SEATTLE — More retailers are joining R.E.I., deciding to close their doors on Black Friday.
The outdoor retailer made headlines earlier this week when they announced they would close their stores the day after Thanksgiving, and encouraged people to go outside instead, coining the hashtag #OptOutside.
Sewing machine operator Le Ping is helping her employer, Outdoor Research, fill a big order for the U.S. Marines.
“I sew here a long time,” she said. “I like it.”
I’ll be honest: since about 2009, I haven’t left the house on Black Friday. Instead, I usually sleep in after a long evening spent eating a big meal and having a few glasses of wine with family members. I do get up and check a few online sales, but I haven’t found anything in a brick-and-mortar store that makes it worthwhile to actually go out there and battle the crowds.
That doesn’t mean I don’t utilize the bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I usually do end up buying an item or two each year based on those sales though they have usually been online buys, but I have a very specific strategy that I use to make this work.
Posted in Tools and Information
Tagged Black Friday, Cyber Monday, holiday deals, online sales
Everyone loves the idea of the killer deals that days like Cyber Monday and Black Friday bring, but they often come at a price. Either you find yourself waking up super early to secure the best deal, or the savings are to be had on specific products that don’t interest you. Worst of all, nobody wants to stand in line for hours only to find out the deal is no longer available.
What you’ll also discover during the season is that not all deals are created equal – some sites offer bigger discounts on better products than others. Some offer up to 95% off brand new popular gadgets like an iPad whereas others offer up to 50% off a Jelly-of-the-Month membership!
Savvy deal seekers spend hours each year discovering which sites have the best deals listed, and what online retailers are willing to offer insane deals. You’ll be surprised that you might not have heard of these sites.
Posted in Tools and Information
Tagged Black Friday, Cyber Monday, holiday deals, holiday sales, holiday shopping
On those Fridays after Thanksgiving, the late Joseph P. Barrett, a longtime reporter for the Philadelphia Bulletin, recalled, even members of the police band were called upon to direct traffic. The cops nicknamed the day of gridlock Black Friday, and soon others started to do the same.
Posted in News and Views
Tagged Black Friday, christmas, Consumers, marketing, retail, Shopping
What is Small Business Saturday®?
Small Business Saturday is a day for everyone — from the business owners who create jobs to the customers who buy locally — to support small businesses that invigorate the economy and keep communities thriving.
It began in 2010 when American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Last year, over 100 million people came out to shop at independently-owned small businesses on the day. Now, in its third year, Small Business Saturday will be even bigger.
