World News – CA – Pandemic Black Friday Shopping: COVID-19 Shuts Some Stores, Sales Go Online

The Canadian press
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A shopper walks past a store on Monday, November. 18, 2020 in Pembroke Pines, Fla. (AP Photo / Marta Lavandier)

Black Friday, the one-day shopping bonanza known for its big bargains and big crowds, is here.

While rising COVID-19 cases and weeks of staggered stores have dampened the usual fanfare of the shopping event, retailers are turning to today’s sales to improve their bottom line.

Retail analysts say some bargain hunters are expected to shop in brick and mortar stores whenever possible in hopes of closing a doorbuster deal.

However, they say the majority of this year’s shopping on Black Friday is expected to be online.

Eric Morris, director of retail at Google Canada, says e-commerce in Canada doubled during the pandemic.

With ongoing lockdowns and capacity constraints in store, online sales are likely to be strong today and continue to grow during the holiday shopping season.

In fact, large box stores, which often attract the largest lineups and traffic on Black Friday, have put the most promotions online.

Although Black Friday’s top sellers tend to be big ticket electronics, some buyers may be looking for deals on simpler items.

Lisa Hutcheson, managing partner at the consulting firm J. . C.. . According to the Williams Group, some buyers could use today’s sales to stock up and crouch for the winter. « 

Black Friday, which began as a post-Thanksgiving sale in the US, has grown in popularity in Canada in recent years.

It has also become an increasingly important sales event for retailers, along with Cyber ​​Monday overshadowing Boxing Day.

Robin Sahota, executive director and Canadian retail director of professional services company Accenture, says retailers may save some special discounts for Cyber ​​Monday.

« It’s going to be a day when retailers are trying to add some sweeteners to seduce consumers, especially with driving Black Friday forward, » he says. « I think people will be looking for something special on Cyber ​​Monday. « 

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Black Friday, Discounts and Allowances, Walmart