Holiday shopping rush begins - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

MADISON (WKOW) -- Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, but the doorbuster deals began a few hours early.

The line stretched out the door at Toys"R"Us on Madison's west side as the store kicked off its deals at 8 p.m. Thursday. Inside the store, toys flew off the shelves. Shoppers we talked to say it's important to head out with a game plan.

"Next stop Target, then Johnson Creek," said Jennifer Lawrence after she had shopped at the toy store. "We usually start at Toys"R"Us every year, so whenever they open, we're here." 

"We map it out. We get the newspaper, map out where we're going to go, who opens at what time and we're there," said Lawrence.

Lawrence and her shopping partner Tammy Hilliard told 27 News that the sales are starting to intrude on their Thanksgiving dinner, but they adjusted by eating earlier.

At Best Buy on Madison's west side, people were lined up waiting for the store to open at midnight. A group of guys who were second in line said they set up tents Wednesday morning and made sure they came prepared. They had a generator, an Xbox, a TV and a space heater. They were hoping to get their hands on TVs and laptops that are on sale.