Extreme Black Friday: Meet the shoppers
Newsday's 2011 featured Black Friday shopper, Amie Ortiz (second from right) with her loyal Black Friday shopping companions. Credit: Handout
We asked for Long Islander's most intense Black Friday shoppers, and you answered. The biggest shopping day of the year is almost here, and this year we'll keep readers up to date with Amie Ortiz, 31, of Holbrook, and her family and friends as they venture out to hit the sales, an eight-year tradition for the group.
Ortiz wrote, "We plan it out all year and map out our route Thanksgiving night with circulars and coupons! We start as early as possible and sometimes divide and conquer the stores so that someone is on line and others grab the hot items. Last year we even had T-shirts made with our names on the back! We finish off with breakfast at the diner and then we all go for a relaxing massage! It’s an awesome day!"
Before you witness them in their glory on Nov. 25, get to know the shoppers.
Amie Ortiz
Age: 31
Hometown: Holbrook
Black Friday experience: Eight years
Favorite Black Friday stores: Toys R Us, Kohls, Target, Smith Haven Mall, NY & Company, Express and Macy's, to name a few.
Must-have items this year: Camera, basketball hoop for my son and new coat for me
Area of specialty: Home goods!
Best Black Friday deal ever scored: A flat-screen TV at Walmart
Shopping tip: Start early, have patience and have fun! This has been a tradition of ours for so long because we have a blast doing it!
Jennifer Tullo
Age: 41
Hometown: Coram
Black Friday experience: Eight years
Favorite Black Friday stores: Kohls, Macy's, Best Buy
Must-have item this year: Flat-screen TV for the bedroom and boots
Area of specialty: Shoes
Best Black Friday deal ever scored: Kitchen Aid Mixer at Kohls
Shopping tip: Have your ads/coupons ready and have a plan of what stores to hit at what time for maximum savings.
Kelli Giglio
Age: 29
Hometown: Selden
Black Friday experience: Eight years
Favorite Black Friday stores: Kohls and Target
Must-have item this year: Flat-screen TV
Area of specialty: Clothing
Best Black Friday deal ever scored: 37-inch TV from Walmart for $300
Shopping tip: Be patient, we're all in it for the same reason!
Laura Giglio
Age: 50
Hometown: Selden
Black Friday experience: Eight years
Favorite Black Friday stores: Kohls, Target, Best Buy
Must-have item this year: A little bit of everything!
Area of specialty: Love it all!
Best Black Friday deal ever scored: Flat-screen TVs at Best Buy, oh yeah!
Shopping tip: Lots of caffeine! Dress lightly, stores are hot. Lighten up … it should be fun, not taken too seriously!
For live updates, follow @NinaShopsNY on Twitter and check exploreli.com/shopping Nov. 25.
