Mother-daughter duo Shelly and Jordyn Ridens stepped into new Poplar Bluff retailer Ulta at 6 a.m. Friday morning with coffee in hand and on a mission to find deals.
"This is our favorite shopping day of the year," Shelly said. "We were super excited about Ulta this year."
As true-blue Black Friday shoppers, the two began their morning at Academy Sports + Outdoors an hour earlier and even snuck in a little shopping during Thanksgiving afternoon.
After Black Friday shopping for years, Shelly said her daughter joined about four years ago on the tradition.
Before heading out to the stores, Shelly said they check out the sale ads and make their plans of where to stop and at what times to pick up Christmas gifts for others.
While in Ulta, Shelly said her daughter had her eye on the James Charles Morphe pallet.
"We are just getting started," she said before heading to their next stop.
Samantha Porter said she ventures out on Black Friday when she is able and was looking forward to adding Ulta to her stops this year.
"This is my favorite makeup store," she said. "It's literally the ultimate makeup store."
The $10 mascaras pulled Porter in as well as the addition of Kylie Cosmetics by Kylie Jenner.
Porter said she spent Thanksgiving at home with family and did not take part in the early Black Friday sales, but had made her way to Academy Sports + Outdoors and planned to head to Walmart next for her daughter earlier this morning.
"I may head home after that, it depends how tired I am," she said.
JCPenny cashier Shelby Phelps went into work Thanksgiving afternoon at 1:15 p.m. and was greeted by a line of customers as long as the building awaiting the 2 p.m. opening.
Once the store opened, the line had extended to around the building and into Walmart's parking lot.
"It was extreme," Phelps said. "Yesterday was hectic, but it went smoothly."
The store handed out 1,300 coupons to shoppers and were out 45 minutes after unlocking the doors.
To prepare for one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Phelps said JCPenny managers drafted maps with employee's locations marked.
Employees also watched a video from their regional manager explaining what to expect. The group was even warned not to worry if someone passed out and told the employees how to assist. Phelps reported thankfully, no shoppers needed medical assistance.
"I think as the day goes on we will be more hectic, but not as bad as yesterday," she said Friday morning. "We still have all our deals available and they will extend into tomorrow."
As a Black Friday tradition, family members Rebecca Joshu and Randy and Nancy McCracken participate in some shopping while in Piedmont visiting family for the holiday from St. Louis and Cadet, Mo.
"We spent yesterday with family," Nancy said. "Now, there are no lines today."
The group was not opposed to squeezing in a little Black Friday shopping on Thursday, but have since waited until the following day to travel into Poplar Bluff.
"We are looking for Christmas presents and JCPenny has a good selection," Rebecca said.
Melissa Underwood was on a mission to find a pair of Adidas shoes she was sent a photo of while in JCPenny. Along to also check out the deals was her mother, Kathy Gribble, and aunt, Sharon Hill.
"We are just looking to see what we can get a bargain on," Kathy said.
The early birds said they were up at 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. to travel to Poplar Bluff from Campbell, Mo., and Piggott, Ark.
"Thursday is family day and we start shopping on Friday," Melissa said. "JCPenny is our first stop and we have more."
Mike Tidwell of Qulin set out on a mission to pick up a turkey fryer at Academy Sports + Outdoors this morning for a second Thanksgiving meal he was hosting this weekend.
"It wasn't in the ad, but it's on sale," wife Jackie said.
Not a traditional Black Friday shopper, Mike said Academy would be his only stop for the day.
Jackie was able to get plenty of shopping in before with a trip to Cape Girardeau, Mo., yesterday to visit family.
While not getting home until 1 a.m., Jackie was still up and accompanying her husband to purchase the turkey fryer at 7 a.m.
Clifton Hillis and daughter, Tayler, made their way to Academy as well, but had ammunition for trap shooting on their shopping list.
Tayler said the two don't normally take part in Black Friday shopping, but ventured out while her mother was at Walmart and later heading to Jonesboro, Ark.
Mike admitted he also took part in the early shopping yesterday purchasing shot gun shells as well.
"You have to stock up," Tayler said during the discounted prices.