MANKATO —

If you got to this story, you probably already went through the stacks of inserts and advertising in the paper.

As Black Friday approaches, all else becomes of secondary importance for millions of shoppers.

Retailers — who make 25 to40 percent of their sales in November and December — are ready for you. Oh, are they ready.

While the traditional store opening just a few years ago was 6 a.m., more big retailers are opening earlier. This year some, including Old Navy, are letting shoppers in at 3 a.m.

“It’s kind of an arms race,” said Buzz Anderson of the one-upmanship of early openings. Anderson, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, said retailers this year are coaxing in shoppers with earlier openings and more sales.

Predictions for holiday sales range from one-half percent higher to 1 percent lower than last year. That’s more promising than last year’s results.

“Last year, we got hit right between the eyes,” Anderson said.

With an economy that appears to have bottomed out and is slowly improving, Anderson said retailers have hope, but not grand expectations.

“People have been pretty frightened by the past year, and they’re saving their money.”

But, he said, he’s hearing more positive things from his members: “Anecdotally, I think people are feeling a little bit better each day.”

He said stores are focused on more sale-priced items this year, but said shoppers may not find as much of the typical after-Christmas price slashing.

“Retailers are carrying a lot less inventory. I don’t think you’re going to see as many of those January close-outs.”

A group of local small retailers are joining forces to attract business through the holiday season.

“We are trying to promote non-mall shopping. Not that people shouldn’t go to the mall, but that people remember local merchants,” said Amy Klugherz of My Father’s Daughter in lower North Mankato.

Nearly 30 businesses in Mankato and North Mankato have punch cards available beginning Friday. Customers who get the cards punched at all of the stores by noon Christmas Eve can enter them in a drawing for three prizes, the top one being of a $750 value. It includes a local hotel stay, gift certificates, jewelry and other local merchandise.

Diane Volden, owner of the Encore women’s clothing and household consignment shop in Old Town, said the “Holiday Passport” promotion is aimed at alerting people to shopping options.

“It’s an interesting way to have people look at the downtown areas and look at the possibilities,” Volden said. “There are a lot of small businesses down here, and it’s exciting to see the changes that are happening.”

“We have everyone involved from Harley Davidson to Three Sister’s Journey and everything in-between,” Klugherz said of the participating businesses.

The concept was the brainstorm of a group called Mankato Women's Business Organization — nine female-oriented businesses — formed in January.

Klugherz said every retail business gets a good boost from Black Friday, albeit at different times of the day. “We don’t see them as early as the big retailers. We see them after 10 a.m., after they’ve taken advantage of the other deals.”