VIDEO: Black Friday sales draw shoppers to Outlets of Little Rock, Target, more

With holiday sales starting earlier yet again on Black Friday, shoppers this year in Little Rock and North Little Rock were ushered into stores as early as Thanksgiving afternoon.

To those shoppers looking for bargains at JCPenney, that meant being in line the business opened its doors at 3 p.m. Thursday. Other retail giants opened hours later, including Best Buy and Toys "R" Us at 5 p.m. and Wal-Mart and Target at 6 p.m.

Sheridan resident Kim Maple and her daughter, Sierra Morris, stood in line among the first Black Friday customers at Target's Chenal Parkway location before it opened at 6 p.m. Thursday.

A 17-year veteran of Black Friday shopping, Maple said she wishes stores were closed Thanksgiving as they were in the past.

"I wish they would keep it at Friday, but I guess you have to keep up with the economy," he said.

Maple said she and her daughter, self-described "Black Friday professionals," consider the annual shopping event a family tradition.

The first person in line at the Target, Little Rock resident Connie Johnson, said she held her spot starting about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and made a friend in the process.

"I've only been in Arkansas for a couple of months, so it's a tradition for myself and my daughter, but [Palmer is] keeping me company," Johnson said, adding that she is originally from Michigan.

Johnson and Palmer said they were both looking to purchase a discounted 55-inch TV.

Customers also flocked overnight to Little Rock's newest shopping venue, Outlets of Little Rock, which opened its doors at midnight. The first 250 people in line received gift bags that included coupons.

Rain held off in Little Rock for the duration of Thursday's sale hours, though began falling shortly after midnight as customers walked through the Outlets and tapered off within about 30 minutes.

More rainfall is forecast into the holiday weekend. Some areas could receive up to seven inches of rain by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock.

This year's move for even earlier store openings on Black Friday comes at a time when retailers are also eyeing a larger market in online shopping, with stores such as Bentonville-based Wal-Mart making a push for earlier-than-usual cyber deals.

Wal-Mart, which typically provides online discounts the Monday after Thanksgiving, will drop the price of 2,000 items at 7 p.m. Sunday, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.