Black Friday Sales in Los Angeles

You'll find sales at almost every major retailer on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. You can shop at your local Target and Wal-Mart, but there's another shopping experience with an interesting twist in the Los Angeles area. The After-Thanksgiving Midnight Madness Sale at the Camarillo Premium Outlets kicks off on November 24th at 12:00 a.m. The mall is home to over 60 premium outlet stores including Coach, Banana Republic, Barneys New York, Bebe, Diesel, and Off 5th Saks Avenue, although some of you may be more interested to know that you will also find Toy Liquidators, Carter's, Harry and David, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Mikasa. During the Midnight Madness Sale select stores are open and offering special savings.

Here are 10 tips for your Friday-After-Thanksgiving shopping:

1. Be Prepared
Don't let the early hour of this sale fool you - be prepared for long lines and a slew of shoppers. Leave early to avoid traffic and jump in line early at your favorite spot. You might also want to bring a turkey leg or two. Not only will you be waiting in line and dodging other late-night shoppers throughout the store, there's the walk from store to store. If your fresh out of turkey legs, a bottled water and a snack will do.

2. Shop Like the Stars
If you want to add a little luxury to your Midnight Madness shopping, then you may want to check out the Shopper Shuttle. The Shopper Shuttle is hosting its 2nd annual Midnight Madness shuttle to Camarillo Premium Outlets. The shuttle service picks up at multiple locations and delivers eager shoppers ahead of traffic (hopefully). Even better, the shuttle sticks around to move shoppers quickly from store to store around the outlet. Not only will you be able to shop a little more stress-free, you can share your shopping stories with your group on the way home. This is a good excuse to start a Black Friday shopping tradition! The Shopper Shuttle is taking reservations and will plan routes to the event accordingly. They're offering a special discounted rate to the first 100 shoppers who register.

3. Watch for Updates
Camarillo Premium Outlets updates its sale information closer to the event so that you'll know which stores are going to be open and what kind of deals you can find. This goes for other retailers, too. Check the retailers' websites and watch your local newspapers for advertisements. The ads will provide the dates and hours of the sales. Make sure you hold onto your ads so that you can plan accordingly.

4. Make A List
All year long you're building your Christmas and holiday lists in your head, but you'll need to put it on paper and get organized for this sale. With only certain stores open during the event and a limited time to shop, you'll want to be efficient. Check the myriad gift giving guides on Associated Content to help you with your list and plan a route through the outlet mall. If you're taking the shuttle, you'll be able to move a little quicker through the outlets.

5. Shop With A Friend
Plan to shop with a friend and maximize your shopping time. You can compare lists and help each other out. If you both need something from the book store and the electronics store, split up. You'll increase your chances of getting the item while it's still in stock, and you'll save on time.

6. Plan Ahead
Whether you decide to take a shuttle or drive yourself, you'll need to plan your route. Determine the best time to leave to avoid traffic. If you need one of the season's hot items, you might want to plan to be in line early. Fill the car with gas, get directions, check your tires, and be ready to go.

7. Map It Out
Get a map of the mall online (or other destination). Once you've made your shopping list, reviewed the map and the stores that will be participating, plan your shopping route accordingly. You might also want to make a trip for a "dry run" of your shYou'll save a lot of time with this plan.

8. Prioritize
A good way to prioritize your shopping list is to determine where you'll get the most savings. For example, if your biggest savings is a $500 discount on a T.V., then make that your first stop. Another way to prioritize is to start with the item most likely to sell out. If Elmo is more important than the savings on the T.V., you better start with that item.

9. Play By the Rules
Some shoppers have tried to abuse the system by buying items in advance to return during the sale hours. This allows them to get the item ahead of the crowd and still get the sale price. Retailers have gotten wise to these and other loopholes for shoppers. Make sure you check the store policies.

10. Have Fun
Battling crowds and standing in long lines can take the fun out of almost anything. By planning ahead and preparing yourself for the reality of the busy shopping day, you can make the most of your time. Bring the things you'll need while waiting and shopping. Don't forget your wallet, your license, your credit cards or cash, a snack, your i-Pod, a friend, your mobile phone or any other necessities. Keep in mind the reason you're there - the savings! How much more fun is that?

If you don't want to battle the crowds, this sale lasts through November 26th, but you'll find deeper discounts during the Midnight Madness sale. With so many stores, variety and deals in one place, this is a must-shop shopping event! For those brave enough to venture out for Midnight Madness after a day of turkey, stuffing and fixings, you're sure to find some great deals on your holiday shopping.

Of course, the tips will apply (with exception of maybe the shuttle) to any shopping destination of your choice. To find the other sales in the Los Angeles area, check your local newspapers for ads and verify sale dates and times. Some sales will last all weekend, while others will be available only during specified hours the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday 2006 advertising is under way and many ads have started making their way into public view. Here are some online resources for finding Black Friday 2006 ads: www.blackfriday.com, http://blackfridayads.com, and http://bfads.net.

About Camarillo Premium Outlets
Camarillo Premium Outlets, located in Camarillo, CA, is host to 120 outlet stores and is located just 45 minutes north of Los Angeles.

About Shopper Shuttle
Shopper Shuttle offers shopping excursions to 23 shopping locations. The service specializes in taking customers to the current "it" spots around town where stars have been spotted shopping. Prices are per segment and start at $9.