Financial expert: Black Thursday hours won't boost sales signifi

Laura Lee isn't one to turn down a good deal on Black Friday or in this year's case, Black Thursday deals.

"One, it gets it out of the way so I don't have to be rushed throughout the rest of the season and two there are some great deals out there," said Lee.

It's shoppers like Lee that have major retailers counting on big revenue profits this year. Stores like Target are opening earlier than last year on Thanksgiving but will that extra shopping time really make a difference?

Bob Robicheaux with UAB's School of Business doesn't think so.

"Modest if much at all. I don't think it's going to make a difference in their bottom line or their sales revenue," he said.

Robicheaux said yes, stores are hoping to get those anxious shoppers in but opening earlier could be more about safety than profits.

"When they open at midnight and people pile in the doors and then people are hurt... I think they're saying why don't we just start a little earlier," Robicheaux said.

But the bottom line is all about making more money over those longer hours.

"The fact is about 30 to 40 percent of some of these retailers' sales come in the last quarter. October, November, December and Black Friday and the weekend after Thanksgiving is a period when a significant share of their annual sales takes place," said Robicheaux.

And people like Lee are hoping to score big after the turkey has settled.

"I think it's done and over with at that point in that it would be fine to go once the kids are asleep and I can get up and go," said Lee.

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