Black Friday started early at University Mall this year in Carbondale, and multiple stores exceeded expectations.

Different stores took different approaches on how to prepare and manage during what some call the biggest shopping day of the year.

J.C. Penney decided to open their doors at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night, as opposed to last year, when doors opened at 6 a.m. Friday. Karren West, Divisional Manager of J.C. Penney said they had an increase in sales this year compared to Black Fridays in the past. She said in preparation for Black Friday, the stores tried to make everything very accessible and easy to identify.

“I had customers coming in weeks before Black Friday just so that they could get the ad that we run on Black Friday, and wanted to have it in their hands so that they could flip through the pages of it rather than go online,” West said. “Because there is a lot of customers that like the experience of looking through the ad, and strategically plan their shopping game before Black Friday arrives.”

West said they kept everyone from employees to customers energized with a station providing hot chocolate, water and granola bars. The store also gave out gift cards to employees throughout the night as a thank you for being there.

Despite recent changes, West does not think Black Friday is a thing of the past.

“I saw many shoppers that even had shirts. Two girls came in with shirts that had Black Friday in sequins with the pink diva on the front, so that they could be easily identified what their mission was,” she said

Macy’s in University Mall hired a Holiday Manager specifically for this time of year. Maryan Gilmore, Holiday Manager for Macy’s, said they opened their doors at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night as opposed to last year, when they opened their doors at 12 a.m. Friday.

Gilmore said the store reached 90 percent of their sales goal by 10 p.m.

“We had quite a few students. (It) was a great black Friday for us,” she said. Ulta Beauty, which opened in October, had an army of people scheduled, according to general manager Shelley Kirshner.

Employees had strategized plans for when items sold out. Kirshner said sales were above budget, and she saw lots of teamwork among employees. There did not seem to be too many students this Black Friday, according to Kirshner.

The Picket Fence, a seasonal store at University Mall, had record-breaking sales this Black Friday.

“We stayed steady all day. It went really well,” Charity Williams, employee of The Picket Fence said. The family-owned store will only stay open until the middle of January.

“We saw some crazy shoppers. People for the most part though were really nice and perky,” Williams said.