• July 20, 2010

Looks like Target Corp. wins the race for being the first to invoke the winter holidays. The Minneapolis-based retailer says it is bringing Black Friday around a little earlier than usual this year, and says it will launch a one-day "Back in Black" sale on its Web site July 23.

The one-day event -- from midnight to midnight --is part of its "Daily Deals" program, and intended to give online shoppers a jump on holiday shopping.

On average, it says, it will slash 40% off prices of more than 500 items, including apparel, electronics, toys, housewares, movies, music, and Liberty of London for Target line.