Trumping Black Friday

Retail is so competitive. Stores are moving up their traditional opening time on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving and the traditional first shopping day of the Christmas season. In past years, a 5, 6, or 7 am opening was considered early. Then it went to 3 and 4. This year Macy's and Target are opening at midnight.

But hold on. Sears/Kmart is open on Thanksgiving Day - Kmart has been open on Thanksgiving for as long as I remember. Walmart is opening Thanksgiving night. Look for others to do the same.

But then the online retailers are stepping up and trumping the whole concept of Black Friday. Last year many stores such as Amazon ran week long sales leading up to Black Friday.

This year, Lowe's is having an online event all Thanksgiving Day, beginning at midnight Thanksgiving morning. Avoid the crowds and shop all of the Black Friday specials online a day early - from the comfort of your home.

Skip the crowds and get optimum selection - online.

 

 

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website or go to my other blog "Steve Hoffacker's Home Sales Insights" for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at "Steve Hoffacker's Happenings."

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Podcaster, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2011. All Rights Reserved.

8 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Sales Strategies • November 04 2011 10:25AM

Not Enough To Go Around

Take the recent Black Friday shopping experience - good for some, disappointing for most.

Many people camped out for hours - in the chilly temperatures - in lawn chairs and sleeping bags just to be one of the hundreds in line for the 4:00 or 5:00 store opening.

And for what? To be able to save substantially on that one "must have" item that the store had maybe one or two of - and hundreds of people thinking they would be lucky enough to get it? Most of those items were long gone before much of the crowd even got through the door.

In fact, the people standing near the back of the line would probably done just asa well to have gone home and save the time it would have taken to finally get into the store and then realize their disappointment at everything being gone that was a featured sale item.

As a marketing ploy to draw traffic, this is classic. However, for the shooppers who planned on getting the great bargains, it's more like the lottery or getting the golden ticket.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

26 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Sales Strategies • November 29 2009 10:06PM

Another Blow To Newspapers

Can you believe it? The competition for the holiday shopping season is heating up - and there's still a week to go before it officially launches.

I have received numerous emails - even from stores I don't frequent - announcing their Black Friday sales. Other stores have been handing out in-store flyers announcing their specials.

In this very competitive retail market where every additional dollar may mean the difference between staying in business or closing down, it is amazing to see all of the early publicity and oneupmanship.

Announcing all of the Black Friday specials used to be reserved for Thanksgiving Day - typically the largest newspaper of the year. Flyer after flyer, tabloids, and full page ads.

With print advertising being what it is in terms of cost and reach, and the need to get the word out as early as possible, retailers are in a take-no-prisoners mode concerning advance publicity.

We have entered a new era of promotion. Add another point to the internet column. No score for the papers.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

14 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Sales Strategies • November 20 2009 06:28PM