You knew from the moment that Disney announced it was releasing a brand new Star Wars movie that in addition to an incredible amount of fan hype concerning the film there also would be a flood of tie-in retail products including clothing, books, toys, grocery items, and novelties swamping store shelves. Well the Force Awakens on Friday, September 4, 2015 at 12:01 am when all manner of brand new Star Wars items will be flooding the marketplace as that is the date and time that Disney has authorized its licensees to begin selling products connected to the new movie which will be opening on December 18, 2015 at theaters across North America. "Force Friday", as September 4 has been dubbed, is meant to be the initial spark that ignites a huge blast of consumer and media attention for the film in the final months before Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens arrives in theaters.
For fans that don't mind staying up very late on Thursday night and want to be the very first to get their hands on Star Wars: The Force Awakens apparel and merchandise, several stores will be having special Force Friday events at select locations when the clock strikes midnight. There will also be a variety of retail promotions taking place throughout Force Friday and the following weekend at various retailers. Here's a round up of some of the Force Friday goings on taking place around the USA:
TOYS R US
When the clock strikes 12:01am on September 4, ALL Toys“R”Us stores in the U.S. will open their doors, giving customers the opportunity to be among the first to purchase hundreds of new Star Wars playthings. As an added bonus, little Jedi Knights and their families attending midnight opening events will have the chance to receive special giveaway of an exclusive Star Wars poster, while supplies last. I've been told the first 75 people in line at each store will receive the giveaway items. Don't feel like going out late at night? At midnight on Force Friday, shoppers will also be able to browse and purchase the new products online at Toysrus.com/StarWars.
MEIJER
Meijer
stores throughout the Midwest are preparing to bring customers closer
to a galaxy far, far away by offering a variety of grocery and
merchandise items
in honor of the epic Star Wars saga and this year’s theatrical release of
Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Starting on Force Friday at 12:01 a.m., Sept. 4, the retailer that is known for being open twenty-four hours per day will have a huge variety of the newest
Star Wars themed products at all 222 stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The Grand-Rapids, Mich.-based retailer is also hosting larger regional midnight events at
12 Meijer stores
where customers can participate in the Force Friday global celebration for
Star Wars. From Noon to 5pm on Force Friday, all Meijer stores will also feature
Taste of the Galaxy food stations with samplings and Star Wars-themed recipe options to feed the fandom as they re-watch their favorite episodes to gear up for The Force Awakens.
TARGET
200 Target stores across the United States will open at 12:01 am on September 4th so fans can get their hands on more than 300 brand new Star Wars items. CLICK HERE to find one near you. Target's main focus though will be on Saturday from 11 am - 2pm when every store will feature a special "Star Wars shop" area that will have photo ops, demos of the newest Star Wars toys, family friendly activities, and while supplies last a Star Wars lunchbox giveaway for kids. Target will have some unique displays, including an X-Wing fighter cockpit photo op in the seasonal department, which the retailer wants to encourage people to take take pictures with and share on social media with the hashtag #ShareTheForce.
WALMART
2,900 Walmart locations across the United States will be hosting Force Friday midnight events. Check their website for participating locations, because while 2,900 seems like a lot the two locations closest to our house aren't doing anything special at midnight. From toys to and grocery to apparel, Walmart will have more than 500 new Star Wars products in stores and thousands more on Walmart.com.
DISNEY STORES
In ALL Disney Store locations throughout North America, doors will open for business on Force Friday with Star Wars -themed opening ceremonies, offering a galactic twist on the traditional "Unlocking Imagination" ritual. Other activities taking place at Disney Store locations (excluding Disney Store Outlets) on Force Friday include:
- A free commemorative Star Wars: The Force Awakens pin for the first 100 guests who make a purchase on Force Friday
- Numerous Star Wars events taking place, including:
- R2-D2 craft activity
- Ways of the Force
- Star Wars Story Time
- Art of Drawing: R2-D2
- Free Topps vintage trading card giveaway upon completion of an in-store event and while supplies last
- Epic Star Wars theming that pays homage to both the Dark Side and the Light
Additionally, on Thursday, Sept. 3, the Disney Store on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago will play host to one of 14 live toy unboxing events happening around the world. Starting at 8:30 a.m. CDT, HobbyKidsTV, a YouTube channel part of the Maker Studios network, will be broadcasting live from inside the Store, unveiling new products from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, available exclusively at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com. Through this promotion, fans across the world will get a sneak peak of new product inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens and available at retailers worldwide via the world's first-ever global live toy unboxing event on the Star Wars YouTube channel. Unfolding over 18 hours in 15 cities and 12 countries, the event will see highlights from the range of epic merchandise revealed in a rolling New Year's Eve style celebration. The live stream kicks off with the first unboxing in Sydney, Australia at 7:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 3 (5:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 2), and concludes with a grand finale at Lucasfilm in San Francisco at 8 a.m. PDT (11 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, Sept. 3. Fans can tune in to watch live unboxings at home or on mobile devices, and also enjoy the latest trailers on the upcoming movie, commentary from special guests, fun product videos and demos, and footage from recent Star Wars events. The full schedule is available at. www.StarWars.com
QVC
Even the home shopping television network QVC is getting into the action hosting hour long time slots focused on selling Star Wars products on Friday at 2am and 5pm.
So are you going to head out at midnight for Force Friday? May the Force be with You! Whether you do or don't it appears that the next 3 months will be full of excitement for Star Wars fans as they eagerly await next installment of the Star Wars saga.
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