In a note he noted lighter than usual traffic in stores and more online buzz. ‘We expect today to be phenomenally busy and for it to get even more hectic later, ‘ explained Robertson.
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But nationally, the thrill of shopping on Thanksgiving has lost its luster and Black Friday results were moderate.
It appears American’s are wasting no time getting into the holiday spirit. More buyers shopped online than in stores, reveals a survey of conducted by the National Retail Federation on Sunday. “It comes right to your door”. Of those who shopped in stores over the weekend, 73% (74.2 million) said they shopped on Black Friday.
It is clear that the age-old holiday tradition of heading out to stores with family and friends is now equally matched in the new tradition of looking online for holiday savings opportunities, says Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO. But of course, most of Chris Rugaber’s readers won’t know this, because he wouldn’t come right out and tell them – which, last time I checked, is supposed to be his job.
The NRF surveyed 4,281 consumers via research firm Prosper Insights and Analytics.
But a change in methodology means that figure isn’t comparable to those from prior years. Martin said early advancements in November were a greater element harming Black Friday than store openings on Thanksgiving night.
Peggy Hayes, a spokeswoman for Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, said merchants there were happy with the crowds they saw starting Thanksgiving Day. They left Spencer’s home at 4 a.m. Friday and were at Cabela’s, a hunting and outdoor equipment store, in Kansas City, Kansas, an hour later.
One shopper camped in a tent outside the Nashville West Best Buy, and one shopper slept in her vehicle outside the Best Buy on Gallatin Pike. “It’s been steady but no overwhelming”. “It’s a good jump start to the holiday shopping season”.
Online retailers have been bombarding customers with email discounts for weeks.
In releasing its survey on Sunday, the National Retail Federation also said it was sticking by its forecast for retail sales growth of 3.7 percent in November and December, a slight deceleration from 4.1 percent growth over the holidays past year. Smartphones generated 22 percent share of sales, up 70 percent from 2014. iPhones and iPads continued to drive the majority of mobile sales with 67 and 84 percent, respectively. Americans have spent a half billion dollars in online holiday shopping so far, $100 million more than a year ago. “There is such a thing as a Christmas impulse shopper”.
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That data confirms that brands don’t need to have employees show up to stores to generate holiday sales on Thanksgiving Day – they can simply offer discounts online.
