Scott D Jones - Staffing Consultant - Toledo, Ohio

Once again millions of shoppers will be waiting in endless lines and storming the cash registers with their latest and greatest "toys" for the holiday season.  Over 172 million made their way out in 2008 on BLACK FRIDAY.  What it is about $200 off a flat screen tv makes a person ravenous still baffles me.  Although it is hard to not get caught up in all of the glitz and glamour of waking up at 2AM to catch the greatest deal. 

I will be partaking in the festivities but I on the other hand have no great agenda or long shopping list to scour every store from Best Buy to Walmart.  Most likely I will pick up a couple of cheap DVDs and maybe a few Christmas presents along the way.  The best thing about BLACK FRIDAY is to sit back and relax and watch the show begin.  It is the only day of the year two soccer moms could come to blows over who is going to get the last Wii that Walmart has in stock.  Another interesting fact is that someone was actually trampled to death last year at a Walmart when they opened the doors.

Did you know that the average shopper last year spent $372.57 and total spending was up to $41 billion.  That is really a jump start hopefully this year we will see the same success with increasing numbers.  My prediction this year for BLACK FRIDAY is that a lot of people will gravitate towards online deals that retailers are offering.  I think this will have huge success in the group of people that do not want to stand in line or wait out in the cold.  However it could hurt sales with not having impulse buyers in your store.  A lot of sales going on that day generally happen because people tend to pick up things they may not have bought otherwise, because it was a good deal.

As for retailers it marks the kickoff of their last month to get in the "Black" to actually make a profit in this tough economy.  I found a website www.blackfriday2009.com that has all the ads in one spot.  They also offer advice on how to get the items and the best strategy for all you shoppers out there.  It is official we are now in the Christmas season.   Although it is very exciting it will be gone just as fast as it came so take some time to enjoy it.

Best of luck to all of those who are partaking in the BLACK FRIDAY sales and I am looking forward to relaxing and watching football all day this Thursday (GO COLTS!).