All over St. Croix, residents flocked to Black Friday sales and specials, while businesses kept hope alive for a better turnout at the registers.

Black Friday is often regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season on the U.S. mainland. In the territory, local businesses and customers wait in anticipation for the early door-buster sales and discounts on high price items such as televisions, tablets and home appliances.

In downtown Christiansted, the retail stores prepared for the season’s busiest Jump Up with local retailers offering their Black Friday deals.

Busy adjusting a sign on the wall of IB Designs, owner Whealan Massicott, was cheerful about Black Friday.

“We have a nice theme today, we have brand new IB T-shirts … IB Peace, IB Happy and IB Irie,” Massicott said.

IB Designs is one of the local jewelry stores in the downtown area. They produce handmade bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other unique pieces.

Music and culture fans were shopping right next door at Riddims music and culture shop. Riddims sells a wide selection of reggae music, Bob Marley T-shirts, as well as natural hair and beauty products.

“We have a lot of sales right now, Bob Marley shirts are up to 60 percent off, music is 75 percent off, bath and beauty products 40 percent off,” Vanessa Hamilton, of Riddims, said.

Closer to the boardwalk, Baci Duty Free displayed “Happy Holiday” signs on the sidewalk in hopes of attracting attention to their sales and specials. Baci Duty Free is a long-standing jewelry, cigar and liquor business.

“Black Friday traditionally is a big box day for the big box stores like Wal-Mart, Kmart and Best Buy … all these big superstores,” Mrs. Bantam, the store’s owner, said.

Commenting on the major differences in local versus online shopping, Mrs. Bantam said, “It is an electronic shopping day … I want to connect with my brothers and sisters here so I meet Internet prices and try to be competitive.”

Speaking about the specials for Black Friday, she said, “We are giving away a 55 inch LED TV for Christmas, we are giving away jewelry … we want you to walk out of the store feeling good that you bought something at Baci."

Another staple in the shopping district is Crucian Gold, known for the Crucian Knot bracelet, which has been crafted by the Bishop family for decades. Reaching inside a wood-trim showcase, Therese Trudeau Bishop assisted two tourists with a selection of copper island-shaped earrings. While a store assistant further aided the customer, Bishop commented on the offers.

“We have coupons in the Jump Up booklet that will be running all day,” Bishop said.

While the economy of the Virgin Islands has been tough on many retailers, Crucian Gold anticipates a positive turn.

“We have hope given that we are moving into our busier season … we have seen an increase of sales,” Bishop said.

For those looking for electronics or power tools, K-mart and Home Depot were bustling with customers searching for the best deals and sales. With sales on everything from towels to toys, Kmart shoppers gathered in the Sunny Isle Shopping Center.

"I am here to get something for my granddaughter before it’s gone,” one customer said while greeting another customer in the flow of people throughout Kmart.

Walking through a crowd of people in the register lanes at Home Depot, employee Rafael Almonte walked briskly to the customer service station to answer a call on the floor.

“I am surprised how heavy it is … we thought it was a down economy but apparently people are shopping,” Almonte said. “We had four trailers alone for Black Friday.”

Between Sunny Isle Shopping Center, Home Depot and Christiansted Jump Up, Black Friday on St. Croix offered a variety of opportunities for savings and holiday cheer