Sunday, November 20, 2011

Black Friday

The article writes about the crazy hours of retailers on the day after Thanksgiving.  "Normally the big day is “Black Friday”, so named because the day after the holiday is when retailers supposedly move into the black and become profitable."  


Retailers are opening earlier and earlier trying to beat out their competition.  It used to be that retailers would open early that Friday morning with many advertised sales, but year after year, that opening time is being pushed earlier and earlier.  Some feel that they are opening earlier to persuade shoppers to come to their store rather than shopping online.  Also, many retailers are trying to open up at the same time, if not earlier, than their competitors.


Since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008, retailers are showing a decrease in Black Friday sales.  Sales are expected to be low again this year.  "According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), sales in November and December will increase by only 2.8% to $465.6 billion, compared with a 5.2% rise last year. On the other hand, 68% of online retailers say they expect their sales to grow by 15% or more."


Personally, I will do a little shopping in the stores and a little shopping online.  I have never gone shopping on Black Friday because I do not want to fight the crowds.  I think this shopping ritual has grown extremely out of control.  There is nothing about Christmas in the Christmas shopping people are doing on Black Friday.  It's a craze of people running and fighting for final items.  People are irritable, grouchy, and hateful!  Where has the holiday spirit gone?

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