Black Friday and Weekend Mark Big Start to Holiday Shopping Season

 Research, Trends, Forecasts  Comments Off
Nov 282011
 

The National Retail Federation reported Sunday that Thanksgiving-weekend spending per shopper surged 9.1 percent over last year to an average of almost $400 a customer.  And there was an 6.6 percent increase in shoppers to boot.  The NRF also reported that approximately 35 percent of the $52.4 Billion in total spending from Thursday to Sunday was spent online … up slightly from last year.  Full details in this New York Times story from yesterday.

The pace of sales did slow over the course of the weekend and credit card use was up versus last year.  So, take from that what you will.  Perhaps shoppers will pull in the reigns later in the season, or perhaps they really need Christmas this year and will dip into savings or take on an additional measure of debt to pay for it.    In any event, the photo below captures some of the excitement our bricks-and-mortar brethren enjoy at this time of year.

An Ohio Sears Store on Friday Morning (photo courtesy of The New York Times)

New York Times

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 9:36 am  Tagged with: ,

It’s Black Friday All Week Long at Jewelry Television

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer  Comments Off
Nov 232011
 

Jewelry Television is featuring special prices daily and hourly all this week (through Sunday, Nov. 27) as part of an “Every Day is Black Friday” promotion that began on Monday.  Randy Sadler, vice president of marketing at JTV, explains the promotion this way, “The network is introducing three-tiered pricing for the event — our everyday low prices, Black Friday countdown week prices, Cyber Monday specials and doorbuster deals.”  That sounds like four different kinds of prices to me, but my mind may be addled from the excitement about all the deals.  Sadler’s more important point, perhaps, is that, “JTV will feature jewelry in price ranges to fit everyone’s budget.”  Featured items will include: include a sterling silver pink sapphire heart pendant for $23.99, a sterling silver London Blue Topaz ring for $39.99, and a 0.5 carot white diamond ring for $119.99, plus colored diamonds, pearls, tanzanite, watches, and fashion jewelry.  Jewelry Television Press Release  Nov. 22, 2011

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 9:12 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

Black Thursday (Evening) is the New Black Friday

 Bricks-and-Mortar, Distribution Channel, Research, Trends, Forecasts  Comments Off
Nov 212011
 

Although some shoppers and employees are grousing about it, a number of major retail chains are moving up the start of Black Friday to Thursday evening in an attempt to start the frenzy before the tryptophan in the Turkey can even take full effect.  Toys R Us will open at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving, an hour earlier than last year, and Walmart will open at 10 p.m., two hours ahead of last year’s midnight opening,” according to a report last week in USA Today.  “Nationally, about 34 percent of shoppers say they plan to brave the crowds on Black Friday, up from 31 percent last year and 26 percent in 2009, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs. Sixteen percent of shoppers plan to take advantage of the Thanksgiving night sales that will be found at major retailers and even some malls.”  Lansing (MI) State Journal  Nov.

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:54 am  Tagged with: , ,

QVC to Celebrate its 25th Anniversary on Black Friday, Nov. 25th, with Special Sales Event

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Mobile telephone, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Nov 152011
 

QVC will make Black Friday, November 25th, and Cyber Monday, November 28th, bookends of  a four-day sales event themed “The Joy Of Giving Weekend.”  On the first day of the event, the retailer will also celebrate its 25th Anniversary, and call it a “Better than Black Friday” event for good measure.  Here is what QVC promises:

“The Joy of Giving Weekend” will feature QVC’s largest selection of special “event prices” on thousands of products that are in stock.  This extended assortment allows customers to easily find great values – and is not limited to early bird shoppers, who quickly deplete limited Black Friday deals at traditional retail stores.  Free standard shipping and handling will also be offered during Cyber Monday on the most ever gift items.

The event will also mark the debut of two new interactive tools to aid in shopping for gifts.  QVC.com’s Gift Finder, powered by Gifts.com, will help shoppers find “a personalized assortment of items to fit every taste.”  (Actually, the service accepts a few inputs like gender, age, hobbies and interests, and then spits out a list of products likely to appeal to that demographic/psycho-graphic profile.)  QVC will also roll out a new Gift List application for the iPhone® that will enable customers to create, edit, and save personalized gift lists for friends and family.  The mobile app will also allow users to set up reminders for gift-giving occasions all year round and share their wish list items with family and friends.  QVC, Inc. Press Release  Nov. 14, 2011

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:51 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

ShopNBC Touts Success of Black Friday/Cyber Monday Promotions

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Dec 032009
 

In a press release, the retailer reported that on Cyber Monday its website achieved its highest traffic day year-to-date, with 114,600 unique visitors to the site (14% higher than the prior year’s total).  Website sales for the day were up 18% vs. last year, and accounted for 48% of company sales for the day overall.

The release also touts success on Black Friday, which along with Cyber Monday, bookended  four days of Holiday shopping programming.   On Black Friday, website sales achieved a 51% increase in conversion over last year’s event, and a 20% increase in retail dollars.  At the conclusion of the news release, CEO Keith Stewart cites the website as a “powerful growth vehicle for the company.”  ShopNBC Press Release on CNNMoney.com Dec. 2, 2009

 Posted by admin at 2:35 pm  Tagged with: , ,

QVC Plans ‘Very Special’ Programming for Black Friday

 DRTV Retailer  Comments Off
Nov 242009
 

For the first time, QVC will sully itself and jump into the fray of ‘Black Friday’ shenanigans in the hope of promoting among Holiday shoppers a ‘couch potato mentality’ to keep them from rushing out to the mall at the crack of dawn.  Among the programming highlights will be a telethon-like show with host Dave James, who will stay awake, selling, for 28 hours…  Associated Press Nov. 23, 2009

 Posted by admin at 12:01 pm  Tagged with: ,
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