More retailers plan early Black Friday start: Macys is the latest to announce a Thanksgiving evening opening By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs October 16, 2013 The concept of holiday shopping on Thanksgiving – instead of waiting for Black Friday – is apparently here to stay. Despite some grumbling last year from traditionalists who thought Thanksgiving was for family time, it appears the shoppers are winning out. Macys is the latest major retailer to announce it will open at least some of its stores Thanksgiving evening. The press release announcing the early opening is careful to point out the shopping will begin at 8:00 p.m., after holiday celebrations across America. In announcing its Black Friday hours, Macys also announced it will have Black Friday special prices on fragrances, clothing and kitchen gadgets. Macys said it will donate $2 from every One Direction Out Moment fragrance purchase to Make-a-Wish, up to $100,000. Fun and excitement “Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year and brings with it a level of fun and excitement to our customers around the nation,” said Peter Sachse, Macy’s chief stores officer. “For Macy’s, its important to make this day enjoyable and convenient for everyone, as our customers search for great deals on favorite wish-list items. Shopping at Macy’s on Black Friday means having the opportunity to purchase the most sought-after products at unbelievable savings.” Where did Black Friday come from and how did it become Black Thursday? Black Friday gets its name from the fact that most retailers dont break into the black each year until the holiday shopping season, which officially starts the Friday after Thanksgiving. How did it morph into Black Thursday? Like many recent developments, it has everything to do with money. Those of a certain age can remember when the World Series was played on weekday afternoons, while millions of fans were at work and school. The Super Bowl, until about 30 years ago, was played on a Sunday afternoon, like any other football game. Follow the money But at some point the marketers pointed out that a lot of money was being left on the table. Now these classic sporting events are played – and broadcast – in prime time when the audience is at its maximum and advertisers can be charged the highest rates. A few years ago Walmart and several other retailers began opening at 5:00 a.m. on Black Friday. Then someone said, “why not open at midnight?” So they did. Last year many retailers thought, “hey, theres nothing to do after Thanksgiving dinner. Lets open on Thanksgiving night.” Walmart set the pace but Target and other competitors quickly joined in. Despite predictions that consumers would recoil at the intrusion on a sacred American holiday, consumers seemed to like the idea. Stores that opened early reported a brisk business during their pre-Black Friday hours. National holiday To many consumers Black Friday has, itself, become a national holiday and cramming into stores, scrambling for the few available advertised specials, is sort of a communal experience – maybe better than sitting around the table while Aunt Gladys recounts, for the umpteenth time, the details of her gall bladder operation. Last Christmas a neighborhood pub in Richmond, Va., announced it would be open Christmas night with the slogan, “come be with your real family.” The communal experience just may be the big attraction. It isnt the prices. Sure, there are incredible prices on popular items but it always turns out there are only a few available at that price. Most go home disappointed. In 2012 a study by ShopAdvisor tracked the prices of 252 toys from the first day of autumn and found that in the 54 days from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, the day with the lowest percentage -- 46 percent -- of products on sale below their initial holiday season price was Black Friday, Nov. 25. The best deals turned out to be on Nov. 13. The Internet has also done a lot to make Black Friday obsolete. A lot of Black Friday deals will be available at retailers websites – with more deals on the following Cyber Monday. Even so, that wont deter millions from getting up from the dinner table on Thanksgiving and heading for the mall. Then again, maybe they arent really going for the deals, but to spend time with their real families. Get Full Details From News Source u.robinspost/489dhq
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 02:53:39 +0000
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