 28 - 29 (until 10 a.m.)
50% off ticketed price of any one item 
One offer per customer, one visit only. Not valid on Gift Card, internet or catalog purchases, previously purchased merchandise or in conjunction with a full Rewards Card or Birthday discount. Not redeemable for cash or cash back. Not valid in conjunction with HBI employee discount or in conjunction with any other coupon offer or promotion. Not redeemable for cash or cash back. Coupon cannot be doubled.

Jockey
Nov 28 - Dec 1
$10 Door Buster Deals Plus, 40% off Entire Store*
*Door busters valid while supplies last and from available stock. 40% offer excludes clearance and Jockey bra styles 6701-6705. 

Le Creuset
Nov 28 - 29 (until 8 a.m.)
Save 30% Off Entire Purchase plus a Free Kitchen Tool for the first 100 customers who make a purchase* 
*Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or sale price. Some new items may be excluded from discount. Offer not valid towards purchase of gift cards. Free Kitchen Tool offer is available while quantities last.

Naturalizer
Nov 28 - 29
All Handbags 50% off original price 
All Boots 50% off original price

Puma
Nov 28 - Dec 1
50% off entire store

Reebok
Nov 27 - Dec 1
$20 gift card with your purchase of $100
All Reebok Footwear Buy one, get one for $19.99 Some exclusions may apply
50% off men's and women's sweats and fleece
$9.95 Men's Long Sleeve Tees
$9.95 Women's Body Wear Bra Tops and Tanks
50-60% off All Apparel Clearance
Buy one, get one Free on All Hats and Bags

Tommy Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger Kids
Nov 29 - Dec 1
40% - 60% off Entire Store all Weekend*
*See in store for full details.

U.S. Polo Assn.
Nov 28 (6 p.m.) - Nov 29 (1 p.m.)
Huge Selection of Men's and Women's Polo Shirts - $9.60
All Men's and Women's Sportshirts and Blouses - $15.99
All Men's and Women's Sweaters - Now $19.99
All Men's and Women's Outerwear - Now $23.99
Entire Store 20% - 75% Off 

Wilsons Leather
Nov 28 - 29
Take 60% Off the Entire Store Plus an Additional 30% Off Your Entire Purchase