Are we there yet?

The dust and ghosts of Halloween had barely settled this year when retailers started rolling out the Christmas trappings — including "pre-Black Friday" sales.

But there is no pre-empting the granddaddy of all shopping days. In what has become an annual celebration of retail trade, millions of Americans (an estimated 134 million) will head to the stores on Friday, seeking the best deals on toys, televisions and everything in between.

"Over the years, it (Black Friday) has been very important," said Fred Hurvitz, an instructor in marketing at the Penn State Smeal College of Business. "This is the kickoff for the Christmas shopping season and (historically) this is when retailers make their profits. ... Really, it sets a trend for the rest of the holiday season."

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