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Retailers Hope Early Black Friday Will Boost Sales

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — This year, you don't have to wait for your Thanksgiving turkey to digest before heading out to the stores for Black Friday.

As retailers struggle for sales amid one of the most challenging economic climates in U.S. history, many stores are hoping that an early start to the traditional shopping season will bring in more revenue than if they waited until late November.

Retailers Launch Black Friday Sales Early: KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports.

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Target is among the first retail giants to roll out a four-day pre-Thanksgiving sale, while Sears says every Thursday and Friday through Nov. 20 will be "black" with discounts on items ranging from power mowers to diamond rings.

Kohl's and Macy's are also starting their sales early this year, expanding their discounts to their respective online outlets as well as the brick-and-mortar stores.

"It's been a boring year in retail, but in the next six to eight weeks, it is going to break out into a civil war," said Brad Wilson, founder of BlackFriday2010.com, an online deal aggregator that's already seeing about 20,000 visitors a day. "Retailers are fighting for a smaller pie, and the only way to win is to beat each other."

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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