Hamilton businesses are encouraged by the number of shoppers taking advantage of Black Friday sales.

Leanne Barnes, manager at Marks & Spencer on Reid Street, said the store was “absolutely full” from when it opened at 6am until 9am yesterday and business had been steady since then.

She explained: “We started with a 40 per cent discount on most items, which went down by 5 per cent every hour until 15 per cent, which it will remain for the rest of today and all day tomorrow.

“Business this Black Friday has been better than last year.”

Theresa Fletcher, who participated in Black Friday sales for the first time this year, said she was “looking to see what she could find” and was “happy to support local business”.

About a dozen people were waiting in front of The Phoenix Centre on Reid Street at 6.30am but the line became longer closer to the store’s 7am opening time and eventually stretched almost to Crisson Jewellers on Queen Street.

One shopper, who does not want to be identified, said she waited from about 4.15am for the store to open.

She added: “When I arrived here, it was just me and a nearby DJ — the second person in line came 20 minutes after me.”

The woman, who often visits Black Friday sales on the island and, one year, in the United States, was not looking for anything specific but hoped for a “good bargain”.

George Grundmuller, president and chief executive of the Phoenix Stores, which also operates P Tech, Brown & Co, 59 Front Street and several other stores, said Black Friday went “extremely well”.

He explained: “Our customers are enjoying coming out to our sales and we have set discounts for items.”

Jackie Tailford, another shopper, said she did not often take advantage of Black Friday sales because of the crowds but was out to look for Christmas crackers.