The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year and the huge crowds and sales at stores around the country marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season.

For local merchants, the sales and crowds may not be as big as the large national chains, but there are still plenty of people who are shopping at home.

Rob Werner, the owner of Werner’s Trading Company, said his store may not have people lined up outside the door before it opens on Black Friday, but the store had plenty of sales and there are always a lot of people who come by.

“It’s a good day for us,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. We have a lot of families come.”

For a store like Werner’s, which has been in business in Cullman for 65 years, getting support from local shoppers is always important, Werner said.

“We’re hanging in there,” he said. “God continues to bless us, so we’re here.”

Cullman resident Jaqueline Rutherford said her visit to Werner’s was an easy choice for Black Friday, as the store offers many items that she likes.

“Werner’s is my favorite place to shop,” she said. 

Werner’s was the first stop of the day for Rutherford, and she said she planned on going to some of the other local stores because she likes finding everything she needs in Cullman rather than going to another city or shopping online.

“I’m just remaining local today,” she said.

Matt Guice, who was visiting Cullman from his home in Tampa, Florida, also stopped by Werner’s on Black Friday. He said he has visited the store in the past and liked it, so he wanted to come back while he was back in the area.

He said he also planned to visit a few other local stores while he was here, because they offer a different experience than some of the bigger chain stores that are open nationwide.

“I can go to Dick’s at home,” he said.

Lynsey Todd, owner of Mongrams Plus in Cullman’s Warehouse District, said Black Friday is the beginning of a busy month for her store.

“It’s really the first busy shopping day going into December,” she said. 

Todd said Monograms Plus had more sales this year than in years past and also offered some additional incentives like a gift bag to the first 25 customers who came into the store on Black Friday, and said she was happy to see the crowds of people that were shopping in local stores.

“It makes my heart happy,” she said.

Having members of the community shop locally, whether it’s on Black Friday or throughout the rest of the year, is vital for local merchants, Todd said.

“I just want people to know how important that is,” she said. “It would be helpful in our community if people would do that more.” 

Tyler Hanes can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext. 138.