It was tagged "Blue Friday" at one of Rutland's busiest chain stores, but it was far from a sad day for large retailers as customers jumped on early Friday morning sales on popular electronics, toys, appliances and apparel.

Hundreds lined up outside national chains such as Walmart, Kmart, Sears and JC Penney from Bennington to Rutland.

Walmart in Rutland started ringing up $298 laptops, $25 printers, and flat screen TVs starting at $248 as early as 5 a.m., selling the items for the next six hours. Some compact disks were $5 and some boots were $7.

A line wrapped around Kmart in the Diamond Run Mall in Rutland Town before daybreak.

The store's most popular items, as in year's past, were electronics and toys, said store manager Diana Newton.

The store's 5-hour "doorbuster deals" were advertised in a brochure pictured alongside the store's mascot, Mr. Bluelight, and his slogan, "Blue Friday," a new spin on the day for the mad rush of shoppers that flooded the store.

As of Friday afternoon, Newton said she didn't know if the economy was having an impact on her customers' willingness to spend.

At the bustling Manchester Designer Outlets, customers lined up outside the doors of Brooks Brothers, Armani and Banana Republic, among other designer shops starting at 6 a.m., for free coffee, storewide sales of up to 60 percent, and no clothing tax.

Bora Ozbek, clearance manager for Depot 62 Fine Home Furnishings, was selling Turkish, Oriental and other fine wool rugs for 60 percent to 80 percent off their original prices. A $2,000 rug was $500 and a $4,600 one was marked down to $1,600.

The economy was affecting his luxury business, Ozbek said.

"The people that come to buy clothes, they see a rug for $200, you can't get that anywhere in America," he said.

On Tuesday, the National Retail Federation released a survey that showed there would be 6 million more Black Friday shoppers than last year, according to the federation's Web site.

By noon Friday, the federation posted new statistics — early estimates show holiday sales will decrease 1 percent this year to $437.6 billion nationwide, based on housing, unemployment and retail industry sales from November and December.

Fewer customers walked through the doors of one small gift shop than usual this time of year and according to the owner, it's been that way for a while.

"It's been a tough year," said Chris Rosso, owner of Camelot Country Store in Bennington's Camelot Village near the western New York border.

Customers trickled in and out of Camelot beginning early Friday, buying fudge and local Vermont wines and specialties.

Rosso, who offered customers free hot cider and cookies, said he was 6 percent in the red in October — typically his busiest month.

Rosso said he's thinking of opening a deli next door and will send out brochures to in an effort to draw more people to his gift shop.

The shop didn't offer many sale items Friday, because Rosso said he couldn't afford to lose more money.

"If I could get through this winter, then I should be all right," Rosso said.

Black Friday was a good day for Noreen Newell — one of the last hoorahs before she shuts down her Wallingford business for good.

"In other years, people would just go to Walmart and the malls," the manager of Country House Antiques & Gifts on Route 7 South said late Friday. "This morning, we were swamped."

But too many people just looking and not buying this year resulted in her putting the store up for sale.

As soon as the property is sold, Newell's daughter, who owns the store, is shutting down the red barn and moving away.

"This is something for them (tourists) to do, look in shops," Newell said. "It's not worthwhile to keep it open."

cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com