Despite early estimates expecting a decrease in sales, Black Friday's steep-discounts resulted in a .5 percent increase over last year's sales as consumers bought everything from heavily marked-down underwear to the latest netbooks.
However, the opportunity for savings and the ever-elusive "perfect gift" are still plentiful — some are even as close as your own craft drawer or Muncie's downtown district.
Bob Harley, owner of The Artist Within, expects to see an increase in traffic this holiday season as shoppers look for personalized gifts.
"I think we're kind of going back to an appreciation for handcrafted gifts and for the arts," Hartley said. "You don't come in because it's cheaper than T.J. Maxx. For the same price as a movie and bowl of popcorn, you can make a gift a lot more personal than the 4 a.m. Black Friday special."
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