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BUSINESS Thursday 19 November 2020
The case for shopping on Black Friday in 2020

By COURTNEY JESPERSEN of pajamas are also popular.
NerdWallet You can likely expect re-
Like most things in 2020, tailers to discount products
Black Friday won’t be the that appeal to pandemic
same this year. conditions. Best Buy’s early
But at least in the case of Black Friday deals included
holiday shopping, change markdowns on laptops and
might not necessarily be a wireless headphones. Tar-
bad thing. get slashed prices on things
If you’re thinking about like video games and toys.
shopping on the day after IN-STORE SHOPPING IS SO
Thanksgiving, here’s why 2019
you should — and at least In an effort to promote
one reason you shouldn’t. safety in the pandemic,
THE DAY STILL HOLDS most stores are closing
MEANING on Thanksgiving this year.
Retailers kicked off Black They’re also bringing sales
Friday sales back in mid- online — a move that’s
October to coincide with both convenient and cost-
Amazon’s Prime Day. effective for Black Friday
There’s been an onslaught shoppers.
of discounts ever since. “We’ve heard retailers say-
But no matter how many ing, ‘We’re probably go-
sales retailers label through- In this Friday, Nov. 29, 2019 file photo, shoppers leave Macy’s in Boston. ing to offer the same deals
out the year as “Black Fri- Associated Press both online and in store on
day” discounts, there’s still Black Friday so that people
something special about to some fresh deals to re- YOU CAN SAVE MONEY nomic and employment can shop in the way that’s
the day itself. This year, it lease over Thanksgiving These sales make Black Fri- problems caused by COV- most comfortable and saf-
falls on Nov. 27. weekend, according to day shopping a fun fam- ID-19,” Newman said in an est for them,’” Cullen says.
The day after Thanksgiving Katherine Cullen, senior ily tradition. But it’s also a email. “Many consumers That means many retailers

is a “designated consumer director for industry and great way to save cold, will likely not be in the finan- won’t be enticing custom-
shopping day,” says Tom consumer insights at the hard cash. cial position to pass up the ers to brave the crowds for
Arnold, professor of finance National Retail Federation. In fact, that could make price savings afforded by in-store-only doorbusters,
at the University of Rich- She recommends acting the discount bonanza even Black Friday.” she adds. That’s welcome
mond in Virginia. on early deals this holiday more attractive this year, Cullen says wellness, per- news for consumers.
That’s why retailers con- season if you see a price according to Christopher sonal care and comfort “Many shoppers will still
tinue to market it and of- you like though. Newman, associate profes- items as well as those for feel uncomfortable going
fer savings. Based on prior Official Black Friday deals sor of marketing at the Uni- the home have been “pop- to brick-and-mortar retail
years, there will still be often start on Thanksgiving versity of Mississippi. ping” during the pandemic stores, and many state and
something special left, Day and last into the week- “It may be especially pop- as consumer demand has local governments are still
even after all of the early end. They’ll be followed by ular this year since many increased. Hobbies like imposing reduced capac-
deals. Cyber Monday sales on consumers are feeling fi- baking and holiday tradi- ity limits inside stores,” New-
Retailers typically hold on Nov. 30. nancial strain due to eco- tions like wearing matching man said.q

Toilet paper limits, empty shelves are back as virus surges

By JOSEPH PISANI and luck. A surge of new coro- forcing retailers to put lim- said he doesn’t expect remained level at 16%.
ANNE D’INNOCENZIO navirus cases in the U.S. is its on purchases. things to be as bad this go- Before the pandemic, 5%
AP Retail Writers sending people back to Walmart said Tuesday it’s around since lockdowns to 7% of consumer goods
NEW YORK (AP) — Look- stores to stockpile again, having trouble keeping up are being handled on a were typically out of stock,
ing for toilet paper? Good leaving shelves bare and with demand for cleaning regional basis and every- IRI said.
supplies in some stores. Su- one is better prepared. Contributing to the prob-
permarket chains Kroger “A more informed con- lem is the fact that rough-
and Publix are limiting how sumer combined with a ly 10% of the workforce
much toilet paper and pa- more informed manufac- at manufacturing plants
per towels shoppers can turer and a more informed where the products are
buy after demand spiked retailer should provide all made are calling out sick,
recently. And Amazon is of us with a greater sense mainly because they’ve
sold out of most disinfec- of ease and ensure we been in contact with oth-
tant wipes and paper tow- can meet this growing de- ers who were tested posi-
els. A similar scene played mand, “ Freeman said. tive to COVID-19, Freeman
out back in March, when The biggest supply issue said.
the pandemic first hit and seems to be paper prod- Kelly Anderson of Colora-
people hunkered down in ucts: 21% of shelves that do Springs, Colorado, said
their homes. stock paper towels and she needs more supplies
But Geoff Freeman, presi- toilet paper are empty, now that in-person school
dent and CEO of the Con- the highest level in at least in her area was canceled
A sign displays limits on the amount of bath tissue that can be sumer Brands Association, a month, according to earlier this month and her
purchased at a Kroger Store in Carmel, Ind., Tuesday, Nov. 17, formerly the Grocery Man- market research company two children are at home
2020.
Associated Press ufacturers Association, IRI. Cleaning supplies have more. q