Expect Reports Of A Bad Black Friday For Retailers

[THUNDER HANDS]

If my store is any indication, expect the nation's retailers to announce a slower-than-expected Black Friday sales day.

I was at my Wal-Mart store when the doors opened at 5 a.m. today. It was the usual mob scene, with people literally running into the store to grab whatever items were on sale - HDTVs, toys, dvd players, ect.

It was a madhouse for about 2 hours, then, suddenly, the flow stopped.

It became just another busy day. Busy, but not unbelievable like I was expecting.

Right before I left I saw the manager looking into the computer to see what sales were. At 4 p.m. the store had done just over $400,000.

"Really bad," is what he said to me.

Sales were down from last year. We were expecting to break a million, but it looks like the store will struggle to get $600,000.

Now, I'm no financial soothsayer, but I'd say if Wal-Mart is struggling on Black Friday, there's a good chance other retailers are too.

[sce56]

1. I take it you work there? My apologies I try not to go near WallyWorld

Fascism Accomplished!

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. it's ok

I wouldn't shop there either if I didn't get a measly 10% discount. I'll be done with them in a few weeks when I start my career as a freelance court reporter.

[sce56]

8. My son worked for them for three years never did get benefits and never worked a full 40 hour week

either kept him as part time what a greedy bastard company. Congratulations on the new job best of luck..



Fascism Accomplished!

[Book Lover]

2. What sort of neighborhood is your store in?

Is it in a shopping center with other stores, or further away from competition?

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. it's in a big complex

Surrounded by Costco, Sports Authority, Best Buy, Office Max and Marshall's. There's also a Target down the block.

Lots of places for people to shop, yes. But still, sales were down from last year.

[Warpy]

5. I saw parking lots with more cars than usual

but with plenty of parking places and no shoppers circling around and around to find parking places like they have in years past.

Unfortunately, the craft show I went to is also suffering from the lousy economy with only a third as many exhibitors as last year.

[jmowreader]

6. I expect a really rotten Black Friday throughout the sector as well

There's not a huge amount of excess money floating around this year.

You're looking at $2.25-and-climbing gasoline, heating fuel is going to be expensive as fuck, George Bush is on the verge of pissing off the Arabs to the point they drop an oil embargo on us...not to mention the fact that people are going to be very reticent to take on any more debt in the near future.

Add it all up, and Christmas gifts this year will fall into one or more of three categories: things that are discounted so deeply we are paying you to take them--read: Black Friday merchandise; practical gifts; and homemade gifts.

This doesn't mean people won't give computers, stereos and that sort of thing this year--those are at least plausibly practical. It DOES mean that jewelers and Spencers-type shops are gonna be hurting.

[Nite Owl]

7. My sons work in retail

Kohl's and Best Buy. So far record day for Kohl's and was looking good at Best Buy also.

I stopped at Target this afternoon to pick up some things and was going to leave if the lines were long, they weren't, just one person in front of me. More crowded than usual but nothing major there.

[Pale Blue Dot]

11. I'm the manager of an "easy" office supply store.

It was a spectacular black Friday for us, with business up almost 40%. Our other stores in the area did well also.

[phylny]

14. My daughter's Best Buy made budget by 11 a.m. Friday

They've done well during the rest of the weekend, too.

[Ghost Dog]

9. Hi! This thread quoted in today's brief, to-the-point 'Stock Market (ecomomy) Watch' thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2628505

[Sherman A1]

10. I don't think that pre holiday grocery sales

were overly spectacular either. From what I gathered they were barely okay and at some stores near me actually slow. I did see a line of about 50 or so Thursday evening at Best Buy about 9:30pm for the early bird sales on Friday. I did a little shopping at a nearby mall and found the Macy's to be a bit busy but nothing special. The nearby Target and Kmart lots were better than a normal day, but hardly any big deal (that was about 10am). My look at the Friday Ads in the paper pretty much left me underwhelmed. I saw nothing that I had to race out at 5am to get in line to buy. There will be more sales before Christmas and then after Christmas.

[Nicole]

12. I heard the same thing reported on the 6:00 news

Local Wal-Mart manager said the first 2 hours were busy for the advertised sales, mostly electronics. Then it tapered off to business as usual. More were people in the grocery section than the "gift" sections by 9:00 a.m..

[HughBeaumont]

13. Sometimes, it's just far easier to shop online.

I got a Christmas list from everyone 2 weeks ago, and within a week's time, I had all the presents ordered, gift wrapped and delivered without setting foot in a car or waking up at 6:00 AM with the rest of the nuts.

But I went shopping today in Georgetown and the stores/sidewalks were filled with people. Didn't hurt that this was one of the best November 24ths (63 degrees and sunny) ever.