Black Friday starting early

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Holiday shopping season is almost here, and Black Friday fever is starting early this year for the world's largest retailer.

Walmart plans to open its doors to holiday shoppers at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night.

The retailer is getting a head start on some of its competitors who traditionally open their doors at midnight for Black Friday deals.

Some retail industry analysts aren't convinced the two extra hours of holiday shopping will make a big difference in Walmart's bottom line.

In addition, several retailers aren't waiting until the post-Thanksgiving days to lure you in with deep discounts and big sales. Instead, the busiest shopping days are morphing into the busiest shopping month.

Retailers say they can't hold off until Black Friday anymore because the internet won't allow it, and they're dubbing it Black November.

They're trying to draw shoppers in now to compete with online shopping sites.

A recent survey of holiday shoppers found 44 percent are expecting to head out on Black Friday. That's down 3 percent from last year.

"The pace of retail has changed, because of e-commerce and the internet," said Brian Cooley with CNET.com.

There will also be more stores opening at midnight on Black Friday to compete with the always-open internet.