Winners and losers of Black Friday 2021

by WarriorForum.com Administrator
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A new article on Marketing Dive reports that vaccinations have made in-store shopping possible and even fun, but this holiday season remains complicated.



Perhaps above all, the pandemic isn't over (and unfortunately could be entering another worrisome phase, according to a report from the World Health Organization over the Thanksgiving weekend). Throughout 2021, retailers and consumers have continued to grapple with its many consequences beyond the health threat, and that was evident on Black Friday.

Winners
  1. Thanksgiving: The trend from a few years ago -- when several retailers ruined many a retail worker's holiday by opening their doors for early Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving Day -- is now decidedly in reverse. Malls run by Simon Property Group joined Walmart and several others in making a point of shuttering for the day; Target last week went so far as to say it will do so from now on.
  2. Buy now, pay later: In the old days, some retailers would make it easier for customers to splurge on holiday gifts by allowing them to put items on layaway to be paid for over time. The new layaway is "buy now, pay later," made possible by a slew of platforms like Klarna and Affirm that facilitate installment payments. The payment alternative is shaping up to be a hallmark of this year. In November so far, compared to a similar period in 2019, BNPL-based spending was up 422% and order volume was up 438%.
  3. Curbs, again: With the lockdowns of 2020 over and vaccinations readily available in early 2021, foot traffic to malls and brick-and-mortar retailers has picked up all year. But consumers continue to embrace curbside pickup, out of ongoing pandemic concerns as well as a desire for convenience, according to Adobe. So far in November, curbside pickup is up 70% compared to two years ago, though on Nov. 26 it was applied to 20% of online orders, down from earlier in the month, Adobe found.
  4. Big box retail -- by a little: Large retailers, with more robust supply chains to begin with and some cases the ability to charter their own ships, have yet another advantage this year over their smaller rivals. Since October, large retailers saw a 22% higher growth in revenue on average than small retailers, according to Adobe.

Losers
  1. Supply chain: The ongoing supply chain debacle -- one of the most vivid indications that the pandemic is far from over -- has not been solved in time for the holiday season. Out-of-stock messages were up 124% in November so far compared to January 2020, according to Adobe. The situation has its upsides, as seen in higher prices. And consumers will likely find what they need, according to AlixPartner's Rampoldt.
  2. Discounts: Holiday marketing centers around special deals, but this year retailers are hewing as close as possible to full price, according to several reports. On Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., the average discount was 27%, down 7% from last year, with the average order value up 11%, despite the fact that 3% fewer items were purchased, Salesforce found. From Nov. 23 to Nov. 25, the average selling price in the U.S. was up 22% compared to the same period last year, per that report.
  3. Footfall: With more retailers keeping their doors locked on Thanksgiving, it's no surprise that, as Sensormatic Solutions found, visits to brick-and-mortar stores fell 90.4% that day compared to two years ago. A majority (65%) of U.S. consumers plan to shop in-store this holiday season to get gift ideas or check out products in person, and some are going to stores to head off any delivery delays, per that report. But while in-store shopping on Black Friday was up compared to last year, it was down 28.3% compared to pre-pandemic 2019, Sensormatic also found.
#2021 #black #friday #losers #winners
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  • Profile picture of the author LuizKA
    seems this black friday was not so lucky as before
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  • Profile picture of the author IM2Pat
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    I think it's time to retire and/or rethink the concept of Black Friday altogether...starting with the name!!
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    • Profile picture of the author WF- Enzo
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      I think it's time for you to read my PM.

      Originally Posted by IM2Pat View Post

      I think it's time to retire and/or rethink the concept of Black Friday altogether...starting with the name!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    What's wrong with the name? Do you know where the name came from? There is a history there.



    Sales for Black Friday and Cyber Monday were both down 1+% or so this year....not surprising as last year set records for both sales days.


    Last year people were home due to covid and collecting govt checks due to covid....this year the future is more uncertain.


    I was shocked to hear on 60 minutes (I think it was) that online gifts have a 2 out of 3 return rate....that is HIGH. The cost of returns is so high that many stores are simply repacking returns and selling to the 'off' market buyers rather than return them to shelves/warehouses.


    Might be some good deals coming in future months in the off brand stores, thrift shops and companies that sell end lots and unsold items.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      What's wrong with the name? Do you know where the name came from?
      Good luck with this. I haven't been able to find a thread where this member has responded to any direct question. Likes to post, though. I'll give him that.
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      Ever lie awake worrying that you might be the only person who doesn't know what FOMO means?

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  • Far as I can see, Black Friday is cool equally for knockdown bras and beatup tech nowan evah gonna wanna want.

    Slack Friday suggests EZ bargains, but mebbe infers you lazy steada pertickilar.

    Max Friday?

    Uh huh ... zero charactah.

    Hack Friday?

    Prolly evrywan would want biggah discounts or feel cheated.

    Plaque Friday?

    Only works for orthodontists.

    Smack Friday?

    Depends on who administrin' the smack, I guess.

    Main thing is: a speshl offah nevah goes outta fashwaahn no mattah what you wanna call it.
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    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

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  • Profile picture of the author Nuadazan
    That is really enlightening article. Strangely, but I have never thought of this in such a deep and thorough way. This post attracted my attention to this matter and know I have a clear cut idea of theintrinsic processes of such a thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Old Molases
    This just details about physical locations of the businesses. I am sure that businesses operating digitally must've shattered records previously made.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    I asked someone with a similar response what was wrong with the name....and he/she did not answer.


    So I'll ask you? Why does the name need to be changed? Do YOU know the history of that name? Why do you want to change it?
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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      I asked someone with a similar response what was wrong with the name....and he/she did not answer.


      So I'll ask you? Why does the name need to be changed? Do YOU know the history of that name? Why do you want to change it?
      Because it has the term "Black" in it is why. Lets just change all of accounting because its racists... Forget the fact it is a positive notation in accounting - if anything Native Americans should be mad because in the Red would indicate being negative.

      I am left to wonder why "White Christmas" has not gotten the same attention... just as racist right?

      They dont know how to answer because they have been conditioned to think that anything "black" is racist, there is absolutely no thought or reason for believing it is wrong.

      I find it to be amusingly stupid to be honest. And to be very transparent here, my oldest ( just turned 25 ) is half black, so no racist card here kids. I being "white" probably know more about black history than most "African Americans" Myself being half Sicilian am 1/8 African.
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  • Profile picture of the author VictorLoanz90
    The pandemic and all these vaccine mandates have changed in person shopping as we formerly knew it forever and Not to mention Klarna , affirm all these platforms that help shoppers attain even the most unaffordable items by conveniently paying later !! I wonder how all these large malls are going to hold up 2022 and beyond we've all ready seen what Amazon did too toys'r'us
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    • Profile picture of the author WF- Enzo
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      What's klarna

      Originally Posted by VictorLoanz90 View Post

      The pandemic and all these vaccine mandates have changed in person shopping as we formerly knew it forever and Not to mention Klarna , affirm all these platforms that help shoppers attain even the most unaffordable items by conveniently paying later !! I wonder how all these large malls are going to hold up 2022 and beyond we've all ready seen what Amazon did too toys'r'us
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    I ran across this video today... Its down right scarry when you think about it:

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    Success is an ACT not an idea
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