Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has traditionally been the beginning of the holiday retail season, with about 30 percent of annual retail sales occurring between Black Friday and Christmas.

But retailers can hardly wait, and some national chains will begin their sales on Thanksgiving afternoon.

Walmart’s Black Friday sale begins in stores at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening.

The major retailer generally opens the shopping season with long lines for limited numbers of discounted products, and especially electronic products. Their Black Friday sale supplement included in today’s paper features a number of electronic items.

J.C. Penney also will start its sales on Thanksgiving Day, from 2-11 p.m.

“We’ll have special coupons that are first come, first serve to our Thursday shoppers,” the floor manager, Olivia Jones said, “Those coupons could be anything from $10 to $500 off a purchase.”

There will also be select electronics offered in their sale for the first time ever; 55-inch TVs, PS4s, and Amazon Alexis.

“Our $20 diamond studs are very popular, as well as our home appliances we have,” Jones said, “We have been preparing for this by clearing the floor, and restocking. On Wednesday there will be a good amount of employees staying late to lay out for Thursday.”

On Friday and Saturday the store will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Goody’s started its sales on Tuesday, with a preview sale that started at 6 a.m. and ended at 12 a.m.

Goody’s will be open on Thanksgiving at 2 p.m. and will close at 1 a.m. They will reopen on Black Friday at 6 a.m. and will close at

“We’ve hired some holiday help,” Kayla Wilcox, store manager, said, “I think we’re prepared.”

Some locally-owned businesses also started traditional Black Friday sales early.

Walker Business Machines will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

“We’ve been prepping for it, and actually our sales started yesterday,” Alan Walker of Walker’s said, “We’ve been pre-tying bows for our holiday gift wraps, and hired seasonal help,”

There will be 40 percent off on all ornaments featured on their Christmas tree, as well as the home and gift section will be 25 percent off, including some artwork and decorations.

Pink Peppers will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Black Friday. The real sales are from 8-8:30 a.m., which is 50 percent off. From there, the percentages off only drop, starting at 8:30-9:30 a.m. with 40 percent off, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. will be 30 percent off, and 12-5 p.m. will be 20 percent off.

“This is a really good time to buy Christmas presents, we will have some good gifts out, big ticket items,” Marriane DuBose, owner of Pink Peppers said, “Our biggest rush will be in the early morning, so if you’re an impatient shopper, come in the evening.”

Shoe Department boasts deals that last throughout the weekend. The sale kicks off on Friday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“We’re always busy on Black Friday, and we’ve been busy restocking everything,” Christine Tillus, the store manager said, “But we have sales running through the weekend as well,”

Saturday will continue the sales, with store hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sunday, the store hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Ward and Co. started its sales on Monday, and will continue throughout the week. On Black Friday, the store will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturday, the store will conduct regular business hours.

“Friday’s sales are 25 percent off Kate Spade watches, 25 percent off of Costa Del Mar, 20 percent off of Jack Mason products, and we have outerwear going from 30 to 70 percent off,” the owner, Mike Ward said, “We will have surprise sales as well,”

This is Ward and Co.’s 24th Christmas shopping season.

Factory Connection plans to start its sales on Wed., Nov. 23, beginning at 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thanksgiving the business will be closed. On Black Friday, they will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We’re having up to 50 percent off of everything,” Francis Ann, the store manager said, “We will have most of our employees working the day of Black Friday,”

On Saturday, Factory Connection will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with some sales still available.

Salon Utopia’s boutique will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, with 35 percent off of everything. Light refreshments will be offered to those holiday shoppers.

“A big shipment came in today, and we’ve been working hard to have everything ready for the big day,” Suzanne Luntsford, store owner said, “We have lots of new items for the day,”

In 2016, around 101.7 million people shopped on Black Friday, while in 2015, the number of people sat at 74 million.