Thoughtless Thursday... Blackest Friday... Cyber Monday

Coach Outlet at Seattle Premium Outlets, Nov. 25th.

I know many of retail workers are glad the busiest weekend for them is finally over. Personally, I'm glad as well.  Steve Olenski, a contributor at Forbes coined up the term of "Thoughtless Thursday", and pretty much, I agree with Steve as he showcases a Black Friday ad video with Rebecca Black for Kohl's.

 Stephen Colbert put Black Friday this way, "Black Friday where Americans wake up from fan induced coma to trade gluttony for greed."

If we look at the numbers for the weekend, spending for Black Friday is up 16.4% from 2010 to $52.4 billion.

 The National Retail Federation forecast sales to rise 2.8% to $465.6 billion, slower than the 5.2% increase last year. Almost 81% of shoppers said the economy will have an impact on their spending, compared to 78% in 2009, an NPD Group survey showed.  An Alix Partners’ survey showed 41% of shoppers said they plan to spend less on holiday gifts this year, up from 31% last year.  The previous was estimated statements before Black Friday.  Now, Shopper Trak said that sales rose 6.6% for the weekend.  Foot traffic rose by 5.1%.  Meanwhile, Black Friday alone saw a 26% increase to $816 million in online sales, making it the heaviest online spending day to date this year. Thanksgiving Day also has gained importance for online sales, with sales rising 18% to $479 million.  Traffic to online retailer rose 26% from 2010.

From my perspective is that Black Friday has gotten out of hand, but businesses are reacting to the increasing fierce competition amongst each other for consumer dollars that are hard to come by in this recession.  Margins for profits for businesses are razor-thin this year like none other before and this was the year that online sales would dominate the headlines.  Shopping through mobile devices has tripled from last year, although it's probably less than 1% of the retail market at the moment.

This will be considered a year of a turning point where online shopping takes control of Black Friday weekend from now on.  While people will still joust for the best deals in brick-and-mortar stores, a lot of people are tired of the insanity of Black Friday.  Come on, we've read and seen the horrors this year alone. (Although, just avoid Wal-Mart, it brings out the crazies in general) Frenzies on Wal-Mart's $2 waffle makers, the woman pepper spraying others (see above), police tackling an elderly man for thinking of shoplifting a video game, but was hoisting up his grandson, or the man who died at Target and no one helped him?  Hell, I saw crazy stuff at the local Fred Meyers while observing some competition for some socks... and I didn't mention the Electronics section yet... or here at Seattle Premium Outlets.

In the end, there will be a balancing out for brick and mortar stores, but they'll never fully compete against their online brethren in pricing due to lesser expense costs.  I know there are good deals out there, but this ain't for me.  Working in retail has opened my eyes to see that Black Friday is what it truly is, a big marketing ploy.  I'll enter it, but I have to stick to my guns.  In the end, I only bought underwear during Black Friday, lol.

Black Friday is really another character reflection of America and honestly, it's truly disappointing to look at.  I know it's human nature to be greedy, but the day to give thanks to what one has, the accomplishes made (those leveling up in Skyrim know, =P), have family time, eat, drink and be marry and that's all lost within 12 hours or less.  Sometime soon, we'll have to take a stand for Thanksgiving and it's perverted commercial damning of the holiday from giving thanks to "Me, Me, MEEEE!!!" mentality.  I think that's why people are turning to online retailers a bit more these days, some people out there are trying to get that spirit of Thanksgiving back.

When I get out of retail here, I'll be joining that shortly.  Although I avoid shopping Black Friday anyhow these days by working through it.  I don't mind the early 4 AM openings, but reaching 10 PM Thanksgiving night or Midnight Madness is getting overboard.  I'll mention that next step of my life later.