Local stores try to compete with Black Friday madness



SEATTLE -- The holiday shopping season is well under way. Thousands of people packed local malls and retail stores overnight, hoping to get some good deals.

"I love it, it's fun," says Maria Chalmers, as she stood in line at a Target store. "What else is there to do?"

But not everyone played nice.  A shoving match broke out at a Brandsmart in Florida. Shoppers battled each other for tablets at a Walmart in Georgia. In North Carolina, it was low-priced TVs that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

It’s made some local shoppers think twice about Black Friday madness.

“I think it`s kind of ridiculous,” says Niko Pheones. “At some point, it gets out of hand. That`s why I keep it local here.”

“I used to go,” says Lee Sutton. “But the whole way it`s blown up and the violence related to it, I tend to not to go to the bigger stores.”

Alive and Well Skate Shop had a Black Friday sale today. But loyal customers say that's not all that brought them out to stand in line.

“I just kind of like it more than the big shops, they have a better selection,” says Sutton. “And I know the people who own it, so I like to support my friends.”

The Elliott Bay Book Company is reminding browsers on Capitol Hill that you can save money and support local business while avoiding the chaos.

“It`s wonderful to be part of a cluster of stores, that people can come here, have a nice lunch, and look for a variety of things,” says Karen Maeda Allman.  “It`s more about having a good experience and not losing your mind.”

“You have to think about where your money`s going and who it`s supporting,” says Jordan Nicholson, who works at Alive and Well. “For us, the money is staying in the community. People should shop local, because it stays local.”