Malls across America opened early for eager consumers on the biggest shopping day of the year - Black Friday.

It’s the unofficial start to holiday shopping, and the clock is ticking… retailers have six fewer days to make sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day this year.

(SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED CONSUMER, SAYING:

"I came to get a TV for my grandmother, trying to move her into 2019."

Best Buy was ready, as many Americans got started early - hitting the stores on the evening of Thanksgiving to score the deals.

(SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED CONSUMERS, SAYING:

“We missed out on the dinner, we really wanted to come for the deals.”

“Most important is the family dinner. I’m going to the family dinner after this.”

A crowd swarmed into Macy's flagship store in Manhattan for an early start to the sales.

U.S. consumers splurged more than $2 billion online in the first hours of Thanksgiving shopping on Thursday, according to retail analysts. And online sales are up over 20 percent compared to a year ago.

The continued burst in online shopping is leading to thinner crowds at brick and mortar stores – but there are still many consumers willing to keep the Black Friday shopping tradition alive.

(SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED CONSUMER, SAYING:

“I’ve been doing this since I was in fourth grade. I know you can do it online, but it’s just the experience and also to be in the store is a lot of fun.”

Retailers hope to turn that experience into something that last throughout the weekend until Cyber Monday, which is the next big shopping day to watch.