As we enter the afternoon hours of Black Friday, as (some) of our 5 day weekends are just beginning, and the (brave) people shop elbow-to-elbow hitting up the stores with the big savings, we can’t help but be thankful we aren’t a part of all the pushing and shoving, not to mention trying to find parking in the midst of the chaos.
Karen Talley of the Wall Street Journal reports some interesting statistics, how “34% of consumers said they plan to shop on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, up to 31% from last year and 26% in 2009, according to a survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers. [...] The National Retail Federation expects 152 million to shop over the long weekend, about 10% from a year ago.”
And to think our country is in a recession… How do you figure?
Well the answer is quite obvious: we want our stuff, and we want it on the cheap! Black Friday also marked the number 1 for foot traffic and sales in 2010, according to ShopperTrak, and with this year’s deals the stats are expected to be much of the same.
This weekend also marks the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, where small business owners are asking us to “shop small,” avoiding chains and big names.
Oh and how could we forget…Cyber Monday!—which is said to be a direct rival to Black Friday. The Examiner reports that “45% of those surveyed indicated they would surf the Internet on Cyber Monday while 37% stood in line on Black Friday. This contrast marks the stark change in the way cost conscience shoppers are seeking deeper discounts in tough economic times.”
Can we blame them? Long lines and crowds seems way less appealing than snagging deals via the comfort of home.
So whether or not you plan on actually venturing out at some point on Black Friday, don’t forget there’s plenty of time to catch a deal, as Christmas is exactly one month away…
(via The Wall Street Journal; photo via Bloomberg News)
