Raleigh stores still packed on Black Friday as shoppers adjust approach for inflation

In Raleigh's Village District, some shoppers have revamped their approach to gift giving this year.

It didn't start out that way, but some of these stores were packed by this afternoon with people buying for the holidays. Some said they came into today with a plan to shop smart.

"I got some cute stuff that I’m just going to use as stocking stuffers," said shopper Alexis Tammi.

The crowds turned out in full force Friday. It was a successful Black Friday for stores in the village district, even if it didn't look that way from the start.

"I think we’ve had really good traffic so far," said Chandler Hatley, store manager at Charlotte's. "It was raining this morning, so a little slower, but things have picked up a lot."

Shoppers have traditionally lined up early for Black Friday sales at the big box stores.

"Big stores, people will buy online," Hatley said. "And then small businesses people like to come in and support in person."

At Charlotte's, sales were strong - despite shoppers dealing with months of inflation on essentials.

The Great Outdoor Provision Company said they were also on pace with last year's Black Friday sales. Some shoppers who said rising prices are not keeping them from holiday shopping,

But they're buying more cautiously this year.

"You’re spending more and coming out with less," said Nikkol Ortiz. "You know. Like we still have to buy stuff, but we’re not getting as much as we normally would."

Tammi said inflation is on her mind. She offered this advice: Come in with a game plan and stick to it.

"I made a very specific list of three or four things that each person would get," Tammi said. "And I’ve gone out and I’ve gotten specifically that, or I’ve waited to buy it online with a sale."