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BUSINESS Friday 23 November 2018
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A holiday miracle? Stores try to cut down on long lines

By JOSEPH PISANI day season.
ANNE D'INNOCENZIO Retailers are trying to catch
Associated Press up to technology giants.
NEW YORK (AP) — Retail- Apple, for example, has
ers will once again offer big let those buying iPhones,
deals and early hours to lure laptops and other gad-
shoppers into their stores gets in its stores to pay on
for the start of the holiday mobile devices issued to
season. But they’ll also try workers. And Amazon has
to get shoppers out of their been rolling out cashier-less
stores faster than ever by convenience stores in San
minimizing the thing they Francisco, Chicago and
hate most: long lines. Seattle.
Walmart, Target and other Barbara Kahn, a marketing
large retailers are sending professor at the Wharton
workers throughout their School at the University of
stores to check out custom- Pennsylvania, says shop-
ers with mobile devices. pers know the technology
And at Macy’s, shoppers is out there for faster shop-
can scan and pay for items ping. “That makes them
on their own smartphones. even more impatient,” she
Retailers hope the changes says. The true test of their
will make in-store shopping success will be whether re-
less of a hassle. Long lines In this Nov. 9, 2018, file photo, Walmart associate Shanay Bishop, left, checks out customer Caro- tailers can handle the big
can irritate shoppers, who lyn Sarpy on the sales floor as part of the "Check Out With Me" program at a Walmart Supercenter crowds who are expected
may leave the store empty in Houston. Associated Press to turn out for Black Friday
handed and spend their weekend. The day after
money elsewhere, or go worker at a Walmart store of stores, ready to swipe The world’s largest retailer Thanksgiving is expected
online. in Houston. Sarpy says she customer credit cards first tested the service in to be the busiest shopping
“I’m all about quick and “will turn around and walk when they are ready to the spring at more than 350 day this year, according to
convenient,” says Caro- out” of a store if she sees pay. To make them easier stores in its lawn and gar- retail analytics company
lyn Sarpy, who paid for a long lines. to find, workers wear yellow den centers. It fared well, ShopperTrak. The Satur-
toy basketball hoop on a Walmart says workers will sashes that say, “Check out Walmart says, and expand- day after Thanksgiving also
mobile device issued to a stand in the busiest sections with me.” ed the program for the holi- ranks in the top 10.q

Stocks slip in Europe, Asia as US closed for holiday

By ANNABELLE LIANG fell in Taiwan and Thailand tariffs on billions of dollars of
Associated Press but rose in Singapore. each other's goods.
SINGAPORE (AP) — Glob- BREXIT TALKS: The pound GROWTH CONCERNS: "Ba-
al stock markets mostly rose sharply after Britain sically the same issues —
fell Thursday as concerns and the European Union higher U.S. rates, trade,
about economic growth reached a deal in principle tech correction and fears
continued to weigh on on future relations. The deal of its morphing into weaker
sentiment and trading was is due to be approved by global growth — are con-
thinned by the U.S. Thanks- EU leaders on Sunday but tinuing to keep investors on
giving holiday. still faces uncertain pros- edge," Shane Oliver, head
KEEPING SCORE: In Eu- pect of passing the British of investment strategy and
rope, Germany's DAX in- parliament, where many chief economist at AMP
dex was 0.6 percent lower lawmakers are unhappy Capital, said in an inter-
at 11,182 and the CAC 40 with the terms. The deal view. An electronic board displays the Hong Kong share index out-
in France dipped 0.4 per- aims to minimize the dam- ENERGY: Traders are also side a bank In Hong Kong, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018.
cent to 4,954. Britain's FTSE age to business from Brexit keeping an eye on oil pric- Associated Press
100 index lost 0.9 percent by agreeing to negotiate a es, which fell sharply this
to 6,990. U.S. markets are free trade deal. week on the prospect of producers like the U.S. and
closed for the holiday on U.S. DATA: Economic figures high supplies from major Saudi Arabia. q
Thursday and will be open have raised further con-
for a half-day on Friday. cerns about the impact of
ASIA'S DAY: Japan's bench- the ongoing trade disputes.
mark Nikkei 225 closed 0.7 Durable goods orders in
percent higher at 21,646.55 the U.S. fell 4.4 percent last
and the Hang Seng in Hong month from September,
Kong added 0.2 percent the largest amount in 15
to 26,019.41. South Korea's months, with commercial
Kospi dropped 0.3 percent and military aircraft lead-
to 2,069.95. The Shanghai ing the decline. This could
Composite shed 0.2 per- point at adverse effects of
cent to 2,645.43. Australia's a trade dispute between
S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.9 the U.S. and China, who
percent to 5,691.30. Shares have imposed additional