Black Friday, like just about everything else this year, will be a little different.

That’s not to say the differences will be all bad, however.

For shoppers, the benefit is deals are starting earlier. November may really be Black Friday Month. Expect to see plenty of deals and efforts by retailers to make online shopping even more seamless with curbside pickups. This year, a number of stores plan to be closed on Thanksgiving, a change from the past and it will be interesting to see if this change reverses the march to an earlier and earlier opening.

There will be deals to lure in shoppers from the heavy hitters in big box retailers to looking at local businesses and what they will offer. Here are some changes among the major retailers that are typically part of the Black Friday experience. We’ll look at more shopping options and what additional stores are doing for sales and the variety of ways shoppers can get their packages delivered next week.

Best Buy

Best Buy is already offering Black Friday ad deals on a variety of products from TVs to earbuds and headphones to Apple products.

Best Buy reported hundreds of deals in its Black Friday sale are available online and in stores through Nov. 1, like a Lenovo laptop for $150 or a 65-inch 4K smart TV for $249.

Best Buy is closed on Thanksgiving this year and opens for Black Friday shopping from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the day after Thanksgiving. Deals will be available online and in stores. Nov. 28 hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Nov. 29 hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Best Buy has already extended holiday hours to its stores for the holiday season and are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Black Friday isn’t just one day this year — it’s months long,” the company reported. “So, you’ll have more opportunities than ever to shop early and score Black Friday deals this season.”

From Nov. 5-8, Best Buy has a wish list sale, there is a treat yourself sale on Nov. 11 and a coolest deals sale from Nov. 12-15. From Nov. 16-17, there is a Best Buy member early access sale and nearly all Black Friday deals are available beginning Nov. 22.

Like other retailers Best Buy is offering free shipping to stores, one-hour pickup for most items and continues its contactless curbside pickup. In-store shoppers will be limited for social distancing.

Kohl’s

Kohl’s website directs customers to check back for its Black Friday deals. The store will open at 5 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving and will have deals online and in stores. Kohl’s will be closed Thanksgiving day.

This year, we’ve evolved our strategies to reflect changing consumer behavior, and Kohl’s plans for the holiday season are no exception,” said Jon Grosso, executive vice president, director of stores in a news release. “Safety and convenience are more important than ever and we know customers will continue to take advantage of Kohl’s online and omnichannel conveniences, including contactless shopping options this season. While holiday shopping may look and feel different this year, I am confident customers will continue to see Kohl’s as a destination for a safe, seamless shopping experience.”

The company reports it plans to make Black Friday Week deals available both on Kohls.com and in store to allow customers to shop however they feel most comfortable this holiday.

Target

At Target, Black Friday begins Nov. 1 and continues throughout the month with nearly 1 million more deals than last year.

“This year, in a holiday season unlike any other, we know it’s more important than ever for our guests to get great deals in a convenient and safe shopping environment,” said Christina Hennington, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target, in a news release. “By kicking off our holiday deals earlier than ever, offering Black Friday pricing throughout the full month of November and extending our Price Match Guarantee, we’re letting guests know they don’t need to wait or face the crowds to get the best deals, all with no membership fees required.”

This is the first time Target will offer Black Friday deals all November along with weeklong discounts and digital deals. Those Black Friday deals will be advertised in stores and at Target.com. The retailer also announced it will be offering weeklong discounts and digital deals every day, beginning Nov. 1

The price match means guests can request a price adjustment for any item advertised as a “Black Friday deal” if it is offered at a lower price either in the Target store or at Target.com. Target reports it will match select competitors’ prices within 14 days of a purchase throughout the majority of the season.

Walmart

Walmart reported in October it is adapting to customers’ needs this holiday season and Black Friday is no exception.

Walmart will spread out its Black Friday savings this year from one single day to three events it is calling “Black Friday Deals for Days.”

“This reinvented Black Friday experience will offer customers the retailer’s best prices of the season on the most sought-after items on 2020 holiday wish lists during three separate savings events across the month of November,” Walmart stated. “Each savings event will begin online at Walmart.com and continue in Walmart stores. And new this year, customers will have the option to pick up their online Black Friday order through Walmart’s contact-free curbside pickup service.

The first event begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Walmart.com with an ultra high definition Roku TV for $88 and Hotel Style bath towels for $5. In stores, deals will continue at 4 a.m. Nov. 7 and new deals will go live at Walmart.com at 11 a.m. Nov. 7.

The second event begins Nov. 11 online and with new deals in store Nov. 14. Deals begin online at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 and new deals will be offered online Nov. 14 and then in stores starting at 5 a.m. that day.

The third event begins online Nov. 25 with new deals in the stores Nov. 27.

Deals will begin online at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 and again on Nov. 27 with online sales and then later offered in stores at 5 a.m.

Walmart notes it will meter customers in the stores to promote social distancing. And customers, Walmart states, will be directed to shop down the right-hand side of aisles to pick up the Black Friday items they want.

“I’m really excited that this year, when it matters most to our customers, we’re offering them more convenient and safer ways to shop Black Friday at Walmart, whether that’s from the shelf in one of our stores, ordering online and picking it up curbside or having it delivered right to their front door,” stated Scott McCall, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S., in a news release.

What do consumers plan to spend?

Anecdotally, the case can be made for consumers who plan to spend less this year and cut back to fundamentals. Others point to a year where they’ve saved — less driving, less travel, fewer events — so they may use this time to make the home more cozy, upgrade the TV or gaming system, or send presents to loved ones they haven’t been able to visit.

Each year, the National Retail Federation in Washington D.C. looks at holiday shopping trends and consumer holiday shopping plans.

The National Retail Federation surveyed 7,660 consumers in early October about winter holiday shopping plans.

“In total consumers plan to spend $997.79 on gifts, holiday items such as decorations and food, and additional ‘non-gift’ purchases for themselves and their families, according to the annual survey released recently by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, the federation reported.

“While overall spending in these categories is down by about $50 from last year, nearly all ($45) of the decrease comes from consumers’ hesitation to use seasonal sales and promotions to buy other, non-gift purchases for themselves and their families,” the National Retail Federation reported. “Even still, consumer spending on gifts is on par with last year, decreasing by only about $8, while per person spending on other holiday items like decorations is actually up slightly. Expected spending remains significantly higher than the 5-year average for both those categories. The holiday season is top of mind, with 42 percent saying they plan to start their holiday shopping by the end of October and another 41 percent in November.”

Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchBizBuzz.