(Image source: Wal-Mart) Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) announced today that their will start offering Black Friday deals a week earlier. Other retailers are also doing the same thing and opening their doors earlier on Black Friday. No retailer wants to lose on Black Friday. With numerous assessments out there about the weak or sometimes bleak outlook for the holiday shopping season, expect promotions and discounts at significantly higher levels compared to prior years. Beginning on Friday of this week, Wal-Mart will start slashes prices on merchandise in stores and online. My junk email is currently flooded with discounts and promotional giveaways from retailers.