Store manager Janet Mihalchik, right, assists Lawrence resident Mary Beth Harmon as she shops for a Christmas present for her mother-in-law Wednesday at Weaver’s Department Store, 901 Mass.

By the time newspapers land on doorsteps Friday, lines already will have formed outside the rows of big box stores along South Iowa Street as shoppers waited for doors to open to the best deals of the year.

And by the time you’ve woken up from Thursday’s turkey coma, hundreds of local shoppers likely will have already purchased flat-screen televisions, video game systems and winter coats.

Goodbye Thanksgiving. Hello holiday shopping.

The average American will spend $682.74 on holiday shopping this year, about $22 less than the amount spent last season, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation.

The NRF had predicted holiday retail sales would decline by 1 percent this year. Though at $437.6 billion, it’s still a massive number.

It’s that kind of market forecast that has brought out aggressive deals for Black Friday and the rest of season.

Doors opened at 5 a.m. today at Super Target, 3201 Iowa. It was a first for the retailer, which was looking for a way to keep up with other nearby national chain stores like Walmart and Best Buy that also opened at 5 a.m.

“We are vying for position this time of day to get that almighty consumer dollar,” assistant manager Dennis Long said. “It gives a little more shopping time for guests. It makes it easier.”

Coming into Thanksgiving Day, sales in groceries, toys and domestics have been good at the store, he said.

Joe Flannery, president of Weaver’s Department Store downtown, has seen people buying holiday gifts since October. Based on sales from the past two months, he expects the 152-year-old department store to do better than it did last holiday season.

Across the board, retailers are carrying less inventory than they did last year. NRF found that traffic to the nation’s ports has dropped to levels not seen since 2003.

“Retailers went into the fourth quarter being more cautious because business has generally been tougher,” Flannery said. “Generally, I think people expect this year to be more challenging.”

Less inventory could mean fewer late-season sales and a skimpy selection for people who like to procrastinate.

“Unlike years past where the prices were dropped closer to Christmas, if you see what you want and know what you want, go ahead and get it. Because it probably won’t be around the week before Christmas,” Flannery said.

Buying presents before the rush — or throughout the year — is a great way to fit holiday shopping into your budget, said Robert Baker, director of education for Housing and Credit Counseling Inc.

This would be the year to be a comparative shopper. Baker advises consumers to take stores up on their offer to match the lowest price in town. And if shoppers find a better deal — even after they purchased the product — let the store know.

“Maybe you’ll save a few bucks,” he said.

He also said this is a good year to shop online. It’s a way to save on time, and a lot of sites are offering free gift wrapping and shipping.

According to the NRF, four out of five online retailers said they would offer free shipping at some point during the season for consumers who spend more than a certain amount.

As for how small local stores will weather another year of drab holiday spending predictions, downtown retailers remain optimistic, said Jane Pennington, director of Downtown Lawrence Inc.

“We have such unique shops. I think we will be in good shape,” Pennington said. “People will come here to look for a really special gift and hopefully do the rest of their shopping.”