Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Copious spending on black Friday seems to have become as much of a tradition as Thanksgiving itself.
When the doors opened at Miller’s department store on Friday morning, customers were already waiting to shop for bargains and to cash in store offered shopping incentives.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
The lines at Miller’s Department Store in Caribou were longer than usual on black Friday, but customers still had smiles on their faces.
“We offer deals and gift certificates giveaways for the first few hours,” said Caribou Miller’s manager Mike Voisine, “we have faithful customers who come in for the gift certificates and we appreciate their business.”
Miller’s had about the same turnout this year as last black Friday, which is a good thing considering the economy. Many of the customers purchased items from Miller’s wide selection of Carhart apparel.
“We’re one of the biggest Carhart dealers around,” Voisine said, “we have a large selection of Carhart apparel for men, women, and children; if there’s something we don’t have, we can get it quick,” he said.
The customers in Miller’s on Friday were generally pleasant and courteous. Jerry Lebel was one of such customers. Lebel comes to the area about once a week from Canada to shop.
“It was real busy this week,” he said, “the worst was probably at Walmart.”
Lebel added that shopping at smaller businesses like Miller’s is easier than fighting through a maze of customers at the larger stores.
“We’re a smaller store, but we tend to have better customer service,” Voisine said, “people don’t have to wait as long as they do in larger stores.”
Though Miller’s offered big savings on black Friday, the low price trend is scheduled to continue with more sales between now and Christmas according to Voisine.
“We’re here to help our customers out and do what we can to get them their Christmas gifts,” he said.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Customers combed Miller’s Department Store searching for the perfect gift on Black Friday.
