The shopping holiday season is about to officially begin, as Thanksgiving arrives. Black Friday, the day afterwards, is the big day shoppers are waiting for. However, the way retailers have viewed Black Friday this year, all the gloves are off and many are beginning to offer their deals sooner than the traditional Black Friday.
Retailers are actually rolling out their deals on Thanksgiving Day. CNN Money reported Black Thursday could be the newest trend beginning this year. This results from retailers jockeying for position to be the first store to open for the holiday sales season. Wal-Mart and Toy-R-Us will be opening at 8pm on Thanksgiving night. Target will be opening at 9pm also. This means many shoppers will shorten their turkey night to go and catch the deals. Others my use the shopping experience as a time to bond and have fun with their families.
The Black Thursday shopping day my be good for retailers, but is being opposed by employees. They will have to cut their Thanksgiving Day short in order to work. The article mentioned Target employee Casey St. Clair that has taken a stand, receiving 170,000 supporters to close stores on Thanksgiving evening. This issue will probably be the difference maker in whether Black Thursday will stand or buckle in the years to come.
Regardless, There is still positive signs for this year's sales on Black Friday. The National Retail Federation forecasts holiday sales will increase 4.1%, which is not as high as the 5.6% from last year. Online sales increased by 24% in 2011 and are expected to see growth as well. More shoppers are using their iPads and other mobile devices to find and purchase the best deals. Many large corporations are seeking to make online retail as convenient as possible, even testing markets utilizing same-day delivery to get products to their customers a lot faster.
Same-day delivery is what can help retailers meet the shopping demand this holiday season, especially to increase their online sales. Same-day couriers like A-1 Express can assist any company with their order fulfillments nationwide. This Phoenix courier can pick up and delivery your holiday products fast! A-1 Express can create a courier logisitics solution for your company just in time for the holiday rush and help your business thrive.
References: 11.12.12, CNN Money, Emily Jane Fox, Black Thursday is the new Black Friday; www.nrf.com