Nov 11, 2009 7:36 pm US/Eastern
Retailers Look At Crowd Control For Black Friday
WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Early shoppers wait online to pay for their goods at the Toys 'R' Us at Times Square on Black Friday.
Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images
Suburban families were getting a jump on holiday shopping in stores already bursting with Veterans Day sales, but retailers' real test of luring crowds with blockbuster discounts on big ticket items begins on this Black Friday - a year to the day an unruly crowd trampled to death worker Jdimytai Damour at a Valley Stream Wal-Mart when doors opened at 5 a.m.
"There's definitely a need for crowd control, more security, longer hours, maybe more tickets," said shopper Debbie Sakai.
Wal-Mart agreed and allowed CBS 2HD inside to learn first-hand about its new corporate plan for this year's Black Friday sales.
New safety measures were already in place to make sure the festive day does not take another deadly turn. Managers explained that hours will be extended, customers will be handed tickets, workers will protect shoppers inside, and unlike last Black Friday, there will be no waiting all night outside.
Stores will open at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and stay open through Friday eve. Shopper Rhonda Thomas said, "Very good. It gives you more opportunity to shop. Less crowds. Everyone won't rush in at the same time."
The new plan was developed by experts who manage crowd control at the Super Bowl and the Olympics. They said keeping stores open with guaranteed tickets for doorbusters will prevent sprinting and scuffling.
"A great idea. They are accepting the consequences for what happened," said shopper James Martinez.
The National Retail Federation said other stores plan to serve drinks, offer entertainment, or chat with customers in line. The lessons were learned the hard way from last year's tragic frenzy.
"I'm glad because it will keep people safe. There won't be people charging through the stores, and if they want to shop on Thanksgiving, they can shop on Thanksgiving," said Donna Zitolo.
Special markdowns and historically low discounts mean the unexpected can always happen, but this year retailers believe they are prepared.
The crowd management changes being implemented by Wal-Mart are required under the agreement reached with Nassau's District Attorney. Wal-Mart must also pay nearly $2 million to county social services programs and offer 50 jobs a year to area high school students.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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