Retailer's planned discounts for day after Thanksgiving center on consumer electronics such as a Philips 50-inch HDTV and an Xbox 360.
By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com senior writer November 13 2007: 10:17 AM EST
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Wal-Mart is focusing its much-anticipated Black Friday deals on plasma and LCD televisions, home computers and DVD players, according to sources at two Web sites that track Black Friday promotions.
Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving - is one of the busiest shopping days of the year for the nation's retailers. Details about the sales, which Wal-Mart is not expected to officially unveil until next week, are awaited with great expectation in the retail industry.
At Wal-Mart (Charts, Fortune 500), the world's largest retailer, the so-called doorbuster deals between 5 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. will focus on limited-supply hot products including a Philips 50-inch widescreen plasma high-definition TV ($1397), RCA 46-inch widescreen LCD high-def TV ($1,196), Polaroid 42-inch widescreen 1080p LCD high-def TV ($798) and a Sanyo 37-inch widescreen LCD high-def TV ($847).
Wal-Mart cautious on holiday earnings Wal-Mart is expected to officially release its Black Friday circular early next week, although it started unwrapping "holiday" deals weeks ago. Like other retailers, Wal-Mart is trying to stoke holiday shopping excitement early - fearful that Americans will spend less on gifts as housing and credit problems infect consumer spending.
To that end, Wal-Mart chopped prices on 15,000 toys in October. Then it promoted deals on five select items, including a $348 laptop computer, on Nov. 1.
Some of Wal-Mart's other Black Friday promotions include an Apple 80GB iPod Classic ($247.88), assorted DVDs ($2.96), Dell Inspiron 1501 15.4-inch laptop computer ($598), Kodak 7MP digital camera ($89.84) and Xbox 360 arcade console system with 5 bonus games ($279.92).
In addition, Wal-Mart is selling Barbie Fairytopia Mermaid or Princess Ballerina Dolls ($5) and an Emerson Microwave ($25).
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien did not address the leaks from its Black Friday sales circular.
However, she said Wal-Mart is aware that "our Black Friday plans are the subject of some of the hottest rumors in town," O'Brien said in an email to CNNMoney.com. She said that's why the retailer has expanded early promotions, a practice it started last year.
"We'll publish our Black Friday ad circular online as early as next Monday, Nov. 19," she said. "And then on Thanksgiving Day, we'll again release a whole new set of secret in-store specials."
Well....I'm personally on the hunt for a Wii game console, and an Widescreen LCD HD TV. I've been getting all of the latest Black Friday info of various stores in my inbox for the past 3 weeks, so I'm constantly comparing the prices given with the current prices of the items that I want to purchase. It's always good to do a little research to make sure you're really getting a deal. Walmart had an early-bird sale two Fridays ago, so they have definitely started much earlier than anticipated, but so have a lot of other stores.
