Best Buy General Manager Delfino Ornelas said the preparations start early.

The San Marcos Best Buy has become a popular camping site Thanksgiving night.

Store General Manager Delfino Ornelas attributes that to the store’s reputation.

"People anticipate it, they expect it, and that's why we have people line up," he said.

But long before the line forms, months of planning and training go into effect. While some shoppers scouted out pre-Black Friday bargains Wednesday, employees wheeled out Blu Ray players, and HDTV boxes stacked to the ceiling in the back room.

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	Behind the Scenes News 8's Russell Wilde shows us how retailers prepare for one of the busiest days of the year.

"The store is obviously busting at the seams with products," Delfino said. "It's early in the morning, but there's a lot of energy, because there's a lot of hype. We've been building up to this day for four months. So we're ready to go. We're rearing to go," Delfino said.

The excitement in San Marcos is hardly limited to Best Buy. Two of the city's outlet malls open at the stroke of midnight Friday.

The San Marcos Police Department also plans months in advance for such events.

The department works with the Texas Department of Transportation to close down the Centerpoint Road exit so cars exiting the outlet malls don't backup Interstate-35.

Police said the surge of holiday shoppers can more than double the city's population.

	HDTV boxes stacked to the ceiling in the back room.

Cavender's Boot City Manager Joe Gomez said it can be hectic when the doors open, but he said his staff is ready.

"If you're well prepared, and you start thinking about this weeks in advance and you have all your ducks in a row, at that point, it's just about execution," he said.

Retailers orchestrate a day of crowded dressing rooms, aisles and cash register lines and adjusting early bird prices, all while trying to keep the crowds moving.

	Two of the city's outlet malls open at the stroke of midnight Friday.

"Customers are lined up, at some points in the day you'll have customers lined up 30-40 deep," Gomez said. "We have a lot of buy-one, get-one free, buy-one, get-one half-off," Gomez said.

For those waiting in line to enter Best Buy Friday morning, the store hands out tickets that guarantee that the early bird gets the worm.

"There's no need to rush in, there's no need to flock in like you may see at some of the other retailers so it's a really controlled environment," Delfino said.

Controlled chaos is the best many stores can hope for, thanks to months of planning.