SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Some of you may braving the frigid cold to shop til you drop, but others are deciding to stay inside and shop online.

Illinois retailers make the vast majority of their sales from now until the end of the year. Black Friday and small business Saturday are huge opportunities for struggling stores to recover.

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association says Black Friday is recognized as the point of the year when retailers' books went from red to Black with increased sales.

"Given this year and all the impacts with tariffs, inflation, and the government shutdown, this actually might be a year in which the holiday shopping period is really vital and will determine their future," said IRMA President and CEO Rob Karr.

Many stores started their Black Friday deals ear

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