Workers at valley stores prepare for Black Friday

More than two hours before the doors opened on Saturday morning at Best Buy in Henderson, 130 associates were huddled at the front of the store prepping for one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

"Know your role and how you're going to be successful at delivering an inspirational shopping experience," Sales Manager Anthony Saunders told employees. "We're all going to do it."

The electronics retailer, at 611 Marks St. in Henderson, is opening at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving and at 8 a.m. on Black Friday. However, lines are expected to form long before.

Best Buy employees will be going outside two hours before the doors open and asking each person what item they're interested in and to hand out tickets for the various door busters each day. They will also only be letting in between 10 and 20 people in the store at a time.

"The biggest thing is making sure the customer experience is as simple, easy, organized and inspirational as possible," Saunders said. "I also want all of the employees to be comfortable, knowledgeable and ready to assist to make their holiday shopping easy."

General Manager Ken Robertson said hosting a Black Friday dress rehearsal, which is done at all 1,050 of Best Buy stores nationwide, gives both new and seasoned employees the opportunity to know what Thursday and Friday will entail.

"We're letting the employees know what's coming," he said. "The employees have fun with it and this year is going to be a great year for us."

Front End Leader Tabitha Morales, in her ninth year with company, has the task of controlling the lines.

"It's crazy and hectic but fun also because it goes by so fast," she said. "We're going to make sure everyone is taken care of and get them in and out as fast as possible."

Morales added that she's been stressing to her employees the importance of maintaining a positive attitude throughout the holiday shopping season.

"It's important for them to not let anyone with a bad attitude get to them and to have fun," she said.

Friends Tiana Meyer and Shannen Cristobal will work their first Black Friday together at the store later this week.

"I'm sure it's going to be madness but the dress rehearsal gave us an idea of what to expect," Meyer said. "I feel like if I do this, I'll be able to conquer anything."

Cristobal said having employees stationed throughout the store's departments such as computers, home theater and mobile will help things run smoother.

"It's a lot more organized with the departments and the fact that everyone comes in and knows what they want," she said. "I hope everything goes well and customers get what they want."

This year, a Best Buy study revealed the top 15 tech gifts people are hoping to receive or give this year, which included iPads, MacBooks and an Apple watch, among others.

Contact Ann Friedman at afriedman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Find her on Twitter: @AnnFriedmanRJ.