CUSTOMER GROWTH PARTNERS Retail consultancy Customer Growth Partners is projecting that core retail sales will rise 3.2 percent this holiday season to $607 billion, a deceleration from the 4.6 percent growth logged in November and December of past year.
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With more than 1,200 of the world’s leading retailers, malls and entertainment venues, ShopperTrak deploys over 80,000 devices across 97 countries and territories.
“On Friday online trade really stepped forward, while shops saw their biggest increases over the weekend, showing that more than ever customers like to mix and match channels to shop in the most convenient way for them”.
“What we’re seeing is some softness in the two days, which could be accounted for by early promotions”, ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin said.
Kevin Sandoval had never gone shopping on Black Friday, but he was lured by a Sam’s Club TV deal – $100 off a 55-inch television.
“There was a very long line, a few tents and a lot of lawn chairs”, Spencer said.
Pam Garman, 60, said she was shopping with her daughters, who were visiting for Thanksgiving.
She said discounting levels online averaged 26 and 24 percent on both days respectively, and remained similar to last year’s levels.
Separate research released on Sunday by analytics firm comScore showed that spending through desktop computers rose 9 percent to US$1.1 billion on Thanksgiving Day and increased 10 percent on Black Friday to US$1.66 billion. There was a 1.5% increase in average order value compared to a year ago, which the company considers an indication of a “less promotional, discount-driven holiday season”. Last year, it reported sales of $12.29 billion for the same period.
Alvaro Abrego takes a look at sweat trousers at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store at The Shops at Park Lane in Dallas.
An equal number of USA shoppers sought to buy items online as they did in physical stores over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to a closely watched survey by the leading retail industry lobby, highlighting the growing importance of e-commerce during the crucial holiday shopping season. Overall, about $1 in every $7 in holiday shopping sales will occur online this year, IHS predicts.
Black Friday has always been the day to shop, but this year we’re ditching the family in favor of some sweet deals.
Despite what are predicted to be record online sales, there are signs that the Black Friday hype is already starting to evaporate.
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Black Friday has turned into Black November as retailers began promoting earlier in the month in attempt to pull forward holiday sales following a slow start to November, driven by unfavorable weather and a lack of apparel newness. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT) said its website was overloaded with demand on Thanksgiving Day (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wal-mart-website-struggles-to-handle-demand-for-doorbusters-2015-11-27-11103057), when its doorbusters were available online first.
