In prior years, retail stores would open their doors early Friday morning, giving us the opportunity to rest and digest all the Thanksgiving feast we just consumed. However, in recent years the shopping trends have shifted, along with monthly sales. Workers are now having to leave their families, and fewer consumers are lining up to battle the crowds on Thanksgiving Day.
Traditionally, Black Friday marked the start of Christmas shopping. This used to be the day that retailers could go from losing money to making money in one day. Now, Black Friday is losing relevance each year. People are staying at home with family members, and the presence of online shopping has made a significant impact on Black Friday sales.
Consumers are simply avoiding the chaos and crowds, in order to save a buck or two. Great deals are available online with the click of a button. Also, economic times are better, so shoppers aren’t feeling the pressure to shop on black friday for deals. Retailers have started offering deals in October, along with free shipping to lure consumers in. Black Friday shopping will continue to be a heavy shopping day, but the numbers will never match prior shopping years. In order to improve Black Friday numbers, retailers should scale back on early deals and keep their doors closed on Thanksgiving Day. Brick and mortar stores have gotten away from the holiday shopping tradition, and its having a negative impact on what’s supposed to be the best shopping day of the year.