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Online stores using Black Friday to jumpstart Cyber Monday sales

The days of camping out all night for Black Friday deals appear to be over, but millions are still shopping this holiday weekend.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Now that the turkey is cut and put away comes the second biggest day of this holiday week— Black Friday.

"Kind of help us to have new clients in our area as well," said Tonia Grant, owner of Bag It Up Boutique. "This is like the Super Bowl for small businesses."

Black Friday is possibly the biggest shopping day of the year, and for Grant, it's a chance to get ahead— not just of the crowds, but for the entire weekend.

Her store is predominantly online, as were many of the shops set up at the North Little Rock Community Center on Friday. For an online store, you'd think Cyber Monday would be the way to go.

But Grant asked herself, why not both?

"To see those numbers rolling in here today locally, it's like a super good feeling," Grant explained. "Not just for myself, but for the other small business owners as well."

Those crowds are what they're banking on. According to the National Retail Federation, nearly 115 million shoppers are expected to shop in the United States on just Black Friday.

It's one of the reasons why Lashonya Peters and her daughter are here as well.

"We love just interacting with people and just making these connections," Peters said.

Their store, like Grant's, is online. But there's something almost easier about being in person.

"Especially when you can show face to face," she said. "I mean, that's just really where it is because people need to make a connection."

And while they may be predominantly online, it's nice to have a change of pace— especially when that change of pace means more business.

"We don't have the funds for mass marketing, so word of mouth is important," Grant said. "For us to get together and unite as one, it's always a good feeling."

    

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