For consumers Black Friday can mean getting up early and rushing around town for the best deals, but for retailers it's the kick off to the holiday shopping season.

Conestoga Mall General Manager Tony Schultz said he got to work at 4:00 am. The mall didn't open until 7, but stores like Younkers were already open for customers.

"There was lots of traffic, lots of cars in the parking lot first thing in the morning," Schultz said. "It's been pretty steady throughout the day, so we're happy with that."

K-Mart put their own spin on Black Friday by calling it "Blue Friday" in reference to blue light specials, but Grand Island store manager Joe Glaser said regardless of the color, it's an important day for them.

"It's the most exciting day for us in the entire year," he said. "It gives us a chance to see a lot of people we don't get to see during the year and show off, and hopefully help people out with their Christmas."

Even though more and more stores are open, or are extending their hours, on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday is still the biggest shopping day of the year. However, Schultz said the whole weekend is big for stores.

"Usually by Monday we call around and see how the stores did for not only Friday, but Saturday and Sunday," he said. "The weekend's really important for that kickoff. We've really found that the Saturday before Christmas has been really strong the past couple of years too."

Glaser said K-Mart was open on Thanksgiving, and has been for the past several years, however, this was the first year their partner store Sears was open on the holiday.

"I think it's going to be the norm more and more," he said. "I think we'll see it more and more the next few years."

Glaser said he thought customers seemed to be in good spirits, and were after a little bit of everything instead of just doorbusters - a good sign in a still sagging economy.

"This is the kickoff for the holiday season for us, and I guess we'll just be on a roll the rest of the season," he said.

Schultz said stores at the Conestoga Mall decide which days and hours they'll be open, but not matter what time the doors open, Black Friday is like Christmas for those shops.

"It's kind of their prime-time, or their Superbowl time you could say for the shopping season, so it's very important."