As everyone knows, Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year and fell during one of the world’s worst outbreaks of the coronavirus pandemic. But despite what is happening right now, a lot of people still expect Black Friday shopping deals in every online and traditional store.
2021 Black Friday Shopping Trends
In this holiday season, Black Friday shopping is the official start of the hectic period, and it’s when most shops declare that they’ve gone “in the black” for the year, meaning they’ve made a profit. Some Larger businesses stated they would not be open on Thanksgiving Day, continuing a trend that began nearly a decade ago.
The bulk of these stores have already said that they will be closed on Thanksgiving Day this year and will not be open in the early hours of Black Friday. But some online and traditional businesses are still going to open for the Black Friday Shopping Season.
As soon as the Halloween decorations are taken down, most big retailers offer discounts (if not sooner). These pre-Black Friday sale events are expected to last the entire month of November, as retailers let customers get a head start on their Christmas shopping, especially given the present global supply chain and shipping challenges.
Black Friday Shopping Amidst Supply Chain Issues
Many small businesses had already been struggling as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and now merely obtaining the products they have on hand is exacerbating their problems. Shortages, delays, and other supply chain problems are hitting them just as the Black Friday shopping season approaches.
Small business owners who can’t get the things they need on their shelves are looking for alternatives, which can be problematic because one item may not be able to cover the hole left by the other. That is why experts advise buyers who want a specific product to start searching early, book and make a purchase as soon as they want it.
Black Friday Shopping and COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, consumers had already altered their shopping habits. They are more conscious of where they shop, when they buy, and how they shop. This trend is likely to continue until the 2021 holiday season, as consumers begin their Christmas shopping earlier and buy the majority of their gifts online.
During the 2021 holiday shopping season, much of the same COVID-19 safety practices will be in effect, such as altering traffic patterns, putting plexiglass to checkout counters, limiting customers, enhancing cleanliness, and so on. Additionally, to satisfy the needs of more numerous online buying, businesses will need to be more nimble in promoting and running their operations during the Christmas season.
Here are the things to have in mind for small companies and customers as they prepare for Black Friday shopping:
- Prepare for e-commerce.
- Allow for contactless shopping.
- Local businesses should be supported.
Source: Black Friday Shopping During Covid-19
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