The holiday shopping season is underway in Metro Detroit and across the country.   On "Black Friday," holiday shoppers were saving hundreds of dollars as they picked up computers, televisions, and other gift items on sale.

Sales were so high at select stores at Laurel Park Place in Livonia and the Mall at Partridge Creek in Macomb County that they reached their "Black Friday" goals by late morning or early afternoon.

"Everybody's happy, everybody has got a smile on their face," Partridge Creek General Manager Steve Berlow told WWJ's Jayne Bower Friday afternoon. "It's just wonderful to see something I think southeast Michigan has probably missed for awhile and today's just been a wonderful day all the way around."

Claudia Frederick, Marketing Manager for Laurel Park Place Mall in Livonia, says crowds are at least 20 percent bigger than last year

At noon, WWJ's Pat Sweeting reported the parking lot at Laurel Park was filled with some drivers waiting and following shoppers to their cars in order to get a space.

By early Friday afternoon traffic near Twelve Oaks mall in Novi was backed up onto the ramp from I-96 to Novi Road.

WWJ's Mike Campbell reported at 8 a.m. a line stretched around the Micro Center store across from Oakland Mall at 14 Mile and John R roads in Troy as shoppers hoped to pick up computer equipment.

A group of young ladies at Somerset Collection said they weren't doing holiday shopping, but looking for items for themselves.

Large crowds were reported at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn early Friday. Lines were reported at Victoria Secret, Footlocker and Game Stop. The parking lots at Macy's, JC Penney, and Sears were nearly full by 3:30 a.m. The mall served 1,320 at a Community Breakfast and General Manager Cathy O'Malley said in an email that all "has gone smoothly, people are calm and cheerful."

Even before Friday's shopping frenzy began, some people were camped out at the Best Buy in Brighton. Others were up as early as 3 a.m. to take advantage of holiday deals and in some cases save hundreds of dollars.

In a bid to grab shoppers earlier, a number of stores including Old Navy, Toys R Us and Sears opened on Thanksgiving Day. Toys R Us was counting on getting an extra boost by opening 24 hours straight, starting at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with Nate Coleman, a 25-year veteran of retail, has been working Black Friday since  before it earned that name. He's amazed at the frenzy around  the stores opening earlier and earlier.

 - Black Friday Deals Cheat Sheet -

"Opening had been six [a.m.] and then it went to five, and then it went to four, now it's three in the morning. But I'm lucky -- this year I'm here 8 to 4:30," Coleman said.

He says colleagues try to gear up for a long day on their feet. "They dread it until they get here, and then it's exciting...once then get in the door. That's the biggest obstacle," he said. "The cashiers who'll have to be here at a quarter til three, they'll have to fight their way in...someboday's going to be outside waiting. There's going to be a line outside that door," Coleman said.

Meantime, the Michigan Retailers Association told WWJ that his members are expecting a 6-percent increase in sales over last year.  It's the general consensus that it's going to be a greener Christmas.

"Consumers are telling us that they're planning to spend more, but just slightly more than they did last year," said Mike Schenk, senior economist, Credit Union National Association. (More on this).

As for at least one Mount Clemens holiday shopper --  she's keeping her holiday spending reigned in. She tells WWJ's Ron Dewey, to little kids, it's quantity, not so much price, that's important.

"I limit each of the grandkids to so many packages to open. So, you try to keep it in a price range, but I'm try to keep it the same -- that they're each getting five or six packages to open. They just might not be big items," she said.

Nate Crawford of Detroit says his family tries to get the most holiday cheer by making their own Christmas cards. "You know, you do that kinda stuff, it's a little more personal -- makes it mean a little more.  Then just opening a present and you got a gift, you know?"

The day after Thanksgiving is known as "Black Friday" in the retail industry, supposedly because it's the day that retailers see their income come out of the red and go into the black. CBS radio has compiled some Black Friday ads from some of your favorite stores. - Visit our Black Friday Deals Page -

Did you find a mind-blowing Black Friday deal, or what is the hard-to-get item you're looking for this season? Comment below.

© MMX WWJ Radio, All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to his report.