It’s the one time of year, where shoppers can expect to find incredible holiday deals, but Ron Ponds is turning his Black Friday experience into a business.
“It’s always busy,” he said. “Last year at Target, there was plenty people in line and if you’re back 150 people back, you might not get that TV.”
Ron is an avid Black Friday shopper.
Yet, this year, he is extending his expertise to others. He says he’ll squad in line for people, so they don’t have to wait several hours in the cold for hot-ticket items.
“I’m doing this to not just help myself but to help other people because a lot of people are on fixed budgets,” he said. “I ask for a donation, but I don’t have a set price or nothing. Just a little bit of something for my time and everything.”
He says others like himself often hold out for rock-bottom prices often associated with the sales. With recent cuts to assistance programs like food stamps, he expects the need will be much higher this holiday season.
“It’s so important because due to the economy there’s… things are tight, and if it wasn’t for Black Friday, then stores would probably feel an impact later on,” Ron said.
Tonight, Ron and his daughter will head out to a store with a tent and heater in tow. He said shopping newbies should also bring one other thing.
“A bunch of attitude,” he laughed. “That’s what matters the most, and because we all are standing on the wall in cold degrees but we can bear it because it pays off for our families and everything.”