CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR) - The steep savings, one day specials and limited supplies had shoppers in Central Virginia navigating the competition to find the best deals on Black Friday.
CBS 6 News' Sandra Jones caught up with some shoppers in Central Virginia Friday.
"We got an awesome deal. A lot of these items, you see, we went from multiple stores, trying to find them," Lorretta Morgan said. "We've been out since 6 o'clock yesterday -- and we're still shopping."
Across Central Virginia, the traditional countdown to Christmas officially began at midnight. [BONUS: Your total Black Friday guide for shops, hours, ad and tips]
Zach Seigall said Black Friday has become a Thanksgiving tradition for him. He even got to know the folks he was waiting in line with and said it is "kind of like a little family."
Other shoppers were a bit surprised at the lengths some shoppers were willing to go in order to score some deeply discounted loot.
"At Walmart, it was nuts. I mean people... ad their hands on the boxes waiting for the time to change. And I'm like, 'Oh my God," Wanda Turner said.
As retailers promised deals at every door.
"I think it's mostly the fact that the anchor stores were here and were open -- and since people were already shopping, they decided at 50 percent off -- I should be here, too," Donna Herbert, a sales associate at Coldwater Creek, said.
Retail workers said more people turned out this year at Chesterfield Towne Center compared to 2011.
According to retail industry experts, holiday spending will likely increase by 4 percent this year, which may mean shoppers are feeling more confident about their financial situation.
Additionally, experts said 147 million Americans are expected to shop this Black Friday weekend.
