Retailers in the US and some other nations attempted to entice buyers with promises of greater discounts on Black Friday, the sales event that, despite its diminished luster, still serves as the formal start of the holiday shopping season, after weeks of promoting early offers.
Department stores, malls, and retailers of all sizes use the day after Thanksgiving to energize customers and draw them into physical stores during a period when the majority of gift-hunters browse and purchase online.
Enough traditionalists must still be around, because Black Friday remains the biggest day of the year for retail foot traffic in the US, according to retail technology company Sensormatic Solutions.
“Black Friday is still an incredibly important day for retailers,” Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic, said. “It’s important for them to be able to get shoppers into their store to show them that experience of what it’s like to browse and touch and feel items.
It also can be a bellwether for retailers on what to expect for the rest of the holiday season.” At Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan, there was a steady stream of shoppers as of 7:30 a.m. on Friday, an hour and a half after the flagship store opened. Discounts included 40% to 50% off most boots and shoes. The prices of many handbags also were listed as half-off.
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