The day after Thanksgiving is known as the biggest shopping day of the year, and this held true as 75 percent of Arbor Place Mall’s parking lot was filled with shoppers through much of the day Friday.

“There is something here for everyone,” said Assistant General Manager Charlotte Wagner.

She said the trend in recent years was for different stores to vary their opening hours, which spread the crowds out rather than bringing them in at one time.

“People were planning their attack,” said Wagner

Customers were pre-shopping in the mall and scanning newspaper ads to find the best deals, she said.

Herman Mills, from Douglasville, was not at the mall buying gifts.

“I’m just out here to spread joy,” he said.

Mills has been going to the mall for 10 years with his Christmas light-adorned elf hat and Christmas tie on to wish “Merry Christmas” to all those he passed.

Habiba Harrell, of Atlanta, was out finding presents for all the newborns in her family, she said.

Isle Sears, from Douglasville, started her shopping at noon.

“I’m planning to spend a little more than last year, because the kids are getting older,” she said.

Sears seemed confident that she was going to be able to find some great deals for her granddaughters.