The savvy shopper knows that Black Friday preparations go way beyond packing a boxed lunch and a back-up pair of sensible shoes. At the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos., vice president Christie Alderman has come up with a list of tips to help consumers intent on braving the throngs at the mall.

What follows are some of Alderman’s suggestions for coping with Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and a day when many consumers begin their annual hunt for holiday gifts.