Die-hard shoppers, get a good nap in after Thanksgiving dinner — you’re going to need it.

Major retailers have set their Black Friday sales clocks to midnight — or a minute after — on Friday.

That’s when Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Kohl’s, JCPenney and Kmart are opening in Auburn.

“It’s a family and friends thing,” said Nory Jones, professor of management information systems at the University of Maine. ”OK, road trip!’ ‘Let’s stay up all night!’ — it’s part of the experience.” 

Economists are forecasting healthy spending numbers this holiday season nationally. In Maine, early indicators look promising: Employment is up, unemployment is down (4 percent last month) and, after inflation, average wages grew 3 percent in the first six months of 2016, “the fastest rate in more than a decade,” according to Glenn Mills, chief economist at the Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research.

“I think that combined lower food and gas prices have put more disposable income in consumers’ pockets,” said Ryan Wallace, director of the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine. “Things are looking pretty good for the holiday season.”

As with any time of year, shop smart, cautioned Jason Harkins, an associate professor of management at UMaine’s Business School.

“Many of the discrete deals available right now aren’t really good deals,” he said. “You could have gotten a better deal in October or August if you’d just actively price-shopped.”

The online finance site WalletHub studied 8,000 Black Friday deals at 35 of the largest U.S. retailers and suggested shoppers shoot for a savings of at least 39 percent off “to avoid Black Friday traps.” (Of those 35 stores, Macy’s had the steepest average store discount; Big Lots, the lowest.)

One trend Jones has watched with interest: The Black Friday-Cyber Monday “defusing.”

“Where it used to be a very defined day — both Black Friday and Cyber Monday — now, you’ve probably seen online and in the papers, ‘Black Friday starting now!'” she said. “It kind of makes sense. People only have so much to spend. If you can catch them early and get those dollars early, then you’ll get them instead of somebody else.”

In Auburn, Wal-Mart and Best Buy have hired off-duty police officers to work Friday from midnight to noon to keep an eye on crowds.

“Usually, it’s been pretty good up there,” said Deputy Chief Jason Moen. “We like to remind people, ‘Hey, be patient and try to be in the Christmas spirit while you wait in line.'”

Outside the midnight openings, Jo-Ann Fabric and Staples are opening at 6 a.m. The Auburn Mall is opening at 7 a.m.

Marden’s is opening at 8 a.m., an hour earlier than usual.

Beyond the savings, it’s also worth considering where spending is going, Wallace said.

“During the election, we heard a lot of talk about trade and how that impacts workers in the U.S.,” he said. “When it comes down to it, this is a chance for people to put their money where their mouth is: If they’re really concerned about supporting the U.S. American worker and local regions, it’s important to consider making purchases at your local vendors. Maine’s got a great brand. I’d kind of nudge people to get their TV, but go out and buy some local products.”

And after Black Friday, that’s where Small Business Saturday steps in.

Local organizer Sheri Withers at Downtown Handmade & Vintage said sales and events are planned on both sides of the river. For the second year in a row, the Union of Maine Visual Artists-Lewiston-Auburn and Downtown Lewiston Association have partnered with both cities for the Festival of Art & Lights from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. It’s capped off with the holiday parade at 6 p.m.

“Where Lewiston and Auburn switch it up every year, last year (the holiday parade) ended in Auburn, so this year everything will be coming to Lewiston,” Withers said. “That will really be highlighting the downtown and Lisbon Street businesses more because everybody will be standing outside there, waiting for the parade. Last year, Auburn had a really good response to their downtown.

“It’ll be nice to see all those people filling the streets,” she said. “They can look at art, they can buy locally made gifts, they can eat dinner, have a glass of wine or stop at the different breweries.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com

Online finance site WalletHub studied 8,000 Black Friday deals at 35 of the largest U.S. retailers.

Its take-away: All sales aren’t created equal.

A sample of retailers’ average Black Friday’s discount:

• Macy’s: 63.35 percent.

• JCPenney: 62.79 percent.

• Harbor Freight: 62.58 percent.

• Kohl’s: 58.15 percent.

• Sears: 43.89 percent.

• Toys R Us: 40.5 percent.

• Best Buy: 33.2 percent.

• Staples: 33.1 percent.

• Wal-Mart: 32.6 percent.

• BJ’s: 32.0 percent.

• Kmart: 28.6 percent.

• Target: 28.6 percent.

• Amazon: 24.7 percent.

• Big Lots: 23.5 percent.

Average discount for all 35 retailers: 39 percent.