Black Friday falls on November 24, this year. Retailers are getting ready for what they think will be another record-breaking worldwide shopping frenzy.

Black Friday is typically considered to be the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season because of the large crowds that gather at big-box stores in the early hours after American Thanksgiving to take advantage of doorbuster prices.

Retailers will be attempting to capitalise on the excitement in the US, Europe, and other regions. What to anticipate on Black Friday in 2023 is as follows.

History of the word 'Black Friday'

Police and bus drivers in Philadelphia began referring to the mayhem that a large inflow of people to the city caused before Thanksgiving weekend as "Black Friday" sometime in the 1960s and early 1970s. On Fridays, shoppers would scour Philadelphia's stores with their Christmas lists in hand, searching for the perfect presents. Parking infractions and shoplifting followed.

Department stores changed the name to "Big Friday" to give it a more uplifting connotation. However, the moniker did not endure, and since the 1980s, retailers have started characterising Black Friday as the day when customers begin their holiday shopping and their retail ledgers are purportedly "in the black," or operating at a profit, according to Marcus Collins, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Retailers' plans this year

Early Black Friday "deals" of up to 30 per cent off on some limited products online and in stores are already being promoted by retailers such as Best Buy, Macy's, H&amp;M, and pure e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu.

They may gauge consumer demand and prevent product shortages, which could be a major issue this year, with the aid of such early marketing. A severe drought has caused the water levels in the Panama Canal, a vital commercial route, to plummet, which has reduced the amount of ships passing through it.

Intentionally, a lot of American retailers reduced their recruiting intentions for the holidays. Retailers in Europe are also facing a labour crisis, which means that customers may encounter a staffing shortfall.

Are this year's Black Friday crowds likely?

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that 130.7 million consumers are expected to shop on Black Friday this year. In the US, Thanksgiving weekend, which includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the Monday following Thanksgiving), is usually the busiest time to shop.

Retail analytics company Sensormatic Solutions predicts that over the holiday season, in-store traffic will decrease by 3.5 per cent from the previous year.

According to AccuWeather, rainy weather is mainly not predicted this year, which discouraged in-store traffic on Black Friday morning in various parts of the United States last year.

While the majority of American stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving this year and instead open to customers at 5 or 6 a.m. on Friday, some retailers are promoting online deals that begin at 12:01 a.m. on Thanksgiving.

Kohl's is one of them, offering what it refers to as a "Super Deal" on several items on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, such as Beats Studio Buds wireless noise-cancelling earbuds for $89.99 instead of the usual $149.99.

This year, curbside pick-up and online ordering are being promoted by both large and small retailers as convenient options for those who prefer to bypass storefronts. According to data from Adobe Analytics, American Black Friday internet sales have more than tripled in the last ten years, hitting $9.12 billion on the day last year.

This year, will shoppers find Black Friday deals?

Reuters investigation suggests that several large retailers, including Dollar General, Walmart, and Macy's, may have excess inventory for the second year in a row. To entice customers to visit their stores and websites, they probably need to provide discounts.

Research company Jane Hali &amp; Associates reported even before Black Friday that Nordstrom and Kohl's saw a decline in foot traffic, while Macy's and Kohl's had discounts of up to 60 per cent.

Online savings of up to 35 per cent on toys, 24 per cent on athletic items, and 19 per cent on furniture are anticipated, according to Adobe.

Amounts expected to be spent by shoppers?

The NRF predicts that holiday sales in U.S. stores and online will increase by 3 per cent to 4 per cent in November and December, which will be their weakest growth rate in five years.

According to Adobe Analytics, Black Friday internet spending is predicted to increase 5.7 per cent to approximately $9.6 billion.

According to a survey by fintech company Finder, 132 million Americans want to shop the pre-holiday sales, which include Black Friday and Cyber Monday, in 2023, down from a projected 140 million consumers in the previous year.

According to an Adobe projection, Black Friday online spending in the UK is anticipated to increase 4.5 per cent to $1.30 billion, with total sales throughout the Cyber Weekend set to reach $4.7 billion.

How are retailers luring holiday shoppers with their offerings?

Analysts predict that shops will need to rely on sales and early deals to survive this holiday season, as household budgets are being squeezed by the return of student loan payments and the cost of rent and necessities.

According to Deloitte statistics, consumers last year wanted to maximise promotional activities and finish their shopping in just 5.8 weeks as opposed to a 7.4-week window before the epidemic.

This year, what are the must-have items for Black Friday?

With the recent release of the iPhone 15, smartphones will once again be in demand. Customers who were hoping to purchase Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year came away empty-handed as the tech giant battled production issues in China.

According to a Mastercard survey, electronics are predicted to be the most popular choice this holiday shopping season, with growth of 6 per cent predicted.

A Play Station 5 bundle with "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III" or Marvel's "Spider-Man 2" was available for $499.99 at Best Buy during the start of the retailer's Black Friday sales in late October.

Skin and hair care items are still in demand. Ulta Beauty is selling CoverGirl and Lancome mascaras, Bobbi Brown concealers, and some of its brand products at up to 40 per cent off.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Black Friday falls on November 24, this year. Retailers are getting ready for what they think will be another record-breaking worldwide shopping frenzy. Black Friday is typically considered to be the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season because of the large crowds that gather at big-box stores in the early hours after American Thanksgiving to take advantage of doorbuster prices.

Black Friday falls on November 24, this year. Retailers are getting ready for what they think will be another record-breaking worldwide shopping frenzy. Black Friday is typically considered to be the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season because of the large crowds that gather at big-box stores in the early hours after American Thanksgiving to take advantage of doorbuster prices. Retailers will be attempting to capitalise on the excitement in the US, Europe, and other regions. What to anticipate on Black Friday in 2023 is as follows. History of the word 'Black Friday' Police and bus drivers in Philadelphia began referring to the mayhem that a large inflow of people to the city caused before Thanksgiving weekend as "Black Friday" sometime in the 1960s and early 1970s. On Fridays, shoppers would scour Philadelphia's stores with their Christmas lists in hand, searching for the perfect presents. Parking infractions and shoplifting followed. Department stores changed the name to "Big Friday" to give it a more uplifting connotation. However, the moniker did not endure, and since the 1980s, retailers have started characterising Black Friday as the day when customers begin their holiday shopping and their retail ledgers are purportedly "in the black," or operating at a profit, according to Marcus Collins, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. Retailers' plans this year Early Black Friday "deals" of up to 30 per cent off on some limited products online and in stores are already being promoted by retailers such as Best Buy, Macy's, H&M, and pure e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu. They may gauge consumer demand and prevent product shortages, which could be a major issue this year, with the aid of such early marketing. A severe drought has caused the water levels in the Panama Canal, a vital commercial route, to plummet, which has reduced the amount of ships passing through it. Intentionally, a lot of American retailers reduced their recruiting intentions for the holidays. Retailers in Europe are also facing a labour crisis, which means that customers may encounter a staffing shortfall. Are this year's Black Friday crowds likely? The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that 130.7 million consumers are expected to shop on Black Friday this year. In the US, Thanksgiving weekend, which includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the Monday following Thanksgiving), is usually the busiest time to shop. Retail analytics company Sensormatic Solutions predicts that over the holiday season, in-store traffic will decrease by 3.5 per cent from the previous year. According to AccuWeather, rainy weather is mainly not predicted this year, which discouraged in-store traffic on Black Friday morning in various parts of the United States last year. While the majority of American stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving this year and instead open to customers at 5 or 6 a.m. on Friday, some retailers are promoting online deals that begin at 12:01 a.m. on Thanksgiving. Kohl's is one of them, offering what it refers to as a "Super Deal" on several items on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, such as Beats Studio Buds wireless noise-cancelling earbuds for $89.99 instead of the usual $149.99. This year, curbside pick-up and online ordering are being promoted by both large and small retailers as convenient options for those who prefer to bypass storefronts. According to data from Adobe Analytics, American Black Friday internet sales have more than tripled in the last ten years, hitting $9.12 billion on the day last year. This year, will shoppers find Black Friday deals? Reuters investigation suggests that several large retailers, including Dollar General, Walmart, and Macy's, may have excess inventory for the second year in a row. To entice customers to visit their stores and websites, they probably need to provide discounts. Research company Jane Hali & Associates reported even before Black Friday that Nordstrom and Kohl's saw a decline in foot traffic, while Macy's and Kohl's had discounts of up to 60 per cent. Online savings of up to 35 per cent on toys, 24 per cent on athletic items, and 19 per cent on furniture are anticipated, according to Adobe. Amounts expected to be spent by shoppers? The NRF predicts that holiday sales in U.S. stores and online will increase by 3 per cent to 4 per cent in November and December, which will be their weakest growth rate in five years. According to Adobe Analytics, Black Friday internet spending is predicted to increase 5.7 per cent to approximately $9.6 billion. According to a survey by fintech company Finder, 132 million Americans want to shop the pre-holiday sales, which include Black Friday and Cyber Monday, in 2023, down from a projected 140 million consumers in the previous year. According to an Adobe projection, Black Friday online spending in the UK is anticipated to increase 4.5 per cent to $1.30 billion, with total sales throughout the Cyber Weekend set to reach $4.7 billion. How are retailers luring holiday shoppers with their offerings? Analysts predict that shops will need to rely on sales and early deals to survive this holiday season, as household budgets are being squeezed by the return of student loan payments and the cost of rent and necessities. According to Deloitte statistics, consumers last year wanted to maximise promotional activities and finish their shopping in just 5.8 weeks as opposed to a 7.4-week window before the epidemic. This year, what are the must-have items for Black Friday? With the recent release of the iPhone 15, smartphones will once again be in demand. Customers who were hoping to purchase Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year came away empty-handed as the tech giant battled production issues in China. According to a Mastercard survey, electronics are predicted to be the most popular choice this holiday shopping season, with growth of 6 per cent predicted. A Play Station 5 bundle with "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III" or Marvel's "Spider-Man 2" was available for $499.99 at Best Buy during the start of the retailer's Black Friday sales in late October. Skin and hair care items are still in demand. Ulta Beauty is selling CoverGirl and Lancome mascaras, Bobbi Brown concealers, and some of its brand products at up to 40 per cent off. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Unveiling Black Friday: Must-have deals in high demand ahead of shopping frenzy

“I live in Salem, Massachusetts, where the witch trials were,” said Bridget Saunders, 20, an undergraduate at Salem State University. “Halloween is a huge ordeal.”

But when she walked out of her house last Tuesday, five days before Halloween, she saw that her landlord had skipped the holiday altogether and put up a fully decorated Christmas tree. “Couldn’t he just have waited a few days?” she said.

Apparently not. Christmas creep, the retail phenomenon of stores promoting Christmas merchandise earlier and earlier, seems to have elbowed its way past Halloween this year, and pushed aside the plastic pumpkins from store shelves.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diwali-special-not-just-india-these-countries-also-celebrate-the-festival-425785" hreflang="en">Diwali special: Not just India, these countries also celebrate the festival</a>

Christmas trees went up before the leaves fell in much of the Northeast. The singer Britney Spears, for example, put up her Christmas tree, complete with gold tinsel and glass ball ornaments, two weeks ago. “I’m celebrating Christmas way early this year, because why not?” she posted on Instagram on Oct. 15. “I believe any reason to find more joy in life is a good idea.”

Retailers, including upscale boutiques and discount shops, have turned their stores into winter wonderlands weeks, even months, earlier than last year.

Nordstrom unveiled its displays of Balsam Hill artificial Christmas trees in most of its stores in early October, about one to two weeks earlier than last year. Bloomingdale’s moved up its virtual holiday events (where you can learn to make charcuterie boards and other Instagram-ready tableaus) to late October, rather than November, as it did in 2020.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pack-your-bags-10-best-travel-destinations-for-2022-revealed-cook-islands-tops-list-425546" hreflang="en">Pack your bags! 10 best travel destinations for 2022 revealed, Cook Islands tops list</a>

Lowe’s set up its stores for Christmas a week earlier. “We expect customers to begin decorating earlier than ever, and Lowe’s made the strategic decision to order and bring product into our warehouses and stores earlier,” said Amy Allison, a company spokesperson.

It’s not exactly about spreading holiday cheer. “From a retailer’s perspective, it’s an opportunity to have many more sales and returning customers,” said Thomai Serdari, an adjunct professor of marketing at the Stern School of Business at New York University. “For individuals, it reflects a desire to extend the happy holiday season.”

The pandemic has further complicated matters. Supply-chain issues have spurred a fear of scarcity. Americans, many of whom celebrated a watered-down version of the holiday last year, are also eager to get the holidays started and make up for lost time.

“We knew our customers would want to come in earlier this year,” said Russ Patrick, a merchandise manager for Neiman Marcus, which began selling holiday goods — including fully decorated Christmas trees — in September. “There is a desire to make up for last year’s season that was very impacted by the pandemic.”

Discount retailers are also capitalizing on the supply-chain rush. “People are thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, the stores aren’t going to have product,’ ” said Bruce Levine, the chief merchandising officer at 99 Cents Only Stores, which is based in California. “This mindset is making people want to shop early, and we wanted to take advantage of that.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-squid-game-jumpsuits-to-kim-kardashian-pop-culturememe-inspired-halloween-costumes-422971" hreflang="en">From 'Squid Game' jumpsuits to Kim Kardashian: Pop culture/meme inspired Halloween costumes</a>

Before the pandemic, 99 Cents Only Stores would flip its displays from Halloween to Christmas on the night of Oct. 31. This year, it cleared out the Halloween goods in mid-October. “We are running 10% ahead of last year on sales,” Levine said. “We are projecting to do our biggest Christmas yet.”

Big Lots, another budget chain, put out Christmas lights and trees right after Labor Day. (Halloween goods were sold in July.) “Customers now know if they don’t get out there and shop early, they might not get what they want,” said Bruce Thorn, the company’s chief executive.

Not all retailers have moved up Christmas this year. Home Depot and Walmart are on the same schedule. One reason may be that not all consumers are happy with the supersized shopping season.

Joe Ramoni, 29, a YouTube creator from Philadelphia, went to his local Rite Aid and Target last week to shop for Halloween decorations, hoping to score some sales, but they were all gone and replaced with Christmas frills. “It seems like we are leapfrogging right from Halloween to Christmas because of the commercial value,” he said. “Isn’t there time for both?”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

“I live in Salem, Massachusetts, where the witch trials were,” said Bridget Saunders, 20, an undergraduate at Salem State University. “Halloween is a huge ordeal.

“I live in Salem, Massachusetts, where the witch trials were,” said Bridget Saunders, 20, an undergraduate at Salem State University. “Halloween is a huge ordeal.” But when she walked out of her house last Tuesday, five days before Halloween, she saw that her landlord had skipped the holiday altogether and put up a fully decorated Christmas tree. “Couldn’t he just have waited a few days?” she said. Apparently not. Christmas creep, the retail phenomenon of stores promoting Christmas merchandise earlier and earlier, seems to have elbowed its way past Halloween this year, and pushed aside the plastic pumpkins from store shelves. Also read: Diwali special: Not just India, these countries also celebrate the festival Christmas trees went up before the leaves fell in much of the Northeast. The singer Britney Spears, for example, put up her Christmas tree, complete with gold tinsel and glass ball ornaments, two weeks ago. “I’m celebrating Christmas way early this year, because why not?” she posted on Instagram on Oct. 15. “I believe any reason to find more joy in life is a good idea.” Retailers, including upscale boutiques and discount shops, have turned their stores into winter wonderlands weeks, even months, earlier than last year. Nordstrom unveiled its displays of Balsam Hill artificial Christmas trees in most of its stores in early October, about one to two weeks earlier than last year. Bloomingdale’s moved up its virtual holiday events (where you can learn to make charcuterie boards and other Instagram-ready tableaus) to late October, rather than November, as it did in 2020. Also read: Pack your bags! 10 best travel destinations for 2022 revealed, Cook Islands tops list Lowe’s set up its stores for Christmas a week earlier. “We expect customers to begin decorating earlier than ever, and Lowe’s made the strategic decision to order and bring product into our warehouses and stores earlier,” said Amy Allison, a company spokesperson. It’s not exactly about spreading holiday cheer. “From a retailer’s perspective, it’s an opportunity to have many more sales and returning customers,” said Thomai Serdari, an adjunct professor of marketing at the Stern School of Business at New York University. “For individuals, it reflects a desire to extend the happy holiday season.” The pandemic has further complicated matters. Supply-chain issues have spurred a fear of scarcity. Americans, many of whom celebrated a watered-down version of the holiday last year, are also eager to get the holidays started and make up for lost time. “We knew our customers would want to come in earlier this year,” said Russ Patrick, a merchandise manager for Neiman Marcus, which began selling holiday goods — including fully decorated Christmas trees — in September. “There is a desire to make up for last year’s season that was very impacted by the pandemic.” Discount retailers are also capitalizing on the supply-chain rush. “People are thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, the stores aren’t going to have product,’ ” said Bruce Levine, the chief merchandising officer at 99 Cents Only Stores, which is based in California. “This mindset is making people want to shop early, and we wanted to take advantage of that.” Also read: From 'Squid Game' jumpsuits to Kim Kardashian: Pop culture/meme inspired Halloween costumes Before the pandemic, 99 Cents Only Stores would flip its displays from Halloween to Christmas on the night of Oct. 31. This year, it cleared out the Halloween goods in mid-October. “We are running 10% ahead of last year on sales,” Levine said. “We are projecting to do our biggest Christmas yet.” Big Lots, another budget chain, put out Christmas lights and trees right after Labor Day. (Halloween goods were sold in July.) “Customers now know if they don’t get out there and shop early, they might not get what they want,” said Bruce Thorn, the company’s chief executive. Not all retailers have moved up Christmas this year. Home Depot and Walmart are on the same schedule. One reason may be that not all consumers are happy with the supersized shopping season. Joe Ramoni, 29, a YouTube creator from Philadelphia, went to his local Rite Aid and Target last week to shop for Halloween decorations, hoping to score some sales, but they were all gone and replaced with Christmas frills. “It seems like we are leapfrogging right from Halloween to Christmas because of the commercial value,” he said. “Isn’t there time for both?” This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Has the Christmas shopping season overtaken Halloween?

Facing the prospect of a grim Christmas with spiking coronavirus cases and tightened restrictions, Los Angeles residents are determined to keep the Christmas spirit alive by shopping for the perfect Christmas trees.

Pining for Christmas: Californians find joy in buying Christmas trees

&quot;Black Friday&quot;, the day that falls on the fourth Friday of November, marks the beginning of Christmas shopping in the United States.&nbsp;

It comes after the Thanksgiving Day in the US.&nbsp;

It&nbsp;has been observed as the beginning of Christmas shopping season in the US since 1952.&nbsp;

During this time most retail stores remain open from early morning till&nbsp;late at night and offer promotional sales to attract potential buyers.&nbsp;

Retail stores offer most discounts on electronics.&nbsp;

While the retail stores are open and provide sales schemes, schools and non-retail employees have both Thanksgiving and the succeeding Friday as an &quot;off day&quot;.&nbsp;

This again adds to the number of buyers on &quot;Black Friday&#39;&#39;.&nbsp;The day has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005.&nbsp;

Several weeks before &#39;&#39;Black Friday&#39;&#39;, e-commerce giant Amazon opened its &#39;&#39;Black Friday&#39;&#39; store officially on November 1. The retail store encourages shoppers to sign up for &#39;&#39;Amazon Prime&#39;&#39; with&nbsp;additional benefits during this high voltage shopping extravaganza.

Competing with Amazon, Walmart offers their &#39;&#39;Pickup&#39;&#39; discount program. During this time shoppers can avail discounts on their online products if they ship their product to a Walmart store for a free pick up.

Black Friday, the day that falls on the fourth Friday of November, marks the beginning of Christmas shopping in the United States

"Black Friday", the day that falls on the fourth Friday of November, marks the beginning of Christmas shopping in the United States. It comes after the Thanksgiving Day in the US. It has been observed as the beginning of Christmas shopping season in the US since 1952. During this time most retail stores remain open from early morning till late at night and offer promotional sales to attract potential buyers. Retail stores offer most discounts on electronics. While the retail stores are open and provide sales schemes, schools and non-retail employees have both Thanksgiving and the succeeding Friday as an "off day". This again adds to the number of buyers on "Black Friday''. The day has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005. Several weeks before ''Black Friday'', e-commerce giant Amazon opened its ''Black Friday'' store officially on November 1. The retail store encourages shoppers to sign up for ''Amazon Prime'' with additional benefits during this high voltage shopping extravaganza. Competing with Amazon, Walmart offers their ''Pickup'' discount program. During this time shoppers can avail discounts on their online products if they ship their product to a Walmart store for a free pick up.

US gears up for 'Black Friday'